According to the "Imerisia" newspaper, which lists close associates of the Prime Minister as sources, Mr. Simitis is determined to dynamically intervene to stop the prevailing cycle of introversion, which even includes scenarios concerning a change in le adership, intertwined with a possible defeat in October. According to verified information, during his in private meetings with top government and party staff members, Mr. Simitis will ask them:

To clarify their position on the scenarios of succession in the party. To contribute to the improvement and control of the atmosphere in the Parliamentary Group, which looks like quicksand lately. To stop the attacks against government staff members in the form of leaks, such as those taking place against N. Christodoulakis and G. Papandreou.

"This situation, where every governmental action is followed by interior turbulence, cannot continue", stressed a close associate of the Prime Minister characteristically.

This framework has a specific time plan, since a top ranking government staff member stated that "anything to happen, must happen before the people leave for the summer", while it is considered certain that Mr. Simitis "wants a better atmosphere when he goes to PASOK's Parliamentary Group and Central Committee meetings, scheduled to take place in the last 10 days of May". Apart from the initiatives concerning the improvement of PASOK's interior image, there is a series of initiatives so that Mr. Simitis can improve his personal image. Such as his meeting yesterday with women working in the data processing information field, as well as his political speech in Rhodes in Easter Monday.

During the past few days, Thessaloniki authorities have found and seized three counterfeit 20 euro bank notes in as many businesses throughout the city, without however tracing the counterfeiters who put them into circulation.

Police officers confirm that it is the first batch of counterfeit euro bank notes to be found in Thessaloniki, without going into any details, until investigations are complete.

According to information, the officers handling the case appreciate that the counterfeit currency was most probably printed in illegal printers functioning in Italy and neighboring Balkan countries during the past few years.

As was revealed, the three bank notes were not photocopied, but printed with latest technology machinery, thus making them very difficult to be discerned as counterfeit. Also, police officers state that it is quite possible for more counterfeit 20 euro n otes to turn up in the market, as they were worried by the fact that they were located in three different shops.

Those were his statements to the Press after his meeting with the Greek President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, whom he informed on foreign policy issues of the governments and developments in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Cyprus issue.

Leaving the Presidential Mansion, Mr. Simitis made the following statements to the press:

"With President of the Republic, Mr. Stefanopoulos, at our regular meeting, we discussed foreign policy issues and interior developments.

As far as foreign policy issues are concerned, the center of attention is at present the relationship of the EU and NATO (also known as the Euroarmy issue) and negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue.

I had a communication concerning the first issue yesterday, with the High Representative of the European Union on Issues of Joint Foreign Policy and Defense, Mr. Solana, in order to advance the examination of the issue from an EU point of view, as I had pointed out recently, when I met with the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Robertson, in Athens, whom I told what I told Mr. Solana. There must be other views than the ones supported so far.

I also had a discussion with Mr. Cleridis. Negotiations leading to the 2nd phase are over and will recommence on May 7. The Turkish-Cypriot side has submitted a memo with its positions. Mr. Cleridis pointed out that he could see no discernable progress i n the issue.

I believe that the Turkish Cypriot side has an obligation to make proposals that will lead to an essential discussion on the issue. The discussion taking place in a UN framework is not just taking place so that views can be exchanged, and serve as an ali bi. It is a discussion that must lead to a solution.

The solution, of course, depends on how much the Turkish-Cypriot side will conform to the decisions of the UN. A change in their tactics is necessary, movements on their behalf in the right direction, so that a commonly acceptable solution is found. I ho pe that this can take place in the next round of negotiations.

Mr. Cleridis and I agreed that we will have a meeting in mid-May or early June, depending on the developments".

Specifically, the real population of Greece (people who were recorded during the census) comes to 10,964,595, in contrast to 10,259,900 and 10,134,534, during the 1991 census (with an increase then of 6.9% and 0.7%).

Of the stocks trading today, 240 had losses, 74 recorded gains, and 59 remained unchanged.