The factory collapsed in an earthquake on September 7th 1999, which resulted in 39 workers losing their lives.

Among the accused, are members of factory's Board of Directors, civil engineers and an architect.

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International Action will also hold a press conference, drawing on its founding in Thessaloniki, on Wednesday, 12 noon, at the Worker's Center of Thessaloniki.

The military aircraft fell during a training flight and fortunately both pilots used the ejection system. According to first estimations, the aircraft malfunctioned a short time after take off from the 110th Wing in Larissa.

The "Curierel National" published an article entitled "Passaris committed the robbery for fun" and subtitled "Since they were not able to arrest him, the Greek police officers in Bucharest advised him to help in his own extradition so that he doesn't "ro t in a Romanian prison". It also mentioned quotes of the criminal himself: "I committed many of the robberies to amuse myself. I don't remember how many or where they took pace. I wore the same shoes and watch during each robbery, which could be seen. If you watch the surveillance cameras from the banks, you can tell which banks I robbed".

"Ziua" included an article titled "Passaris denies it all" and mentione the following: "Mioara Badila admitted her deed, and stated that she left the exchange booth, walked a few steps and then took a taxi. There is no information on the taxi driver at t his time. Passaris, however, denied he committed the robbery, and audaciously demanded his handcuffs be removed, but the District Attorney refused him this "favor" during the interrogation. The Greek was very nervous, stated he did not want to see anyone,

and that he reached Romania by crossing the Danube on a boat, carrying 6 revolvers on his person. Judicial sources mention that one of the incriminating pieces of evidence against Passaris is the tape with the stamp of the exchange booth around some of t he money found in his apartment. This week the District Attorney is waiting for Passaris' file to be delivered by the Greek authorities, as well as other information on him. A pair of trousers with blood stains has been taken for analysis.

The survey was performed on high school students of both sexes, as well as on men and women around the age of 35 in Thessaloniki and cities of Western Macedonia, and will be presented at the 11th Panhellenic Medical Conference for Illnesses of the Thorax , organized by the Association for the Study of Pneumonic Illnesses and Professional Illnesses of the Thorax and will be organized from December 6 to December 9 2001, in the "Macedonia Palace" hotel. Of Thessaloniki.

According to the evidence of the survey, 35.1% of all high school students in Thessaloniki smoke, of those 36.3% are girls, and 33.7% are boys. Correspondingly in Western Macedonia 29.7% of high school students smoke, (33.3% boys and 26.1% girls). To th e question of "why do you smoke", 43% answered "from spite", while 21% smoke because their role models smoke. In adults between the ages of 28 and 42 it was discovered that 57.7% of all men and 34% of all women smoke.

The talks will be direct and will be held in the UN headquarters.

They will be characterized by four principles: no preconditions, all the issues will be on the table, commitment for good faith negotiations until a comprehensive solution is reached and nothing will be regarded as settled until a final solution is reach ed.

In statements made to MPA, Mr. Gentsev pointed out that culture and the EU programs on the Balkans can become excellent areas of cooperation.

He pointed out that the Greek businesses that are active in Plovdiv and offer work to the Bulgarians contribute to the strengthening of bilateral economic relations.

According to scientists, the fault could be the result of earthquakes recently recorded in the region.

Mr. Putin is scheduled to visit the Monastic Community of Mount Athos on Saturday morning accompanied by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos. In the afternoon, he will visit the church of St. Dimitrios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, and later in th e evening he will attend a formal dinner that will be given in his honor by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis. The Russian President will depart for Moscow early on Sunday morning.

Mr. Mitsias will be accompanied by the Serres Music Workshop orchestra and chorus.

On PASOK's leadership, he said that he will be the party's leader in the next elections.

On the municipal elections, he refused to refer to specific names of candidates and stressed that they have a political character but they are not a political party battle.

On the social security system, he said that the government examines a plan and a dialogue will get underway in January.

Mr. Simitis stated that a number of significant events will take place in Greece by 2004, stressing that the country enters a period of changes that will make it even stronger both inside the EU and internationally. Specifically, he said that the Euro wi ll be the single European currency starting on January 1, Greece will take over the EU presidency in the first half of 2003 and the Olympic Games will take place in Athens in 2004.

He said that the agreement reached between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is a progress and added that he does not have an illusion that the meetings will result to a solution for the Cyprus problem. He appear ed reserved toward Ankara, saying characteristically that in the case of Turkey he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

On the FYROM name, he said that it is time for the issue to be resolved and stated that he had consultations with the FYROM Prime Minister and Greece is expecting Skopje's response.

Addressing the participants, Piraeus mayor Christos Agrapidis called for EU and state support to the Balkan city mayors network.

FYROM city of Skopje mayor Pisto Penev referred to his priorities. He said that the city is modernized, while the traffic problem is being resolved and an environment protection plan proceeds with the assistance of the European programs. He also said tha t the historic mission of the local administration representatives is to bring their countries closer and build conditions of stability, security and economic prosperity in the Balkans.

The Greek and Albanian minority coexist peacefully in Ghirokastre, underlined city mayor Murat Katsi. He said that priority for the municipality is the restoration of its medieval monuments and the modernization of infrastructures. The promotion of Istanbul to a Balkan economic center was suggested by City Council chairman Umit Uzerol, who backed the peaceful coexistence of the Balkan peoples and expressed the belief that the local administration representatives can contribute toward this direction.

Of the stocks trading today, 138 recorded gains and 169 had losses, while the value of 60 stocks remained unchanged.

The city that will hold the network's presidency in 2002 will be Sofia, while in 2003 will be Skopje and in 2004 will be Piraeus.

The network's basic axes in 2002 will be the European programs and their exploitation for the promotion of development in the wider Balkan region, and the cooperation of the productive forces and the support of their initiatives by the network. Also, amo ng the basic axes will be the establishment of an International Inter-Balkan University with the cooperation of the city network universities funded by the Stability Pact, and the activation of creative forces in culture, sports, and education as well as

the promotion of new technologies.