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Athens News Agency: News in English, 96-12-11

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

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


NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 11/12/1996 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

  • Deafiant farmers reject prime minister's appeal to end blockades
  • Greece will not accept Turkey's entry to E.U., WEU 'through the window'
  • 2,000 workers laid off
  • British gov't appeal
  • Simitis leaves today for the Hague before Dublin summit
  • Greek issues to be promoted in U.S. Congress
  • EIB approves funding for Rio-Antirrio bridge

    NEWS IN DETAIL

    Defiant farmers reject premier's appeal

    The government and farmers yesterday dug their heels in over the blocking of national and provincial highways, which is now evolving into a drawn-out stand-off likely to run well into the holiday season.

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday stood firm in the face of farmers' demands, setting as a prerequisite for an "institutional dialogue" their lifting of nation-wide road blocks which have caused widespread disruption to domestic and international traffic for almost two weeks.

    Speaking on television after a four-hour cabinet meeting on the subject, Mr. Simitis said that both he and Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas wished to have a discussion with the farmers' official representative bodies.

    "But there can be no such dialogue when extreme forms of struggle are being used and the country's road network remains blocked," Mr. Simitis said, promising that as soon as the roadblocks were lifted, the government would take initiatives for "an insti tutional dialogue with all."

    Mr. Simitis said the government was taking measures "at the limits of the economy's capacity" while acknowledging that problems had accumulated for some years in the agricultural sector.

    Referring to the repercussions of the farmers' protests, Mr. Simitis said the possibilities for tackling the structural problems of the agricultural sector were being diminished, the export of farm produce was being obstructed, a problem was being created for the economic life of towns and cities, the distribution of livestock products and supplies to enterprises were being impeded and "citizens with health problems are being prevented from travelling."

    Farmers' reactions

    Responding to the premier's statements, the farmers decided to intensify their protest action and called on their colleagues throughout the country to "join the fight" and buttress roadblocks.

    A statement issued after a meeting of the Struggle Coordinating Committee at the the large Viokarpet roadblock near Larissa said farmers would not give in before being vindicated, and called on party leaders to visit the region and discuss their problems.

    The Committee's chairman, Mr. Patakis, said that farmers would not give in if the government did not meet at least six of their 14 demands. The Coordinating Committee is to meet anew today to determine any further course of action.

    No shortages on Christmas market

    Meanwhile, Development Undersecretary Michalis Chrysohoidis provided assurances yesterday that the Christmas market would not face shortages, and that supplies and prices were continuing at normal levels.

    Minor problems were observed in the distribution of fuels, milk and a number of raw materials.

    Farmers who had blockaded the Irakleion to Hania highway on Crete on Monday, suspended their mobilisations and lifted the blockades at midnight yesterday.

    The Patras Port Authority announced yesterday that extra ferry routes to Corinth and Piraeus are taking place at unscheduled times, depending on the evolving situation. Anyone interested should contact STRINTZIS LINES, tel. (01)- 622602, and MINOAN LINE S, tel. (01)- 427100.

    2,000 workers laid off

    In a related development, the Vice-President of the Panhellenic Association of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Dimitris Maratzidis told the ANA that over 2,000 workers in fruit standardization and export companies had been temporarily laid off since the st art of the farmers' protests almost two weeks ago.

    Mr. Maratzidis said many businessmen in the branch were considering taking legal action against "all persons responsible" for the financial losses they have incurred. "Each day that passes, we are losing orders from major supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. Meanwhile, the Spanish are rushing to fill the gap.

    He said that the farmers' protests were not only hitting companies active in the processing, standardisation and export of fruit and vegetables but also the producers themselves.

    "This is because the refrigerated trucks stranded in northern Greece and heading for abroad were loaded with fruit and vegetables which will reach European markets at a considerably increased cost, due to the delays, and also because of the higher freight charges since in some cases the trucks have had to travel from Piraeus to Thessaloniki by ferry-boat," Mr. Martatzidis said.

    Most of the workers laid off are believed to be in the prefectures of Imathia and Pella, where many of the fruit standardization and export companies are based.

    British Foreign Office appeal

    The British Foreign Office, speaking in relation to 100 British transport lorries blocked in northern Greece, said it had contacted all sides involved in the dispute, appealing for a quick end to it.

    "It is regrettable that 100 British lorry drivers have been entangled in an internal dispute," the statement said.

    In a travel directive issued, the Foreign Office warned that the strike began by port workers yesterday is likely to have an immediate affect on the Patras - Italy route.

    `Greece will not accept Turkey`s entry to EU,WEU` through the window

    NATO's Council of Foreign Ministers session, which ended yesterday, focused on the alliance's enlargement eastwards and on its restructuring, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told reporters after the meeting.

    Mr. Pangalos also spoke of Turkey's attempts to use NATO's ministerial session to impose the upgrading of its participation in the European Union's defence wing, the West European Union.

    NATO's final communique, issued yesterday, "expresses its satisfaction over the constant intensification of its cooperation with the WEU".

