Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-01-29

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Elections-Arsenis

[02] Greece-Turkey-Agriculture

[03] Simitis-Socialist Conference

[04] Athens Metro-Debut

[01] Elections-Arsenis

Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis said on Saturday that he believed national elections would take place in the autumn, as scheduled.

Asked in an interview to the Athens News Agency if Greece had entered a pre-election period, Arsenis replied:

"I don't think so. Actually there is a fairly generalised pre-election atmosphere. I think this atmosphere is more of an echo of the circumstances before the disorderly retreat by (conservative opposition New Democracy leader) Costas Karamanlis over the re-election of Mr. Stephanopoulos as president of the republic, when the public had psychologically prepared itself for early elections.

"Today, I see no need for continuation of talk about early elections. I believe that the government has a job to do, and I believe that our original position remains in force, that is for elections in the autumn, at the end of the government's four-year term."

[02] Greece-Turkey-Agriculture

Greece and Turkey on Saturday pledged to forge ties in agriculture, a new step in a gradual rapprochement between the two countries.

Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis told reporters in this northern port city that he would sign a farming agreement with his Turkish counterpart, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, during a visit to Ankara.

The main principles of the pact, which spans crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and livestock health, had already been drafted, Gokalp told reporters.

[03] Simitis-Socialist Conference

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Saturday underlined his government's policy of economic growth combined with social welfare, citing the success of the Swedish socialist model.

Addressing a conference of European socialist and labour parties, Simitis said that prosperity for like-minded politicians was not defined solely by economic indicators.

"For a contemporary socialist party, growth is a qualitative process linked to conservation of the environment; sustainability on the basis of people's needs and not the dictates of profit; the quality of daily life; and social co-existence," Simitis told delegates.

"A car rendered immobile in a congested street symbolises a new form of bondage."

[04] Athens Metro-Debut

The newly built Athens metro made a successful debut on Saturday with thousands of people enjoying a ride - free for the underground's first two days of operation.

The most popular entry station was Syntagma Square where travellers eager to try out the new line queued up before the scheduled 9 a.m. opening time. Later in the morning, metro officials had to periodically shut the gates at Syntagma in order to ease congestion, allowing travellers access in small groups.

To celebrate the metro's launch, the government ordained that travel on all public transport would be free at the weekend. On Monday, the metro will begin its normal schedule from 5.30 a.m. to midnight. Tickets cost 240 drachmas each.

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