NEWS IN DETAIL

Farmers decide to block roads again

The committee decided to hold a country-wide meeting of Farmer's Coordinating Committies next Sunday in Larisa. Thessaly farmers are to congregate equipment at village centres on January 28 and to proceed on blocades of public buildings in Larisa and Trikala on the following day. On January 30 they decided to block the Athens-Thessaloniki railway line and on the 31st the blocking of the national highway at the Tembi location.

The farmers have declared that if the government doesn't change it's stance, their industrial action will culminate on February 4 with yet another blocking of the entire road network of the country.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday likened the new protest action announced by farmers to blackmail, saying it constituted a blow to the country's fragile economy and society and harmed the interests of the farmers themselves.

Speaking in Parliament during a scheduled debate on agricultural policy, Simitis addressed opposition parties saying ''no government, no society can tolerate the coercion of the few, coercion which tramples on the rights of other citizens, their freedom and daily struggle for their own income''.

During his 50-minute speech, Simitis announced that the government would soon table a draft law introducing special tax measures and additional loan accommodations as incentives for young farmers.

Clerides: The overflights moratorium is dead

The meeting centred on promoting plans for defence cooperation between the two countries. Tsohatzopoulos noted that the Cypriot President had been given satisfactory answers to his questions, while the Greek side had been given the opportunity to draw attention to crucial points. Clerides told the press that nothing had changed regarding Cyprus' defence. Responding to a question on the Greek military overflights, he replied: "The moratorium is dead.

Back in Nicosia, the Cypriot President reiterated that there was no agreement as to such a moratorium and added that in his talks with the Greek National Defence Minister, the safe transport and installation of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus had been discussed. He said the Cypriot government would decide if there should be a ban on Greek military overflights in order to avoid any negative repercussions when a dialogue began on the Cyprus issue.

He also stressed that in his meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, decisions had been made with regard to the future handling of the Cyprus issue.

Radical changes to university entry procedures

Meanwhile high school teachers have announced five-day rolling strikes, seeking solutions for financial and institutional problems.

Meanwhile high school teachers have announced five-day rolling strikes, seeking solutions for financial and institutional problems.

Cretan farmers up in arms for delays of products transport

Continious meetings with leaders of the PNO are held tonight at the Merchant Marine Ministry in an effotrt to reach a compromise regarding the farmers' plight who stand to lose millions of drachmas if their highly perishable produce is not shipped to Greek and European markets on time.

Yesterday scuffles broke out between farmers and seamen near the mooring of the KNOSSOS ferryboatin Iraklion, the sailors of which refused to break their strike in order to move the products.

The KNOSSOS and two other ferries, the KAZANTZAKIS, and the CANDIA, sailed away from the docks last night after farmers tried to burn the ships' mooring ropes and threw rocks at their crews trying to put out the fires.

Meanwhile today, C-130 military transport aircraft were employed at Timbaki airbase to pick up perishables. It has also been reported that Navy landing vessels were expected at other Cretan ports to pick up trucks carrying fruit and vegetables.

A Piraeus court on Friday ruled the extension of an ongoing seamen's strike was "illegal and an abuse (of their right to strike)".

The seamen are pressing demands for increased insurance and unemployment benefits, an increase in minimum pensions and preservation of tax breaks enjoyed since 1955.

Alexander the Great sculpture in Thessaloniki museum

The head, sculpted in natural size, was placed in a special display at the entrance of the museum.

The suprintendant of the 16th Office of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Dimitris Grammenos, speaking about the new exhibit said that it is one of three such known works depicting the facial features of Alexander the Great, the other two having been found in Asia Minor and Venice.

The sculpture was purchased by the Ministry of Culture for the equivalent of 75 million drachmas three months ago at a special Cristi's auction in Austria, the proceeds of which went to the Jewish Communities of Vienna. Initially the head was part of a private collection and was later seized by Nazis and moved to the Mauerbach monastery.

Mr. Venizelos revealed before the ceremony that the ministry representative at the auction fought a hard battle to aquire the piece, which was contested vigorously by an unknown bider through the telephone.

Greece, FYROM talks to resume Monday

Meanwhile, diplomatic circles stressed that special UN mediator Cyrus Vance - appointed by former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali - will continue his mission since new UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed no intention of replacing special representatives appointed by the previous administration.

Diplomatic sources said that the UN Security Council had no jurisdiction on imposing an international name and the only thing it can do in the event that Mr. Vance submits a report, if he ascertains that negotiations are deadlocked, is to replace the name FYROM with some other name, but for exclusive use in the UN.

On another issue, Greece's permanent representative to the UN, Christos Zaharakis, has begun systematic and intensive contacts with the UN's 181 member-states since the beginning of the new year in order to pave the way for support of Greece's candidacy as a Security Council member over the 1999-2000 two-year period.

SPORT

Aris-Apollon 1-0 Edessaikos-Athinaikos 3-2 Ionikos-Kalamata 2-1 Kavala-Olympiakos 1-2 Kastoria-PAOK 1-2 OFI- Veria 2-0 Xanthi-AEK 1-2 Panathinaikos-Iraklis 4-0 Paniliakos-Panahaiki Monday

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.S.)

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