[01] PREMIER UNVEILS GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICIES AND TARGETS

[02] PREMIER DEVELOPS GREECE'S BALKAN-POLICY AT THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR SPEECH

[03] OPPOSITION LEADER IS INCAPABLE OF HANDLING NATIONAL ISSUES, SAYS PREMIER

[04] PREMIER'S ADDRESS AT FAIR WAS EVASIVE, SAYS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY

[05] SAE LEADER ANDREW ATHENS: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES MUST STAND UP FOR GREECE'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

[06] ACTING PRESS MINISTER: GREECE SEEKS EU'S COMMON POSITION ON IRAQ ISSUE

[07] BUSINESS DEALS GIVE AND TAKE AT THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

[08] GREEK COMPANIES TO JOIN FORCES WITH U.S. IN BALKAN MARKET CONQUEST

[09] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER: NORTHERN GREECE IS A COMMUNICATION BRIDGE

[10] NEW DEMOCRACY AND MINOR OPPOSITION CONTINUE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

[11] GREECE TO REFRAIN FROM PARTICIPATING IN NATO EXERCISE "DYNAMIC MIX '96"

[12] THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR TO BE VISITED BY OPPOSITION LEADERS

[13] FRENCH PREMIER ALAIN JUPPE TO FORMALLY VISIT ATHENS ON SEPTEMBER 14-15

[14] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT RECEIVES BELGIAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION

[15] GREEK-CANADIAN CHAMBER TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ATHENS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PREMIER UNVEILS GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICIES AND TARGETS

Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis addressed northern Greece's manufacturers and industrialists this evening in Thessaloniki, where he outlined the economic policy to be adopted by his government in the upcoming year.

The Premier emphasized that PASOK's development course is right on track and is visible as "our government doesn't merely promise, it creates."

Starting with above-inflation pay raises to be given to workers for the third year in a row, Mr. Simitis noted that the inflation rate shows a marked improvement and will be adjusted within 1996 to approximately 8.2 percent.

The country's monetary and exchange policy will continue to have as its primary task the stabilization and support of an overall anti-inflationary policy.

This, according to Mr. Premier, will result in further reductions in interest rates and, subsequently, in boosting investment and entrepreneurial activity.

[02] PREMIER DEVELOPS GREECE'S BALKAN-POLICY AT THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR SPEECH

At the formal inauguration of Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair last evening, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis hailed Greece as "a leader of peace and security in the Balkans" and designated the country's northern region as a "pole of development and welfare."

In a cogent and analytical speech, the Premier focused on Greece's role in the Balkans and stated that, being the only country-member of the European Union that borders with the other Balkan countries, Greece will embark on an exploratory, bilateral and multilateral dialogue with the other neighboring countries in the region in order to examine the potential of creating a more cohesive economic cooperation in the Balkans which will work closely with the EU.

Mr. Simitis will visit Veroia and Yiannitsa this afternoon and will return to Thessaloniki this evening.

[03] OPPOSITION LEADER IS INCAPABLE OF HANDLING NATIONAL ISSUES, SAYS PREMIER

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, also President of ruling party PASOK, stated that the main opposition party leader Miltiades Evert is incapable of handling national issues and is busy dispersing a climate of hyperbole and flag-waving.

Speaking in Peira, Mr. Simitis criticized Mr. Evert's proposal that Greece hold an all-inclusive dialogue with Turkey, a situation which, according to the Premier, is exactly what Ankara wants.

The Premier stated that Mr. Evert does not appear to comprehend the true impact of his proposal and, as such, appears to be ill-equipped to handle national issues.

Later, during his speaking engagement in Yiannitsa, Mr. Simitis exhalted the historic significance of the city of Pella being the "cradle of Macedonian culture at an international level."

The Premier stated that the government's aim is to heavily promote the region's culture during the upcoming year, coinciding with the "Thessaloniki: Cultural Capital of Europe '97" festivities.

[04] PREMIER'S ADDRESS AT FAIR WAS EVASIVE, SAYS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY

"The Prime Minister skilfully avoided confronting the chaos he and his government have created and merely dealt with our neighbors' development," remarked the main opposition party New Democracy, through its Thessaloniki headquarters, in regards to the speech given last evening by Premier Kostas Simitis at the formal inauguration of the city's 61st International Trade Fair.

According to New Democracy, "the Prime Minister did not refer to the economic suffocation Thessaloniki is suffering from and for the "dead-end status" of the region's projects for which he was boasting a few months ago."

[05] SAE LEADER ANDREW ATHENS: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES MUST STAND UP FOR GREECE'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

The President of the World Hellenism Council Andrew Athens stated today that Greek-Americans will seek a commitment from United States President Bill Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole regarding Greece's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Athens stated that this commitment will be sought during a convention to be held in Wahsington between September 24-26.