    Commenting on the communique, Mr. Pangalos said NATO's institutional segregation from the WEU is clear, adding that Greece will not accept Turkey's entry "to the European Union and the WEU through the window."

    The foreign minister said that in his address at the ministerial session, he reiterated the proposal submitted by Greece for the creation of a conventional mechanism as part of NATO to resolve possible differences among member-states.

    Speaking at a press conference at the end of the session, NATO Secretary- General Javier Solana refused comment on the Greek proposal, but said that in general, NATO has procedures for resolving problems among member- states.

    Allied headquarters issue

    On the question of allied headquarters Mr. Pangalos said Greece did not accept a proposal by Turkey according to which the duties of either NATO's air or naval subheadquarters could be transferred from Naples, Italy, to Izmir and in exchange Turkey accept the creation of an allied inter-branch regional headquarters in Larisa, Greece, on condition of an alternating Turkish and Greek commander.

    Mr. Pangalos said that this proposal had been made in the past, making it clear that Greece will not consider it, particularly considering the current tension in Greek-Turkish relations.

    Simitis in The Hague on last stop before Dublin summit

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis leaves today for The Hague on the last stop of his tour of European capitals before the Dublin summit.

    Mr. Simitis has already visited other European countries as part of his tour and has met representatives of the Irish European Union presidency in Athens. Similar trips have also been undertaken by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

    The prime minister arrives in Dublin tomorrow to represent Greece at the European Council which signals the end of the Irish EU presidency.

    Striking diplomats to meet finance undersecretary today

    Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis is to meet with the Union of Diplomatic Employees today in an effort to find a solution to financial demands made by diplomats, who have been striking since last week after the government decided to tax overseas bonuses. The diplomats are expected to turn up for work as normal today in view of the meeting.

    In a recent statement, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stressed his understanding for the diplomats' demands, saying that Greek diplomatic employees are paid less than their European colleagues.

    The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the strike will continue. With all diplomats participating in the strike, the Greek delegation for the Dublin summit risks being without diplomatic support if no solution is found during today's meeting.

    Greek issues to be promoted in Congress

    The American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee (AHIPAC) announced three one-day conferences focusing on promoting Greek issues in Congress.

    The three conferences will be held immediately after the opening of the new Congress in early January and will be organised by AHIPAC in cooperation with AHEPA and the Hellenic American National Council (HANC), with support by the Cypriot, Panepirotic, Pancretian and Panchian Federation of America.

    The first conference will be held in New York on January 11, the second in Los Angeles on January 25 and the third in Chicago on February 8.

    The conferences will discuss issues concerning the Greek-American community and will adopt common positions on individual issues which will then be forwarded to Congress.

    GSEE to stage rally outside Parliament on December 17

    The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) yesterday decided to call a rally outside Parliament on December 17, the day the new state budget is to be ratified.

    The Confederation also decided to hold a three-hour work stoppage in the Athens region and in nearby towns at the end of the morning shift.

    The decisions taken were based on votes by the PASKE union (affiliated to the ruling socialists) and the Autonomous Intervention (affiliated to the Coalition of the Left and Progress party). The ESAK union group, affiliated to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), supported an escalation of mobilisations with a 24-hour nationwide strike and a rally on January 17.

    The farmers' mobilisations were discussed in a tense atmosphere, with PASKE unionists criticising the policy of blockading national roads.

    Unionists affiliated to opposition parties said that a defeat of the farmers would have negative consequences for the labour union movement.

    EIB approves funding for Rio-Antirrio bridge

    The European Investment Bank(EIB) has approved 370 million ECU for the Rio- Antirrio bridge project, which will connect the Peloponnese with mainland Greece, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou announced yesterday.

    This brings the total amount approved by EIB for projects in Greece this year to 2.500 million ECU, compared to amounts up to 500 million in past years.

    The other most important projects approved are the new Athens airport at Spata (1,000 million ECU), natural gas (300 million) and the Stavros- Elefsina east-west highway north of Athens (875 million).

    WEATHER

    Overcast with rainfalls in most parts of Greece and rainstorms in the west. Same weather in the Ionian and northern Aegean sea and the mainland with backed by strong winds. Athens will be overcast with rainfall later in the day and temperatures ranging from 11-15C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 6-12C.

    FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    (Closing rates -buying) U.S. dlr 242.971, Can. dlr.179.373, Australian dlr. 194.427, Pound sterling 401.859, Irish punt 402.752, Cyprus pd 517.526, French franc 46.223, Swiss franc 183.183, Belgian franc 7.584, German mark 156.329, Finnish mark 52.266, Dutch guilder 139.386, Danish Kr. 40.851, Swedish Kr. 35.527, Norwegian Kr. 37.494, Austrian Sh. 22.220, Italian lira (100) 15.877, Yen (100) 214.441, Spanish Peseta 1.859, Portuguese Escudo 1.549.

    (C.E.)


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