NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PM, MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER COMMENT ON ECONOMY, THESSALONIKI'S FAIR

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis appears confident for the course of the nation's economy in his message marking the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki early next month. He did add that "we must intensify our efforts in all sectors of the economy because the sacrifices of the Greek public these past four years have borne fruit and must not be wasted." Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis said that the state's economy should be freed from the government's binds and heavy taxation.

[02] PASOK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY: WE DON'T EXPUNGE DISSENTERS

The secretary of the ruling PASOK party's central committee Kostas Skandalides stated that the party does not plan to proceed to expunging the party's dissenters but, he added, even if it were to do so, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Moreover, Mr. Skandalides added that the party is open to dialogue with all of society, not excluding the main opposition party's expelled deputies Stephanos Manos, George Souflias and others. Referring to Mr. Manos in particular, Mr. Skandalides said that his positions for the operation of a free market differ from those held by the government.

[03] INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKETS IN A STATE OF "WAIT AND SEE"

International money markets are currently in a state of "wait and see" after the turmoil brought on by the depreciation of Russia's currency by 30%/

The Greek national currency lags in comparison to foreign currency, while the general index at the Athens Stock exchange yesterday had a drop of 1.63%.

[04] TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCES IN CYPRUS FORTIFIED

Turkey is fortifying its occupation forces in Cyprus, according to Cypriot Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou.

According to Mr. Omirou, additional military forces were moved to the occupied territory while the US special envoy to Cyprus Thomas Miller was in Ankara to discuss the proposed military flight moratorium over the island.

[05] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis returned to Athens from his brief holiday today. On Thursday, Mr. Simitis will chair the ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau session while on Friday he will travel to Thessaloniki in order to receive Austrian Chancellor Victor Klima whom he will accompany to Mt. Athos on Saturday.

During his stay in Thessaloniki, Mr. Simitis will meet with party deputies and local party leaders.

[06] TURKEY REJECTS PROPOSAL FOR FLIGHT MORATORIUM OVER CYPRUS

The Turkish government rejected the proposal for a no-fly zone over Cyprus, delivered yesterday by the United States envoy for the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller. The proposal allowed for, in exchange, the postponement of the deployment of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles by Cyprus. According to Turkish press reports, Turkish Minister for Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Giurel, said that "we could not tolerate this type of exchange on the missile issue".

[07] TURKISH TOURISTS WHO HOISTED FLAG IN KALYMNOS TO BE TRIED ON MARCH 19

The two Turkish tourists who hoisted their country's flag on a lamp post a the Greek island of Kalymnos will be tried in a Greek court on March 19, as the district attorney has pressed charges against them for disturbing the peace, disturbing national sentiments and leaving port without obtaining sailing permission.

The flag remained raised for about three or four minutes, when some of the island's residents noticed it and called the island's Port Authority.

Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas called their act as an "uncalled for and irresponsible provocation".

[08] NATO BEGINS MILITARY EXERCISE IN ALBANIA, GREECE PARTICIPATES

NATO has embarked on a military exercise, code-named the "Cooperative Assembly 1998" in Albania, considered to be a general rehearsal for the Alliance's intervention in the strife-torn Kosovo region. Greek troops and aircraft are participating in the exercises, with a company of parachutists, a CH-47 helicopter, an HU-1H helicopter, four staff officers, three fighter planes and a C-130 military transport plane. They will join military troops from Albania, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, the United States, Spain, Lithuania and Russia. The exercises will be held from August 17th to 22d.

[09] 22 ESCAPED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS REMAIN AT LARGE

Twenty-two out of 41 juvenile delinquents who escaped from a prison near Athens on Saturday night remain at large and police are scouring the region in order to locate them.

According to a police spokesperson, the escape must have been well planned with outside help since cars were waiting outside the detention facility for the escapees. The Minister of Justice Evangelos Yiannopoulos has ordered a full- scale judicial inquiry concerning the circumstances of the escape.

[10] PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT: CYPRUS HAS A RIGHT TO ITS DEFENSE

Commenting on Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue, the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis stated today that the Greek people have always wanted to have a peaceful and harmonious relationship with their neighbouring country Turkey.

He added that Cyprus has right to secure its defense especially when 40% of its territory is occupied through invasion.

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