NEWS IN DETAIL

Turkey main destabilising factor, Simitis says

Noting a recent worsening of Turkish provocativeness, Simitis said the government had undertaken an international briefing campaign to explain the situation in the eastern Mediterranean.

Citing the European Union decision of 15 July and recent statements by the US State Department, Simitis said Greece's effort had already borne fruit.

On many occasions, he continued, Turkey's actions merely reflect domestic rivalry and for this reason they should not be blown out of proportion by the Greek side.

He said it would be a mistake if Greece allowed itself to be dragged into an atmosphere of crisis.

''We would be playing into Turkey's hands, because it would be tantamount to accepting that there is a problem when in fact the so-called problem has simply been created by Ankara,'' Simitis said.

The prime minister reiterated that Greece would confront Turkish provocativeness with cool-headedness while providing full support for the Greek armed forces.

He added however that the country's security was not a two-sided power game between Greece and Turkey, ''but chiefly the result of overall correlations within the international system''.

Commenting meanwhile on statements yesterday by Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbakan concerning the demilitarisation of Cyprus and the Aegean islands, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the two regions were quite distinct and could not be compared.

''The Aegean is a sea, sovereignty of which is determined by international law, while Cyprus is a state under occupation,'' Reppas said.

Prime minister addresses ruling party MPs

''It must be understood by all that if we remain on the fringes of European developments, the repercussions will be severe and dangerous, not only for the economy and society but national issues also,'' Simitis told a meeting of his ruling PASOK party's parliamentary group.

In the other European countries, he said, there was general consent as to the main targets of convergence, while ''this is not the case in Greece''.

This, he continued, was due to the main opposition (New Democracy) party which ''instead of being a responsible force of criticism, has become involved with unbelievable improvisations and fickleness vis-a-vis the country's European course''.

Simitis described the government's economic measures as ''necessary and just'', underlining that ''all Greeks are being called upon to contribute proportionally to the national effort''.

''Our economic policy protects workers' incomes and improves the social infrastructure in the sectors of education, health, social welfare and the insurance system,'' Simitis said.

Greece, he added, is one of the few countries in Europe where wages are increasing in real terms, where there are special benefits for people on low pensions and (budget) allocations are increasing for health, social welfare and the insurance system.

''The current year will be one of great opportunities and major choices for Greece,'' Simitis said.

No dispute between ministers, gov't spokesman says

Replying to questions, Reppas reiterated that Greece remained open to anything which could facilitate any initiative aimed at finding a settlement to the Cyprus problem in order to make such an initiative effective.

Athens willing to consider overall proposals for Cyprus

"We told the Americans that we are ready to discuss all propositions leading to the decrease of third countries' military presence on Cyprus, and within this framework all concrete facts and actions, but we are not willing to isolate a specific action a nd discuss only this issue, because it bothers the Turkish side," Mr. Pangalos told reporters in relation to US State Department official Carey Cavanaugh's talks in Athens yesterday.

Mr. Pangalos spoke to reporters after meeting Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo.

"Greek flights over Cyprus are part of a defence cooperation between Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, and in this respect are not subject to criticism and cannot be the subject of negotiations...but we must recognise the necessity of defusing as much as possible, the crisis concerning the island," Mr. Pangalos said, adding, "the proposal of the Cyprus government is the demilitarisation (of the island republic) and it is logical that we work towards this direction."

Mr. Cavanaugh said the crisis in the region over Nicosia's decision to purchase the Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles had been defused, since the Cyprus government assured him that the S-300 system would not be installed for at least 16 months.

In Nicosia, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said yesterday that Russia had informed his government that it could not deliver the missiles before 16 months had elapsed, despite Nicosia's wishes to the contrary.

Mr. Clerides also made it clear that no agreement had been reached on the immediate implementation of a UN package of measures aimed at reducing tension on the island following talks on Monday with Mr. Cavanaugh.

Dutch FM van Mierlo says common EU borders on IGC agenda

The talks, apart from progress in the IGC, also touched upon a wide range of issues, particularly the Cyprus problem, prospects for a start to negotiations for the island republic's entry into the EU, and the convening of the EU-Turkey Association Council.

He described the Cyprus issue as "very important", which "has been in a stalemate for many years now, and must be overcome in the interests of Greece, Turkey, Europe, and of course, Cyprus". He also confirmed the Dutch presidency's adherence to a timetable for a start to negotiations for Cyprus' entry to the EU six months after the end of IGC, noting that "we have begun working on the preparation of this framework."

Evros region calls for trans-border industrial zone

Fotiadis, after chairing a meeting on the proposal, called the initiaitve "very worthwhile and innovative, which will bring relief to a very sensitive, from a national point of view, region".

The initiative hopes to halt Greek business concerns from relocating to Bulgaria, as their continued presence on Greek territory would financially and psychologically boost this downgraed region, which is the European Union's easternmost border, Fotiadis said.

A team of technocrats is being set up to submit specific proposals to Fotiadis in a month's time, regarding the feasibility of the initiative and on the legal aspects.

Seamen extend strike

The stoppage, which affects Greek-flag vessels of all categories as well as foreign ships employing Greek seamen, will end at 6:00 a.m. Friday. The seamen are pressing demands for increased insurance and unemployment benefits, an increase in minimum pensions and preservation of existing tax breaks.

The extension of the seamen's strike has created problems for perishable garden produce cultivators on the island of Crete, whose produce risk rotting in the trucks waiting to transport them.

Producers from Ierapetra -- thousands of tons of whose early cucumbers and other produce are stranded in trucks waiting for transport -- threatened to go to Heraklion to slash the ropes tying the stranded merchant ships to the dock.

The move was averted after arrangements between the Merchant Marine Ministry and a Piraeus-based maritime company for the latter to send a ferry to a Cretan port, most likely Rethymnon, this afternoon to transport dozens of trucks loaded with perishable produce to the port of Kalamata, from where the produce will head for the markets of Europe, mainly Munich, and the rest of Greece.

Crete, whose shores are washed by the Libyan Gulf, has a milder climate than the rest of the country and produces early fruit and garden produce.

Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis told a press conference today that the strike was ''unjustified'', stressing that the government had already given all it could and ''will not give in to such methods''.

He said the strikers' demand concerning a reduction in crew levels was a matter which should be discussed between the seamen and shipowners so that an acceptable solution could be found which the ministry would then ratify with legislation.

Meanwhile, the lorries arriving at Piraeus port will remain there until Friday morning when the strike is due to end, unless it is further extended, in which case the problems for Greece's islands are expected to be acute.

Quake in northern Greece

The quake, recorded shortly after midnight, was felt in Kastoria and surrounding villages but there have been no reports of injuries or structural damage.

Seismology Professor Vassilis Papazachos told the ANA that there was no particular cause for concern, since seismic activity is not common in the area in question.

New Spata airport to be ready in February 2001

The Hochtief-led consortium building the airport announced yesterday that construction on the central airport terminal, considered one of the most important parts of the project, will begin within the month, as will work on three of the project's five p hases. Work on the last two phases is due to commence in six months' time.

Work to lower a hill north of the airport by 50 metres will also start this month. The work is essential to the safety of future flights.

Ten construction teams and a total of 800 workers are currently on the project. By the end of this year, 150 construction teams are expected to have been installed, while the number of workers will reach 3,000.

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