NEWS IN DETAIL

Resumption of farmers' protests simply blackmail, PM says

Speaking in Parliament during a scheduled debate on agricultural policy, Simitis addressed himself to the 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''.

The premier said the opposition parties had a duty to make it quite clear whether it supported or would support the protest action announced by farmers ''which surpass all legitimate limits of our society's democratic functioning''.

The Pan-Thessaly Farmers' Coordinating Committee on Wednesday announced that farmers would begin protest action on 28 January, gradually escalating until 4 February when they would resume the road and rail blockades which caused widespread disruption nationwide in December.

Continuing his criticism of the stance of opposition parties on the farmers' protests, Simitis said ''those who wish to indulge in demagogy must realize that the Greek people is not willing to support a course which leads to the destruction of the agricultural economy and Greek society as a whole''.

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.

The measures, he said, would be part of a 14-point framework of intervention in the agricultural sector.

Cyprus President Clerides in Athens

Neither president made statements after the 40-minute meeting which was attended also by Cyprus Foreign Minister Alekos Michailides, Undersecretary to the President's Office Pantelis Kouros, government spokesman Yannakis Cassoulides and Cyprus' Ambassador in Athens Charalambos Christoforos.

Delegations of the two countries are scheduled to meet this evening, chaired by Clerides and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, to examine all the aspects of the Cyprus problem in view of the initiative which Washington has said it will be undertaking.

Tomorrow, Clerides is due to meet with main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, former premier Constantine Mitsotakis and representatives of the Federation of Cypriots in Greece.

Referring to this evening's meeting, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said it would be reasonable to expect final decisions and conclusions about how to deal with all the issues relating to the Cyprus problem which were currently in the news.

Commenting on the opinion expressed earlier this week by US envoy Carey Cavanaugh that the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles purchased by Nicosia would not eventually be deployed on Cyprus, Reppas said that ''as far as I know, the Cyprus government will shortly be paying a deposit to Russia for the system''.

He said that Cavanaugh's statement expressed the US government's interest in undertaking initiatives aimed at securing sufficient progress to make the missile deployment unnecessary.

Reppas said that there was interest in raising the Cyprus issue, including the missile deployment issue, at the EU General Affairs Council on Monday, adding that the Greek government had strong arguments which it had already set out to European governments on a bilateral level.

Seamen's strike ruled illegal

The Panhellenic Seamen's Union (PNO) decided late Thursday night to extend a four-day strike -- due to end and 6:00 a.m. today -- for another four days until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

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

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

The court, acting on a suit filed by shipowners, ruled that if seamen do not call off their strike action within the day, the 14 trade unionists comprising the PNO administration would be sentenced to two months' detainment and a 100,000 drachma fine for each violation of the court ruling.

Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) yesterday announced a nationwide 24-hour strike for next Thursday in support of demands for "democratic fiscal reform".

The labour organisation's main demands consist in the index-linking of tax brackets to inflation and an increase to two million drachmas of the tax- free limit for the minimum wages of an unskilled worker.

According to the GSEE, the government's refusal to index tax brackets will cost workers being paid under the National General Labour Agreement between 25,000 and 130,000 drachmas annually.

Reorganised system for higher education

"I referred specifically to the issue of upgrading the function between high school and tertiary education, which must gradually open to all who can follow its programmes," Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis told reporters afterwards.

He said he would discuss the issue with professors and university authorities. "This will take about 10 days, and we shall then formulate the final proposals, which will be submitted to the inter-party committee in Parliament," he added.

According to sources, most university administrations agree with the idea for a gradual shift of responsibility for students' entrance into higher educational institutions, and favour a continuation of the increase in the number of students entering, with a parallel increase of financial support and the establishment of certain criteria for entry.

Romanian foreign minister to visit Greece

During his stay, Mr. Severin will have talks with President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Bank sale falls through

The committee formed to evaluate purchase offers for Cretabank convened this morning after the Bank of Piraeus on Thursday expressed interest.

Quite suddenly however, the Bank of Piraeus at noon today informed the committee that it was withdrawing from the auction, effectively putting an end to the procedure.

Kranidiotis named new Foreign Undersecretary

Mr. Reppas made the announcement after a cabinet meeting decision.

Mr. Kranidiotis' appointment is effective as of Feb. 1. He will assume the post from Christos Rozakis, who resigned recently.

Mr. Kranidiotis has previously served as foreign undersecretary for European Union affairs from July 8, 1994 until Jan. 20, 1995.

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.

Public Order minister to visit Zagreb

Mr. Romeos "gladly accepted the invitation and expressed his hope that the visit would be a further contribution to already existing good relations between the two countries," the announcement added.

"The two delegations initialled the text of the bilateral Agreement on Fighting Against International illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, International Terrorism and Organized Crime," the statement read.

The announcement described the agreement and its implementation as a significant step forward in the continuous development of bilateral relations between Croatia and Greece.

The Croatian delegation was headed by Zdravko Zidovec, the head of cabinet for the Croatian minister of internal affairs.

WEATHER

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(M.S.)

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