NEWS IN DETAIL

Farmers' protests continue for 12th day

After a 50-minute meeting between the two men, Evert described as ''unacceptable'' what he called the government's refusal to hold a dialogue with the farmers.

''The prime minister is obliged to meet with them, regardless of whether he accepts or rejects their demands,'' Evert said.

Farmers are demanding higher crop prices, increased subsidies, cheaper fuel for agricultural use, the favourable settlement of outstanding debts and lower fertilizer prices.

''The essence of democracy is dialogue and a democratically elected prime minister cannot reject it,'' Evert told reporters.

The ND leader also accused the government of creating problems for social cohesion, saying ''it is inconceivable to try and resolve the (farmers') protest action by bringing one social group into confrontation with another''.

Evert was referring chiefly to incidents between protesting farmers and truck drivers who have been stranded for days at what are now more than 100 roadblocks throughout the country.

Labour minister says protests are 'blackmail'

''Some people must understand that it is not a case of 'us and them','' Papaioannou said shortly before a meeting with the administrative board of the Thessaloniki Labour Centre.

Papaioannou was met outside the centre by former workers of the Goodyear plant who have been made redundant following the closure of the plant.

The former workers chanted slogans demanding that they be given jobs, to which Papaioannou commented:

''Both farmers and workers have problems, but the the unemployed have the biggest problems and that is where we must focus our attention.''

Labour Undersecretary Christos Protopappas, who was accompanying Papaioannou, said that the farmers' protests were ''a form of struggle'' which was however aimed mainly not against the government but society as a whole.

He called on the farmers taking part in the protests to consider the repercussions of their action on workers, producers and the other farmers who were not participating.

The government, he added, could not satisfy the farmers' demands.

The re-nationalisation of agricultural policy in particular would have adverse consequences for the farmers themselves, Protopappas said.

Dialogue only when roads are clear, gov't says

Reppas reiterated that the government had already given its ''final'' replies to the farmers' demands.

Expressing some optimism however, the spokesman said that ''a spirit of good intentions'' had not entirely disappeared on the side of the protesting farmers, adding that he hoped their blockades and protest action would soon end.

Reppas said that the Cabinet would meet tomorrow, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, to discuss the new uniform pay scale for civil servants. He clarified that the issue of the farmers' protests would also be examined at the meeting.

Gov't cannot give in, finance minister says

Shortly afterwards, in a written statement, Papantoniou said it was ''inconceivable that a social group should try to impose its will on the whole of society''.

Linking the farmers' protests to the fact that inflation had fallen to 7.7 per cent in November, dipping below the 8 per cent mark for the first time in 25 years, Papantoniou said:

''This was the result of strenuous efforts by the whole of Greek society -- workers, small- and medium-size enterprises and the farmers themselves... and it is inconceivable that these efforts should be wasted because of the blocking of roads by a group of farmers.''

Replying to reporters' questions on labour action in other sectors, Papantoniou reiterated that there was no margin for further hand-outs, stressing that the government was determined to push ahead with its programme on the basis of the popular mandate it received in general elections on 22 September.

Seamen strike

The PNO said the strike could escalate into a series of successive stoppages if the government does not reconsider its decision to abolish tax exemptions for seamen.

PNO General Secretary Yiannis Chalas said last week that under the government's new tax law, the income of officers and lower-rank seamen will be taxed at 15 per cent beginning 1997.

The federation said it would also be holding a protest rally on Wednesday with the participation of the Piraeus Labour Centre.

Greece participates in WEU exercise

The exercise will focus on crisis-handling and in particular, securing the provision of humanitarian aid.

In the present phase, only full members of the WEU are participating. Associate members will take part only as observers.

The first phase of the exercise was conducted from 15-21 January 1995 and the second from 22-28 June 1996.

The present third phase will be completed on 18 December.

Environmental groups sue over hydroelectric projects

The organisations are seeking the cancellation of the joint ministerial decision which approved the environmental terms for the construction of the DEH dams on the Nestos.

