NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece welcomes US warning to Turkey

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas in particular noted the reference by US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns about the need to respect international law and specifically, the non-use of military force.

Mr. Burns on Thursday warned Ankara against using force on Cyprus, after reports surfaced that Turkey was seriously considering a military strike if Cyprus went ahead with plans to deploy advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles.

"This is no time for the Turkish government to be making wild and dramatic statements which will not be supported by any sensible member of the international community. It would be completely out of bounds for Turkey to take this action," Mr. Burns said .

Mr. Burns was commenting on threats by Turkish Defence Minister Turhan Tayan that Ankara would "use all possible means to halt the missile deployment."

"There can be no question that Turkey must respect the rules of the road here, which are no country, and specifically in the case of Turkey, should threaten the use of military force against Cyprus; no country, specifically here Turkey, should undertake military force against Cyprus," Mr. Burns said.

US warning falls on deaf ears

"If they are deployed, we will do what is needed. If this means they need to be hit, they will be hit," Ms Ciller added.

"Turkey will not stand by as Cyprus is turned into a powder-keg," she said, adding that Ankara would lodge a protest with Moscow about the sale of the S-300 missile system to Cyprus.

Responding to Ciller's latest statements, Burns last night described them as " unjustified, irresponsible and unwise". He added that Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' reaction to Turkey's threats was "moderate and responsible, " altough he reiterated his government's objection to the missiles purchase.

Turkish envoy: ''improvement in Greek-Turkish relations essential''

On arrival in Iraklion, Crete, yesterday to attend an international conference in Rethimno, he said moderation and a special effort on both sides was necessary for an improvement in relations between the two countries. "As an ambassador, I must work for an improvement in relations between the two countries. This is essential," he said.

Asked whether there is a possibility of war between the two countries, he responded with a categorical "no". He expressed the wish for an improvement in relations between the two countries and said all should work in this direction.

Simitis unveils policy for strong agricultural sector

Addressing the council, Mr. Simitis confounded expectations that he might announce measures in favour of farmers, whose protests caused widespread disruption to road and rail traffic throughout the country last December.

"The government is implementing with steadfastness and consistency a programme with a time framework up to the year 2000 aimed at creating a strong agricultural sector," Mr. Simitis said.

Although the government was doing all it could through structural intervention in the sector, he added, this was not enough.

"In order to bring about the necessary changes, the active participation of all is required - farmers, people living in the countryside, cooperatives and all those who are involved in the production process," Mr. Simitis stressed.

"The Agricultural Policy Council," he added, "must formulate the policies and strategy to create an agricultural sector which will survive in the 21st century."

Noting that Greek agriculture has evolved "in a greenhouse of protectionism, " Mr. Simitis said the government was planning a series of structural changes to create the conditions for viable growth. countryside."

Mr. Simitis said the government's agricultural policy aims at helping Greek farmers produce highly competitive products through shifting from problematic produce to more competitive cultivations and building alliances with other industries.

The premier said the government's plan for agricultural growth included investment in human resources and infrastructural projects, development of the countryside and reorganisation of public and other agricultural-related organisations.

Garbage collectors' strike continues

Their main demands are that the employment contracts of workers hired by the municipalities on a temporary basis should be converted to contracts of indefinite duration, a doubling of the lump sum payment given on retirement from the present 1.3 million drachmas and the lowering of the retirement age.

According to the President of the workers' labour union, Zafeiris Perro, a total of 5,000 employees need to be hired to fill vacant positions, mainly in municipal garbage collection services.

The striking municipal workers later announced the continuation of their action for the fifth day today and until their demands have been met.

A delegation of workers met with Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Undersecretary Lambros Papadimas, who acknowledged that their demand for a conversion of seasonal contracts to permanent ones was just.

Mr. Papadimas promised legislation to satisfy the demand in February, on the condition that all the political parties agree.

Mr. Perros however said that "the parties must agree with the interior ministry about when the amendment concerning the conversion of employment contracts will be tabled in Parliament and precisely what the amendment will contain". "If the ministry gives us specific guarantees about this and our other two demands, we will end our strike immediately. But now, we shall carry on striking until we receive firm commitments," Mr. Perros said.

OTE surfs the Net with new subsidiary

OTEnet, which officially began operating yesterday, was established in April 1996 on the initiative of the state-run telecommunications organisation which is the main shareholder with 98 percent.

The remaining 2 percent belongs to Athens Polytechnic.

Speaking at a special inauguration event yesterday, the Chairman of OTEnet's board of directors, Ioannis Pateryiannakis, referred to the need for the establishment of the new company and said the results of its brief pilot operation had given rise to gr eat optimism.

The company's managing director, Costas Maravellas, said OTEnet was addressing itself not only to individual netsurfers but to large and small professional organisations and the public sector in general.

Coastguard vessel opens fire on Turkish smugglers

The first attempt shortly after midnight was thwarted when the coastguard vessel stopped a Turkish boat heading from the Turkish coast to Greek waters without navigation lights.

The Turkish captain of the boat, Avdin Alim, 20, was arrested after it was discovered that he was transporting 13 illegal immigrants of Kurdish origin.

In the second attempt, at 03.00 local time, Turkish smugglers tried to land an unknown number of illegal immigrants on a remote beach of Ro.

When spotted by the same coastguard vessel, the Turkish boat tried to ram it, forcing the crew of the Greek vessel to fire warning shots in the air and at the boat's motor, resulting in the slight injury of Turkish smuggler Maskan Ogun, 29, who was transferred to Rhodes General Hospital by helicopter.

A second Turkish smuggler in the boat, Baidi Hassan, 37, was arrested.

The 37 illegal immigrants being transported by the Turkish smugglers are currently on an uninhabited rocky islet awaiting transfer later today by a Greek coastguard vessel.

The three Turkish smugglers arrested will appear before a public prosecutor on Rhodes today.

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