From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 9 Oct 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). bulletin -------- 09/10/1993 ( ) ANA Athens,9/10/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday said Greece was ''moving forward with New Democracy '' and warned against a return to socialist rule would transform this ''vision into disaster''. ''We had the courage to move forward and build a new Greece, one that we can had down to the next generation without shame'', Mr Mitsotakis told a campaign rally. ''Your sacrifices went to (foster) growth and (develop) a national infrastructure. They were an investment in Greece's future'', he said, highlighting a series of public works projects completed throughout Greece. His speech at Athens central Pedio tou Areos park marked the end of the pre-election period, capping a week of successive rallies in the capital by the four parties represented in the Greek parliament. Outlining the government's achievements during its three-and- a-half years in office, Mr Mitsotakis said New Democracy had ''introduced meritocracy'' into the education system,untangled the morass in housing and urban development and ''moved ahead with deep cuts and changes necessary to rebuild and modernise our country''. Mr Mitsotakis added that tomorrow's elections were critical as ''a wrong decision'' would mean a return to the rampant deficits and soaring inflation that characterised the eight years of rule by the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). ''In three years, we reduced inflation to 12.8 per cent in September, the lowest in 15 years. We will reduce inflation further and this will lead to a drop in interest rates, which will relieve the middle class... Greece's foreign exchange reserves reached eight billion dollars, which is three times higher than when we came to power and the highest ever...We reduced the state and privatised the ailing enterprises that were draining our economy.We made deep structural changes that increased Greece's competiveness'', he said. ''It is not coincidental that this year Greece's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose while in Germany, the strongest economic power in Europe , GDP fell. It is not coincidental that the drachma withstood four monetary crises that shook the strong European currencies. Greece is not only back on its feet but this year is growing faster than the rest of Europe'', Mr Mitsotakis added. The premier said a return to socialist rule and the ''aged ideology that has extinguished everywhere'' would spell disaster for the country. ''In the Eighties (PASOK leader Andreas ) Papandreou discredited Greece by allying himself with Third World dictators'', he said, adding that Mr Papandreou had been consistent only in making the ''wrong'' political choices. ''Even in a period of calm, such as the Eighties, his wrong decisions gravely harmed our country. But in the turbulent decade of the Nineties, when threats and turmoil surround us, wrong decisions could prove fatal'', he said. Mr Mitsotakis said that tomorrow the Greek people were being called on to chose between ''a strong government that will inspire respect and secure peace in the region '' or ''weakness and isolation.'' ''My dream is that one day the Greek people will speak of their country and feel the same pride that Pericles once felt about Athens. And, within this century, we will make the first step towards realising that dream'', he added. Speaking at a brief news conference after the rally, Mitsotakis predicted his ruling New Democracy party would be re-elected on Sunday. ''The message I would like to send to the Greek people is that these elections are indeed very critical and will decide many things including the future of our country as well as our children's future'', he said. ''The pre-election period benefited the Greek people because it informed them (about the issues). But I must say that it was also beneficial for the politicians and for me because I was able to receive the people's message first hand. This will help me better exercise (my duties) as prime minister in the second term'', he added. Noting that this was the largest rally ever held in Athens, the prime minister said that the electorate now had a day in which to think soberly about the critical decision they were being called to take on Sunday. He added that as from midnight, when the pre-election period formally ends, ''I think the people will take the time to think maturely and take the best decision for the future''. ana Athens, 9/10/93(ANA)--President Constantine Mitsotakis sent a message yesterday to Egyptian President Hosni Moubarak congratulating him on his recent re-election to a third term as president. ''On the occasion of your re-election and on behalf of the Greek people, I would like to convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes for your success in your great and difficult mission and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly Egyptian people'', Mr Karamanlis said in the message. ''I am certain that the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between our two countries will be strengthened further to the mutual benefit of both our people'' he added. ana Athens, 9/10/93(ANA)--National Economy Minister Stephanos Manos said here yesterday that Greece would miss a ''historic opportunity'' if the government's convergence plan was not adhered to. Speaking before the departure for Brussels, where he is to attend an informal meeting of the EC Economy and Finance Ministers Council beginning today, Mr manos said:''If we maintain our confidence in the course of our economy, as described in the convergence plan, then we can certainly look forward to an unhindered European course. If not, Greece would have missed a historic opportunity''. 'The European economy is at a critical crossroads'', Mr Manos said. ''Our country has taken great steps in order to equally participate in these historic European developments. We have built strong foundations through modernising the structures of the economy and we are now growing at a rate surpassing that of the other European countries. ''We have reduced the public deficit by 50 per cent as against the corresponding period in 1990, and the inflation rate is nearing the levels of inflation in Europe'', he said. ANA (E.P.)