The Moroccan Prime Minister blamed the international community for letting the situation in the Middle East develop into a crisis. He stressed that in the meeting he had with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, he asked for drastic and decisive measures

to be taken for the promotion of peace.

He recognized the important role of Greece in the efforts to resolve the Middle Eastern crisis and its contribution to Euromediterranean cooperation , referring to the Mediterranean Forum to be held in Greece on May 21-22.

On bilateral relations he noted that the sectors of economy and culture will be strengthened. His response to the initiative of Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou for the Olympic Truce was very positive, and he asked for a relevant decleration to be sig ned. He also made a commitment to vote for Greece as a standing member of the UN Security Council.

During the meeting an exchange of information on the struggle of communists and joint action of movements against globalization was made. The need for the two parties to develop more common initiatives in the sector of communist ideology, socialist prosp ects and research concerning specific economic aspects of constructing socialism was pointed out.

It comprises of seminars for students in their graduate or post-graduate studies, studying classical Greek heritage as well as the broadening of literary, historical, and philosophical pursuits of European and Mediterranean cultures.

This year there will be 50 participants from all over the world, who will be hosted by the Municipality of Ancient Olympia and will have the opportunity to attend lectures from distinguished professors from universities abroad, as well as from the Greek academic community.

The organizers ambition is the continuation of the programme, and turning into an institution, aiming at promoting Greece as a training center in the Eastern Mediterannean.

The meeting will begin today at 4:30 pm at the "I. Vellidis" Conference Center of the TIF. At 7:30pm, President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis will meet with European Commissioner of External Relations Chris Patten at the "Macedonia Palace" hotel. At

8:30pm Mr. Patten will speak at the dinner. In the margin of the meeting, the Commissioner will visit the Seat of the European Service for Restructure at 6pm and will be briefed on the 1.6 billion euro aid programmes in Yugoslavia and FYROM.

At 10am tomorrow, President of the EPP Wilfred Martens will make his speech, followed by ND President and EPP vice-President Kostas Karamanlis, Norway's Foreign Minister Kim Travik, vice-President the Turkish Motherland's Party Bulent Akartsali and the P resident of the Union of Democratic Powers of Bulgaria, N. Michaelova. In the afternoon, special coordinator for the Stability Pact Erhard Busek, the Prime Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mladen Ivanic, and FYROM Minister of Agriculture Marjan Gjorcev wil l make their speeches.

On Saturday, at 9:30am, the vice-President of the European Commission, Loyola de Palacio, will also make her speech.

Mr. Papandreou is also scheduled to meet with European Commissioner Chris Patten, responsible for foreign relations issues.

Mr. Kaklamanis will have meetings with Greek-American US House Representatives and Senators, Archbishop Dimitrios of America, Cypriot Parliament President Dimitris Christofias, and New York Governor Mr. Pataki. On Wednesday, April 17, Mr. Kaklamanis will

give a press conference to the Greek-American mass media and the correspondents of the Greek mass media in the United States.

Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will meet with the British government special envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hanney.

For example, the people who used Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport in the month of January were less by 18.4%, at 162.700, compared to last year. In the same month, 17.824 people used the Alexandroupolis Airport (-33.0%), 206 people traveled through Kasto ria (-59.3%) and 255 through Kozani (-16.4%).

In statements made after the cabinet meeting today that dealt with the government energy policy, Mr. Simitis stressed that the government has not assessed yet or adopted the independent committee tax reform proposals. He pointed out that those proposals will be the subject of a broad based social dialogue with the government that will take place at the end of May aimed at a socially fair and effective system that will combat tax evasion.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the government seeks a more fair and effective tax system and will try to make things easier for workers and pensioners and back businesses and investments.

Referring to the energy policy issue, Mr. Simitis pointed out that the cabinet discussed the 5.5 trillion drachmas Energy Policy Plan that will be in effect until the year 2010, creating a total of 55.000 direct job positions and 91.000 indirect job posi tions. The plan provides for the improvement of the Greek energy networks and Greece's link with Europe and the East. Also, promotes Greece's geo-strategic role as an energy junction in the wider region and contributes to the efforts for the promotion of Greece's role as a factor of stability in the Balkans.

Of the stocks trading today, 149 recorded gains and 152 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

He reiterated that the government wants the adoption of tax exemptions for workers, pensioners and businesses which are active and make investments. He added that the specific bill will combat the offshore companies, "inactive wealth" and tax evasion.