[06] ACTING PRESS MINISTER: GREECE SEEKS EU'S COMMON POSITION ON IRAQ ISSUE

Acting Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Konstas stated today that any given violation or incursion by Turkey into Iraq would constitute an act of violating an independent state's sovereignty and would contribute to the destabilizaiton of the greater region.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Konstas further commented on the current crisis that erupted in Iraq, specifically referring to the turkish threats of attacking the southern part of that country, and reiterated Greece's firm position to seek a commonly-held position among European Union member-states during the informal Foreign Ministers Council.

Currently in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the city's 61st International Trade Fair, Mr. Konstas also visited the MPA offices and expressed the view that the Agency has become a significant news center for the greater region, the Balkans included, and pointed out the MPA's impressive role in transforming Thessaloniki into a Balkan capital of news and information.

[07] BUSINESS DEALS GIVE AND TAKE AT THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Spanning only its first day of operation, Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair is already enjoying the fruits of multinational business deals.

A delegation of South Australian businessmen met this morning with representatives from Thessaloniki's production sector in order to boost and further promote bilateral trade between the two coutnries.

Also, an Indian businessmen's delegation, led by Data Exports Ltd general director H.H. Malgham, will hold various meetings with local businessmen.

[08] GREEK COMPANIES TO JOIN FORCES WITH U.S. IN BALKAN MARKET CONQUEST

On the occasion of Thessaloniki's 61st Internaitonal Trade Fair, the United States Embassy in Athens announced that a series of joint ventures will take place between a group of US and Greek companies eyeing the Balkan market.

These ventures will be embarked upon in October through a series of visits to Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and FYROM, according to the US Embassy's commercial attache.

[09] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER: NORTHERN GREECE IS A COMMUNICATION BRIDGE

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos exhalted the city of Thessaloniki as being the "most dynamic, economically and culturally, center in the Balkans" during his speech at the formal opening ceremony of Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair.

Minister Petsalnikos empasized the significance of transforming the northern Greek region into a "bridge of communication among peoples and cultures' and added that "the regional development is a national priority matter, as the country's future decisively depends upon the economic, social and cultural development of regions such as Macedonia and Thrace."

[10] NEW DEMOCRACY AND MINOR OPPOSITION CONTINUE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

In preparation of the country's September 22 general elections, New Democracy President Miltiades Evert continues his pre-election campaign tour, currently visiting the cities of Larisa and Karditsa, while the party's honorary president and ex- premier Konstantinos Mitsotakis continues his campaign in the Peloponnese.

Minor opposition party Political Spring's leader, Antonis Samaras, criticised both Mr. Evert and Mr. Simitis by stating that behind the two leaders are "invisible power players."

Communist Party of Greece Secretary-General Aleka Paparega is conducting a tour on the island of Lesvos. At a speaking engagement last evening, Ms. Paparega stated that the targets of the European Union's convergence program are imbalanced in favor of the german economy and, in general, European industrialists and bankers.

[11] GREECE TO REFRAIN FROM PARTICIPATING IN NATO EXERCISE "DYNAMIC MIX '96"

Greece will not be participating in the upcoming NATO military exercise "Dynamic Mix '96, to be held between September 22-October 10 over the Alliance's southern region, which includes Greece, Italy and Turkey.

According to an announcement issued today by the Greek Ministry of National Defense, the decision to abstain from the exercise was drawn in accordance to Greece's firm policy (set in 1985) of refraining from all Alliance activities whose terms do not meet the conditions set by Athens.

[12] THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR TO BE VISITED BY OPPOSITION LEADERS

The Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Greece, Aleka Paparega, will visit Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair on Monday, September 9th, while Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos' visit will be held on Thursday, September 12th.

On Friday, September 14th the International Trade Fair will be visited by Democratic Socialist Movement (DHKKI) leader, Dimitris Tsovolas and on Sunday, September 15th will be visited by main opposition New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert.

[13] FRENCH PREMIER ALAIN JUPPE TO FORMALLY VISIT ATHENS ON SEPTEMBER 14-15

The first formal visit to Greece by a French Premier during the last ten years will be made by France's Prime Minister Alain Juppe on September 14-15.

Mr. Juppe will arrive in Greece on the occasion of commemorating the 150-year anniversary since the founding of the French Archaeology School in Athens, the oldest science institution outside France.

Accompanied by French Education Minister Francois Bayou, Mr. Juppe will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and other dignitaries from Greece's political world.

[14] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT RECEIVES BELGIAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION

An eight-member parliamentary delegation from Belgium met today with Greek Parliament President, Apostolos Kaklamanis.

The Belgian delegation arrived in Athens this morning for a seven-day formal visit on the invitation of the Greek Parliament.

[15] GREEK-CANADIAN CHAMBER TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ATHENS

Canadian Ambassador to Greece Derek Frazer announced the establishment of Greek-Canadian Chamber in Athens, during the inauguration of the Canadian stand at Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair.

According to Mr. Frazer, the aim of the Chamber will be to promote bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries, through investments and commerce.

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