A rally has also been organized on the same date in Thessaloniki, at 7pm in Aristotelous Square, by the Committee of Thessaloniki Bodies. In an announcement the committee asks for the war to stop, for all Greek involvement in it to end, and that democrat ic principles are not sacrificed on the altar of the war against terrorism.

student parade.

Despite the clarity of the law and the crystal clear position of the Ministry of Education on the issue of the rights of those participating in Greek education, some people react. The student, who has been baptized, wants to hold the Greek flag, but his performance in school is of absolutely no interest to some of the residents of Agriosykia, in Pella. They are threatening with abstention from the festive events.

In any case, the city council of Pella has decided to that the 12-year-old will be aloud to carry the flag.

station.

"Mr. Stathopoulos confirmed the repeated complaints of New Democracy on government interference with Justice, after confessing today that "there were isolated opinions that thought I should be more active in doing Justice, in the sense of having some int erference on issues with political importance and political consequences. Let's not be indirect, this was in various cases when the person to be prosecuted was a politician or of the political environment", he stressed.

"Mr. Stathopoulos is not an MP, nor is he a part of the government any more. That is why the Prime Minister should investigate and make the cases in which the, until yesterday, minister was under pressure to interfere with justice, and by whom he was so pressured, publicly known", he ended.

Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos will also be present at the celebrations for October 26 and 28 with the President of the Republic. Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou will also join them in the events at the Church of St. Dimitri os and events at Officers' Club.

The director of the Turkish Direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kyr. Rodousakis and the Turkish Ambassador, Ali Tuygan will sign the records for the exchange of ratification bodies of agreements for economic cooperation and mutual pr omotion and protection of investments, which will be put into effect in a month, on November 24.

Mr. Sasson, who is visiting Thessaloniki for the events of the St. Dimitrios celebrations and the anniversary of October 28, laid down a wreath at the Holocaust monument in Thessaloniki, where a memorial service took place in memory of the victims of the

nazi brutalities.

In the memorial service the Rabbi also said a prayer for the victims of the terrorist attack in New York.

Mr. Kaklamanis stated that the Mediterranean should not become a conflict point of religions and cultures, adding that the fundamental principles should be equality among states, balanced development and immediate condemnation of all those, who resort to

the threat for the use of force or to the actual use of force.

Referring to the current international situation after the terrorist attacks on the United States, he said that the best response to terrorism is the strengthening of democratic institutions, and the lifting of inequalities (social and economic) that kee p large regions of the planet in an underdeveloped state and divide people into rich and poor.

Mr. Simitis also pointed out that given the current international situation, as a result of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States, it is necessary for the Greeks to feel safe and materialize the vision for a strong Greece with a strong societ y.

He also stressed that Greece's message to the new Greek generations should be resistance against barbarity, fanaticism, intolerance and racial and religious discrimination.

He said that when the 2004 Olympic Games will be held in Greece, New Democracy will be in government.

He also said that when the party comes to power will improve the Greek economy's competitiveness and productivity and materialize structural changes.

Mr. Karamanlis condemned terrorism and stated that the Greek government's reaction after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States continues to be on the right direction.

Mr. Christodoulakis stated that he will soon give his response to the issues raised, while on the tax reform he stated that the necessary framework for the social dialogue to get underway will be ready by the end of 2001. On the social security issue, Mr . Christodoulakis stated that the policy framework is being prepared.

Of the stocks trading today, 176 recorded gains and 129 had losses, while the value of 72 stocks remained unchanged.

comment on the statements made by Mr. Prodi in the Cypriot Parliament on the issue of Cyprus' EU accession course.

According to the government spokesman, Mr. Prodi stressed for one more time that the EU wants the solution of the Cyprus problem but this is not a precondition for Cyprus' accession into the European Union. The Cypriot Republic, stated Mr. Protopapas, ha s covered most of the way to its EU accession.

When asked when the dialogue of the social security system reform will get underway, he responded that the issue will be examined in the following days and social security will be the topic of a separate dialogue. For this reason, stated Mr. Reppas, the discussion has to move ahead through agreements instead of confrontations.

Greek General Confederation of Labor president Christos Polizogopoulos stated that today's meeting signaled the start of a new political behavior that wants solutions and agreement.

Mr. Stephanopoulos referred to the terrorists, who were killed by crashing the airplanes they hijacked into the Twin Towers in New York, and pointed out that religious fanaticism can lead to actions of self-sacrifice but these actions are still regarded as terrorist actions, actions that are repulsive, targeting not only human lives but the democratic way of life itself.

Mr. Stephanopoulos referred to the fanaticism of political dispute that Greece has experienced in the past and stressed that the country has managed to overcome fanaticism which befogs and blocks dialogue.

Mr. Karamanlis underlined that the situation at an international level is at a borderline point creating new facts that dictate new forms of international-bilateral and ultra-national cooperation.

He said that Greece has the historic and cultural infrastructure to play its own role as a power that wants peace, democracy, stability, prosperity, and the respect of human rights and International Law.

A series of meetings, initiated today, will be conducted every couple of months, aiming at informing the Grand National Sponsors on the progress towards 2004, so that they can benefit from their sponsoring programme in Greece, following the example of th e Olympic Partners (TOP Sponsors) worldwide.

Mr. Simitsek underlined that "there are two prerequisites for a successful Olympic sponsorship - know-how and cooperation." The sponsoring programme of ATHENS 2004 has reached 72.7 billion drachmas (207.715 million US dollars), thus covering 107% of the budgeted target, with only 7 out of 40 product categories signed on so far. Representatives of Grand National Sponsors ALPHA BANK, OTE, KOSMOTE, ATHENIAN REWERIES, DELTA, FAGE, ERT, HYUNDAI HELLAS, ELTA, SWATCH participated in this first meeting .

Forty-four years after the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, ATHENS 2004 aims at presenting the most successful sporting event ever.

For the first time in Paralympic Games history, the athletes will not pay any participation fees. By abolishing the participation fees, there is no discrimination between the athletes taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and equal opportunity

becomes a reality.

Athens will host 4,000 athletes with a disability from 125 countries and 3,000 official accompanying people. They will also be accommodated in the Olympic Village which will be renamed into Paralympic Village.

Three thousand media representatives will cover the Paralympic Games, while 1,000 Technical delegates and at least 10,000 volunteers will contribute to this effort. The sporting event will be watched by 2,500 official guests belonging to the Paralympic F amily (representatives of the International Paralympic Committee, of the National Paralympic Committees, etc.).

Specifically, the Committee will provide advice on issues related to training sites, accommodations, and on transportation for the athletes and their associates.

ATHENS 2004 Managing Director Ioannis Spanudakis was appointed President of the Advisory Committee.

Ms. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki also said that total investment in the communication sectors will amount 120 billion drachmas (approximately 352 million EURO) and urged Greek enterprises to participate in this technological regeneration.

European Parliament also asked for the recording of all labs where anthrax viruses or other diseases are kept, asking for a strict communal check to be initiated.

Mr. Prodi underlined that the EU wants a solution for the Cyprus problem before the EU accession stressing, however, that this will not be a pre-condition for Cyprus' accession into the EU.

He also expressed the belief that the solution of the Cyprus issue is feasible and stated that Cyprus, as an EU member, will participate in the European Union Council.

The donation was announced in the US-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce 53rd annual formal dinner at New York's Metropolitan Club last Friday when Mr. Kotsakos was declared Businessman of the Year.

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