During his speech, Mr. Stefanopoulos referred to the role the UN are called to play in modern reality. "Perhaps this organization that has offered so much to international peace needs a radical review, so that it can decisively confront modern challenges . Let us all take our responsibility", he underlined.

He pointed out that Cyprus' accession to the EU has created promising prospects for the whole of the Cypriot people, and he expressed his hope that Turkish Cypriots will realize the great advantages their membership in the European family provides, and w ill cooperate with Greek Cypriots in finding an overall solution to the political problem.

He noted, finally, that the new enlarged Europe must find the necessary, flexible and effective mechanisms for its course into the future and the achievement of its goals.

Seventeen doctors of the Ippokratio hospital in Thessaloniki were in court yesterday, with charges of causing bodily harm to the Kordakis family's infant, which was born prematurely.

According to the parents, the infant had been hospitalized for more than two months in the hospital's neonatal ward, while the doctors did not diagnose its serious health problem in time. The small boy who is now 5 years old is partially blind in his rig ht eye and has a partial detachment of the retina in his left eye. The parents claimed in their testimony in court, that the doctors did not carry out the necessary tests with which the problem would have been found in time.

Meanwhile, the trial of 4 doctors in Thessaloniki's AHEPA hospital will continue on Friday. The four doctors are accused of malpractice as their patient died on the operation table.

The operation, which was carried out with the laparoscopy method, took place in May 2000, but the patient died due to loss of blood during surgery - as was mentioned in the bill of indictment - caused by a surgical instrument.

Despite the efforts of the doctors, they could not stop the bleeding and the patient died.

The violation was discovered approximately 6 years ago, when environmental organization representatives filed a complaint for multiple violations within the wetlands' boundaries, which are in fact protected by the "Ramsar" treaty.

The Prefecture of Xanthi intervened and stopped all construction in the area of the exsiccated lake, which resulted in the 160 plot holders appealing to court, so that the decision is repealed and building permits are issued to them.

The exsiccation and violation began in the mid 90's, when many people managed to mark out roads and form plots of land, which they then sold.

The first day of the exercise includes presentations on the basic aspects of the new operational plan of threat confrontation (anthrax, chemical substances, etc.) by foreign specialists of the Olympic Advisory Team as well as Greek specialists.

Tomorrow, the exercise's second day, the participants will be called to respond to the drill's demands, based on a complex simulation scenario, in an Olympic environment.

Participants in the exercise include officers in the main security bodies of the 2004 Olympics (the Greek Police, the Coast Guard, the Fire Department, National Intelligence Agency), the Armed Forces and officials of the Olympic Games Organizing Committe e. The "Fiery Sword" is the fifth such exercise organized by the Olympic Games security direction.

The gold medal in the 470 category in the sailing world championship being held in Cadiz, Spain, was won by Sophia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa.

After yesterday's runs, the two Greek champions retained first place in the 470, with 21 penalty points, followed by the French, who had fallen behind with 50 penalty points and the Australians with 51.

The two athletes have secured the gold medal, regardless of the results of tomorrow's 11th and final course in their category.

It should be noted that this is the fourth consecutive world championship gold medal that the Greek champions have won.

Mr. Simtis referred to the financial relations, trade transactions and business activity connecting the two countries (Hungarian busses in Greece, Greek business activity in Hungary, Hungarian tourist arrivals, etc.)

At the same time he pointed out that beginning May 1, 2004, Hungary will be a member of the European Union and he and the President discussed their common concerns regarding the future of Europe, the Intergovernmental Conference, which will convene in ea rly October in Rome, on the European Constitution.

They also discussed procedures for Hungary to adjust to the EU's conditions, and Mr. Simitis made it clear that the Greek government is willing to help facilitate that adjustment.

As far as developments in Iraq are concerned, Mr. Papantoniou repeated the Greek position on the strengthening of the UN's role in forming stable conditions in Iraq and to return power to its people.

Mr. Papantoniou stressed that both Ministers expressed the different positions of their countries on European defense.

The Minister of National Defense underlined that through branching and hiring professional soldiers, a decrease in the defense budget has been achieved, and thus, 2.5 million euro can be channeled to covering social needs.

Regarding Greeks with Swedish citizenship, Mr. Papandreou mentioned that they retain their Greek citizenship, with the same rights and obligations as the rest of Greeks.

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