[02] EU draft Constitution should be accepted without major changes, PM says

ROME (ANA/B. Demiris) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed that the draft of the European Constitution should be accepted by the Intergovernmental Conference without major amendments and without alterations to its basic architecture.

Speaking here in Rome, after the conclusion of the conference's opening session on Saturday, Simitis said that the draft can take improvements, clarifications, and corrections aiming to make the European Union more effective, so that it can have a better functioning system domestically.

''We should move toward more strengthened levels of cooperation, so that the EU can play an increased role on the international stage, while the process of enlargement and deepening of the EU should advance in parallel,'' Simitis underlined.

He added that the regulations that resulted during the drafting of the Constitution, by the Conference for the Future of Europe, through democratic processes, via negotiations, which resulted in this balance, should not be changed radically.

[03] Nat'l economy minister dismisses recession fears after 2004 Games

National Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis was quoted on Sunday as dismissing fears of a economic recession in the country following the 2004 Olympic Games.

Quoted in an interview published in an Athens dailys Sunday edition, the day when most local papers feature interviews by ministers, politicians etc., Christodoulakis said it was more likely that economic growth would be stimulated in the wake of the Olympic Games.

He also announced that investment capital will be attracted to ?exploit the Olympic projects?.

On another front, he said his ministry will table a draft bill in Parliament eliminating what he called the ?omnipotence? of the states tax bureau auditors, instead replacing it with a ?friendlier arbitration? framework.

[04] London tabloid cites British interest in returning Parthenon Marbles

LONDON (ANA) The latest ?Fleet Street? news item referring to Greeces long-time demand for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens from their current exile at the British Museum was published by the ?Sunday Mirror? tabloid, which claimed that British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, is reportedly now in favour of their return.

According to the tabloid -- one of the largest selling mass-circulation papers in the UK -- Jowell is reportedly considering a compromise with the Greek side along the lines of a permanent loaning of the Marbles, widely referred to internationally as the ?Elgin Marbles?.

Among others, the president of the British Committee for the Return of the Marbles, Prof. Anthony Snodgrass, was quoted as reiterating that Athens is the true home for the Marbles.

[05] Greek church's NGO distributes 450 tons of aid in Iraq

''Solidarity'', the Greek Orthodox Church's non-governmental humanitarian organization, reported that it has sent some 450 tons of food, medicine and clothing to the Iraqi people, along with containers with bottled water.

Despite the withdrawal of all other NGO's from the region, ''Solidarity'' remained there and continued its work, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

About 80 tons of food collected was funneled into charities in Greece as pork, pasta and beans are not palatable in the region.

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