They claim that in order for the project to go ahead, an Environmental Impact Study should first have been carried out and published.

Although such a study was indeed carried out, the organisations maintain that it does not meet the requirements and specifications of Greek legislation in force and European Union directives.

Greece would welcome Turkey's inclusion in Europe, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said, if Ankara were more consistent before its obligations on human rights and international law and conventions.

In a letter to his Turkish counterpart Tansu Ciller delivered on November 28, Mr. Pangalos outlined his views on the entire spectrum of Greek-Turkish relations and Ankara's relations with the European Union (EU).

The full text of the letter was published in yesterday's newspaper "To Vima".

Mr. Pangalos reminded Ms Ciller of Greece's repeated expressions of support for Turkey's orientation towards Europe, in particular, Greece's signing of the EU-Turkey customs union agreement.

However, he noted that Turkey had not given a positive reply to the principles contained in the EU's "Turkey declaration" of July 15, 1996, principles which chiefly concerned (respect for) international law. This, he noted, should be the foundation for EU-Turkey relations and (its acceptance) was mandatory in order that difficulties in those relations, as well as bilateral relations, be ironed out.

With regard to Turkey's human rights record, Mr. Pangalos said:

"If these measures (proposed by the European Union) are not adhered to by your government fully and consistently, then Turkey's human rights record will deteriorate, potentially leading to further criticism by public opinion in many nations as well as by international organisations."

Bilateral relations

"...In addition, Greece has stated that negotiations on issues concerning its sovereignty are inconceivable and a dialogue on those issues is unacceptable," he stressed, adding his concern at what he called Turkey's "selective approach" to the principles of international law and to its own responsibilities as laid down in international treaties.

Mr. Pangalos went on to note violations of Greek air space by Turkish air force planes, Turkey's repeated claims on Greek territory and its refusal to refer the question of the Aegean continental shelf to the International Court at The Hague.

"It is therefore clear," he continued, "that while Greece is making no claims on the sovereign rights or territory of Turkey, those issues which Turkey describes as bilateral are in fact solely concerned with Greece's own sovereign rights and territory. "

Cyprus issue

Nevertheless, he expressed agreement with his Turkish counterpart that the will of all the sides involved was necessary to resolve the Cyprus issue.

"...if Turkey could become more approachable with regard to the ..Cyprus issue, it would greatly assist the international community's efforts and would have beneficial repercussions on future relations between the EU and Turkey as well as between Turkey and Greece," he said.

Leading Turkish businessman urges better commercial relations

"We can't have bad relations with all the countries neighbouring Turkey.... We must make a strategic decision and decide to solve the problems," Rahmi Koc, president of Turkey's biggest business conglomerate, told the Athens daily "Kathimerini".

"I believe that we must improve our relations with Greece,"he added.

Accompanying the business delegation are the publishers of newspapers such as "Hurriyet", "Millyet" and "Sabah", as well as the leaders of the Liberal Party and the TURK-IS union.

Greek-Turkish business annual transactions are currently valued at $400 million . "If they reach the two billion dollar mark, then politicians will find it difficult to upset bilateral relations," added Mr. Koc.

Mr. Koc is to be guest speaker at the "presidents' dinner" tomorrow organised by the Kantor business consultants' firm. The annual dinner has become an institution for communication between business circles from both countries.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Olympiakos - Panathinaikos 1 - 0
AEK - Ionikos 2 - 1
Panahaiki - Kastoria 3 - 0
PAOK Salonique - Veria 0 - 0
Xanthi - Aris Salonique 3 - 2
Apollon - Heraklis 4 - 1

Standings:

Olympiakos    29
Panathinaikos 23
AEK Athens    23
OFI           22
Panahaiki     19
Pyrgos        17
Kalamata      16
Veria         16
Kavala        15
PAOK Salonica 14
Xanthi        13
Ionikos       12
Apollon       10
Aris Salonica 10
Edessa         8

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article