NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece welcomes new natural gas network

Speaking at the installations of the Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) in Elefsina, Simitis spoke about the prospects of Greece becoming an ''energy crossroads'' in the Balkans, by providing energy-related services and exporting technology products to other countries of the region.

On the benefits of the major infrastructure project, Simitis said it would improve the environment in industrial and urban areas, spur industrial development by reducing costs, contribute to technological modernization, reduce dependence on oil and increase ''energy security'' by providing a further independent source.

In addition, the premier said, it would result in an increase in economic activity and create new jobs.

The natural gas to be imported to Greece from Russia is expected to cover approximately 15 per cent of the country's energy needs. To be built at an estimated cost of 600 billion drachmas, financed 40 per cent by the European Union, the natural gas conveyance network will extend for over 1, 000 kilometres.

Speaking in the presence of Russia's Energy Minister, Peter Rodionov, Simitis praised ''our Russian friends'' for exporting to Greece not only the natural gas but also ''their know how''.

Simitis said recent cooperation between Greece and Russia in the political sector would be ''broadened and placed on on a firmer basis through the development of such relations in the economic and technology sectors''.

Echoing Simitis' statements, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou described the project as being of enormous dimensions and unprecedented for Greece.

The aim of the government, she said, was the commercial exploitation of the natural gas in cooperation and with the participation of local government, the Public Power Corporation's newly established subsidiaries and private investors.

Rodionov underlined the benefits of the project by saying that ''one develops an appetite by eating'', noting that natural gas satisfied 50 per cent of Russia's energy needs.

The Russian minister also expressed his country's willingness ''to transfer to Greece all our experience and know-how relating to natural gas''.

Rodionov said the entire venture was part of ''a plan to expand the cycle of commercial and economic cooperation between Russia and Greece''.

Also attending the inauguration were Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Greece's European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, EU diplomats and commercial representatives.

Greek, Cypriot defence ministers confer on security issues

The two sides also discussed the promotion of the Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine during the three-hour meeting.

Eliades, accompanied by the commander of the Cyprus National Guard and the defence committee, arrived in Athens on Sunday for talks with the Greek government on the entire range of issues pertaining to Cyprus' defence.

''We discussed issues relating to the defence sector and the joint defence doctrine, including cooperation between the Cyprus Republic and Greek defence industries,'' Eliades said.

Tsohatzopoulos declined to comment on statements by US State Department envoy Carey Cavanaugh, currently on a tour of the region, who said in Cyprus yesterday that a deal had been struck between the Greek- and Turkish- Cypriot communities aimed at reducing tension along the ceasefire line dividing the island.

Eliades too was guarded when asked about the ongoing military dialogue in Cyprus.

''The dialogue is in progress and we have undertaken a commitment not to make statements concerning it,'' he said.

''There is nothing to comment on. There is no decision,'' Tsohatzopoulos added.

When asked if the military dialogue was in any way linked with the fact that it would be 16 months before deployment of the Russian anti-aircraft missiles purchased by Nicosia, both ministers underlined that the two issues were quite separate.

In Nicosia, meanwhile, Cyprus government spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides also denied the Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities were about to sign an agreement.

A Reuters despatch from Nicosia quoted him as saying ''we are still talking about it''.

In a related development, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas today categorically denied reports that Athens had decided to suspend flights of Greek military aircraft over Cyprus until October.

''This report does not correspond to the truth,'' Reppas said.

Replying to questions, Reppas said that the government was not at the present time considering the matter of a moratorium on the flights of military aircraft in Cyprus airspace.

Simitis rejects climate of tension from Ankara

"Greece will not allow itself to be dragged into a climate of threats, as Ankara desires...We apply our policy with coolheadedness and take all necessary initiatives for peace and stability in the region. Greece is and will remain a force of peace," Mr. S imitis told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos to focus on preparations for the visit of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on Friday.

