[01] MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE VISITS EVROS SPEAKS TO PREFECT

[02] TWO GREEKS ARRESTED IN PAPHOS, HELD IN NICOSIA BY TURK-CYPRIOTS

[03] FRENCH AND US PRESS GIVE POSITIVE VIEWS ON GREECE'S ECONOMY

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE VISITS EVROS SPEAKS TO PREFECT

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos stated that the foot and moutn disease that has stricken cattle and sheep in the Evros region is "imported from Turkey."

The Minister visited the region yesterday and attended the opening of the "Cultural Akritia '96" an event held under the auspices of the program "Thrace- Aegean-Cyprus-United Area- Path to 2000".

In a meeting held with the Evros Prefect Goerge Dolios and the director of the Veterinary Services Angelos Boglou, Mr. Petsalnikos realized that all the necessary measures have been taken for addressing the disease.

In turn, Mr. Dolios expressed his optimism that the greek proposal to the European Union that it provide funding for measures that will wipe out the disease in Turkey will be accepted.

The Evros Prefect pointed out that at the same time, Turkey must accept the application measures that will be exercised by the European Union's Veterinary Committee, and added that Greece should participate in this Committee as a directly involved region.

Meanwhile, the European Union's Standard Veterinary Committee is expected to announce its decision today on whether or not it will extend the ban enforced on the exports of greek meat and its by-products and non- pasteurized dairy products.

Diplomatic sources have stated that in case an extension of the quarantine is decided, the greek side will seek to limit the embargo only to the Evros region.

[02] TWO GREEKS ARRESTED IN PAPHOS, HELD IN NICOSIA BY TURK-CYPRIOTS

Two Greeks men who were arrested yesterday evening in the seaside region of Paphos are being held in Nicosia.

Athanasios Stalikas, 48 years old and Dimitris Gotsis, 35, both of whom are Paris residents, were sailing with their speed boat when they got lost and ended up in the Kokkina region, where they were arrested by the Turk-cypriots.

According to UNFICYP reports, one of the two greek men was carried by a stretcher on to a helicopter.

[03] FRENCH AND US PRESS GIVE POSITIVE VIEWS ON GREECE'S ECONOMY

The annual report published by the Organization of Economic Cooperatiopn and Development (OECD) which optimistically foresees an upward trend in Greece's economy has been seconded by numerous French newspapers, such as Le Figaro, Le Monde and Les Echos.

While the articles point out the need to reduce inflation and to bring about public sector reforms in Greece, in all they emphasize the country's current accelerated rhythms of development in contrast with the beginning of the decade.

Also, the United-States based newspaper Wall Street Journal features a lengthy front-page article dedicated tio Greece's economy, in which it illustrates the efforts exerted by the greek government to bring about economic recovery.

"Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos," the article points out, "enjoys a high level of appreciation among the EU circles for his efforts to contain the chronic problem of deficit. The reduction of this deficit constitutes a clear example that Greece is finally in a position to control its up to now uncontrollable expenses, which for a long time now, had earned the country the stigma of Europe's 'bad child.'

"Of course, Mr. Papadopoulos was able to reduce the budget deficit to 9.2 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) from the 14.2 percent it was in 1993," the article continues, adding that Greece has entered the path of economic discipline, a fact that will improve its position in the EU.

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