NEWS IN DETAIL

Seamen's strike continues amid scuffles

The rally and march had been scheduled for Athens but the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) switched the protest to Piraeus after receiving information that some of the vessels tied up in the port would seize the opportunity to depart.

The strikers marched to the Merchant Marine Ministry building where a delegation was to request a meeting with minister Stavros Soumakis.

In a letter sent to the PNO late last night, Soumakis said that the seamen and not the government were solely responsible for the repercussions from the strike.

From now on, Soumakis added, the government would enforce the law.

Dozens of port police officers have been put on duty at Piraeus harbour, where seamen were expected to vote later today on whether to continue the strike.

''The seamen's labour action has taken on a political dimension, because certain forces are opposing the government,'' government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

He added that the action had ''gone beyond the framework of trade union protest'' and described the extension of the strike as ''unjustified''.

Ruling out the possibility of mobilizing the striking seamen and dockworkers, Reppas nevertheless called on them to respect the decision of a Piraeus court which on Friday ruled that the extension of the strike was ''illegal and abusive''.

''They must consider the responsibilities for the social and political cost of the strike,'' Reppas said.

Meanwhile, calm returned to the port of Irakleio, Crete last night, although tension had mounted in the afternoon when local farmers from Ierapetra gathered in an effort to exert pressure for the transport of their perishable produce. Farmers were expe cting two ferry boats to sail which, according to reports, the Panhellenic Maritime Federation (PNO) decided to let sail for Athens on the condition that no dismissals follow.

The ferry "Aptera" sailed from Hania in the afternoon with 70 trucks loaded with perishable farm products, while some quantities of vegetables were carried by C-130 "Hercules" military transport planes.

Teachers begin five-day strike

Teachers in Greece today began a five-day strike mainly in support of demands for higher pay.

Anthopoulos acknowledged that the ''social and economic level'' of teachers was in need of improvement, adding that both Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis and he himself had called on the teachers' union (OLME) to enter into a dialogue.

He stressed however that such a dialogue could not focus solely on the teachers' pay demands.

''The dialogue must begin with institutional matters concerning education, '' he said, while clarifying that this would also include the issue of ''the salary structure'' in the sector.

Anthopoulos indicated that the government would be willing to consider ''improvements'' in the teachers' pay scale in 1998 and 1999.

Citing figures which he clarified were not the ministry's, Anthopoulos said the percentage of participation in the strike appeared to be quite high.

''But this is not of great concern to us. We are not dealing with the strike through the prism of degree of success or failure. The strike is a negative development, mainly for... pupils,'' Anthopoulos said, leaving open the possibility of additional teaching hours being added to the school year to make up for those lost.

Arsenis has asserted that under the new pay scale, teachers will receive salary increases of between 17,000 and 46,000 drachmas, while teachers maintain it will result in pay reductions, particularly in the case of teachers being appointed for the first time.

The strike caused problems at high schools in Thessaloniki this morning.

According to the Secondary Education Directorate of Thessaloniki Prefecture, the strike had a 39.75 percentage of participation.

This morning, teachers participating in the strike held a meeting at the Thessaloniki Labour Centre before marching to the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry building where they handed a resolution to minister Philippos Petsalnikos.

The resolution protests the new pay scale which, they said, would result in a drop in their incomes.

The teachers are also demanding that the public nature of education be safeguarded, vacant teaching posts be filled and improvements to school buildings.

Papandreou calls for serious coordination from EU on Cyprus

Papandreou made the appeal in light of negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU which are scheduled to begin six months after the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).

Speaking today at the first General Affairs Council under the Dutch presidency, Papandreou stresed that cooperation between the EU and the United States should be aimed at ''attaining broader and more stable results''.

At this point, he raised the Cyprus issue and the need to promote a political solution to the problem.

''We believe that conditions are now ripe in order for a framework agreement to be found for a settlement of the problem,'' Papandreou said.

On the issue of Turkey, Papandreou agreed with his counterparts that an effort should be made to normalise relations and promote cooperation, but on the condition that Ankara made some goodwill gesture in the spirit of the EU declaration of 15 July last year, to which Turkey has not yet replied.

Preparations under way for Europartenariat

More than 3,000 businessmen from 77 countries will converge in Piraeus on June 23-24 for the Europartenariat Hellas.

For the first time, Greece, the Greek economy and 400 select enterprises will be promoted in a systematic and organised way by local specialised organisations at world level.

Europartenariat organisers will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. on January 23 at the Athens Hilton's "Esperides" hall, where representatives of the National Economy Ministry and the European Commission will present the targets of the Europartenariat for the Greek economy.

The preparatory meeting is financed one-third by the National Economy Ministry and two-thirds by the European Union.

Simitis to attend Socialist International meeting

He will be accompanied by PASOK`s foreign policy secretary and recently namede foreign undersecretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, central committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis and executive bureau member and Eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos.

The council's agenda will focus on the Middle East and support for the peace process, the Dayton agreement, Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi and the reform and renewal of the Socialist International.

The agenda does not include Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue. However, according to press reports, Mr. Simitis will refer in his address to the two issues.

Reference will also be made, according to reports, to the installation of Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus by Erdal Inonu who, together with Deniz Baykal, will represent the Turkish Republican People`s Party.

Cypriot socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides will outline the situation created in Cyprus. The council will be attended by 350 representatives of 139 socialist parties from 120 countries.

Contract for new Patras port signed

The contract concerns the first phase of building the new port of Patras and anticipates works amounting to 13 billion drachmas.

In a statement, Port Fund President Yiannis Dimaras stressed the great significance of the contract for the construction of the new port, which will enable the Port Fund to continue competition with the other two ports in the region (Igoumenitsa, Astako s) with much better means.

Greek-Italian trade symposium in Athens

"1997 is a crucial year for all European economies. However, it is particularly crucial for the Greek economy, since it is called on to accelerate its step more than all, both on the course of development and the course of the adjustment of fiscal imbal ances," she said.

Finance Undersecretary George Drys said "attainment of high targets, such as coverage of health and social insurance needs, support for employment and equal opportunities, care for the environment and the avoidance of phenomena of social marginalisation requires a strong economy with high development rates.

"However, development means planning and controlling the contribution of each project in a chain aimed at increasing the total product. Development means choices and classifications," he said.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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