The meeting was held amidst continued Turkish threats of military strikes against Cyprus, after the island republic announced in the first week of the year a purchase agreement for the advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles S-300. During Mr. Clerides' visit the two sides will jointly examine developments in the Cyprus problem and "review scenarios and positions", Mr. Simitis said.

Seamen continue strike

Ships remained at anchor at ports around Greece for the second day today as seamen and dockworkers pressed their main demand that no changes be made to the fiscal regime applicable since 1955.

The strike has affected Greek-flag vessels of all categories as well as foreign ships employing Greek seamen.

Reiterating the government's positions, Soumakis told the PNO representatives that their problems had accumulated over a long period of time, adding that their resolution required a ''sincere and constructive'' dialogue.

The PNO Executive Committee is due to meet later today to decide whether to extend the present 48-hour strike which is due to end early tomorrow morning.

The seamen are also demanding measures to combat unemployment, the absorption of unemployed colleagues and an increase in minimum pensions.

Soumakis said the government would take measures in February aimed at halting a growing trend for Greek-owned vessels to leave the Hellenic Registry of Shipping.

Culture minister confirms archaeological find

The complex was discovered yesterday during construction work for the Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art on Rigillis Street, about 600 metres from the parliament building in central Athens.

Venizelos said he had first been informed about the matter in November last year and had subsequently made statements in Parliament.

The find is to be discussed by the Central Archaeological Council next Tuesday.

It comes just three days after archaeologists claimed to have found the cave on Salamina used as a retreat by Euripides to write his classic tragedies.

Greenpeace criticises planning for Olympics bid

''Environmental impact studies should constitute a fundamental factor in the proposal in the planning phase, rather than a formality for legitimizing things which have been decided without environmental, area and town planning criteria,'' Greenpeace representatives told a press conference.

''As can be seen from the Greek dossier,'' they said, ''not only is there no vision or development strategy for a city which appears to be walking a tightrope, but with the works which are being planned, the already disturbed relationship between city and city dweller is being further shaken...,'' Greenpeace said.

Under certain conditions, the representatives said, the holding of the Olympic Games could serve as a tool for the environmental upgrading of Athens and a model for similar interventions in the future.

Greece, Romania work out pensions agreement

Under the terms of the agreement, Romania has undertaken to pay the sum of 15 million dollars in six equal annual instalments, in products and cash, in order to secure the social security benefits of the refugees.

Greece undertakes to incorporate in its social security system those returning political refugees who were insured in Romania and provide pensions to those who retired there in accordance with Romanian legislation prior to their return.

At the same time, Athens will also recognize the period during which returning Greeks who have not yet reached retirement age were insured in Romania.

The agreement covers Greeks who settled in Romania after 1 January 1945 with the status of political refugee as well as their families, who returned or will return permanently to Greece within a period of six years from the date on which the accord enters force.

The draft law to be tabled in Parliament is awaiting signature by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou.

Army helps out in flooded areas

The Public Power Corp.(DEH) did not yet restore electricity to the whole city of Corinth for fear of electrocutions, since dozens of power lines have collapsed, a DEH spokesman said.

The worst-hit was the prefecture of Fthiotida, where five river bridges collapsed after being engulfed by the waters of the swollen Sperhios River.

Interior Undersecretary Lambros Papadimas told ANA that Fthiotida had literally been cut in two as a result of the collapse or serious damage to the five bridges connecting the prefecture.

He said dozens of villages on one side of Fthiotida had been cut off, while the national road network in the prefecture could not be used due to severe damage.

Mr. Papadimas said the armed forces were assisting, with marines and a batallion of engineers trying to build a floating bridge to enable communication with the villages which have been cut off.

US thanks Pangalos for efforts in Belgrade

"We are grateful for Foreign Minister Pangalos' actions over the weekend, which help a lot, and are in line with the will of the OSCE and the international community. We are grateful for the effective way in which he represented all of us," State Depart ement spokesman Nicholas Burns said.

Replying to a question by ANA, he added that Athens had previously informed Washington of its intentions regarding the mission, and there was also a briefing after Mr. Pangalos' return to Athens.

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(M.P.)

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