In statements after their meeting, Mr. Labus stressed that the entire spectrum of specific measures which will contribute to the further improvement and development of bilateral cooperation, as well as issues of the European Union, Yugoslavia's European prospects and the course towards stability and connection to the EU, were discussed.

"Immediately following my country's new Constitution, we will open the path towards signing an agreement with the European Union for our stabilization and connection. We hope that the whole procedure will be completed by the end of the Greek Presidency o f the EU", he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that during the discussions, they agreed on the great importance that Yugoslavia's stability has, both politically and financially.

Specifically, as far as the political aspect is concerned, he underlined that a stable Yugoslavia in the Balkans, is a guarantee of stability in the whole region.

Referring to the Greek plan for Balkan Reconstruction, Mr. Labus said that everything is moving along well and that other services are now responsible for its materialization.

"From the Greek side, we heard with great satisfaction the belief that Yugoslavia's connection to the Partnership for Peace will further contribute to my country's European prospects. Meaning that it will further contribute to the signing of the Agreemen t for stability and connection to the EU", he said.

He stressed that they discussed the Kossovo issue, the materialization of UN decision 1244 and the right for all refugees to return, as well as to recognize and secure all the rights of refugees in Kossovo, and the issue of repairing all churches and mon asteries that have been destroyed over the past few years.

Mr. Labus noted that during Mr. Simitis' visit to Belgrade, they agreed that a meeting of Balkan Ministers of Culture would be very useful, and announced that this meeting will take place very soon in Belgrade, and its topic will be the protection and co nservation of Kossovo's cultural heritage.

The Deputy Prime Minister will leave Athens tonight to go to Thessaloniki and then Mt. Athos, to observe tomorrow's celebratory Holy Liturgy for the Holy Virgin's Assumption at the Chilandrio Monastery, according to the old calendar.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Giorgos Paschalidis, pointed out that the geopolitical standards of the broader region will lead Thessaloniki from being a model regional city on the border of a country, to becoming a European metropolis - reference hub of the broader Southeastern European Region.

He also added that the strategic plan for viable development is a plan to govern the city which has formed a time schedule for the 2002-2010 period, it redefines the Athens-Thessaloniki relationship, and strengthens the identity and confidence of the cit y.

"The strategic plan considers Thessaloniki of 2010 a European metropolis with interior cohesion, able to incorporate new economy structures, with ecological balance, better quality of life and greater potential", he noted.

Reality is pressuring us to organize Thessaloniki's Metropolitan function", stressed Mr. Paschalidis emphatically. The Minister "wagered" the city's metropolitan structure will have become reality by 2006, and he pointed out the need for the relative law

to be voted for immediately after the 2004 elections.

This evidence, and especially the draft of a proclamation to assume responsibility for the killing of Kostis Peratikos by N17, which bears handwritten corrections by Alexandros Giotopoulos, have been included in the large case brief, and according to the

police is concrete evidence on his major role in the organization.

The "Kathimerini" newspaper published the draft of the organization's proclamation with the handwritten corrections, which after specialist investigation were attributed to Alexandros Giotopoulos.

The publication also presented personal handwritten notes with information he gathered from newspaper publications, on major figures of political life, on who he made files for future use. From other notes it is easily ascertainable that although Giotopo ulos claims to have nothing to do with the organization, he was the one who recorded police movements, as well as cars that could possibly be stolen and used by the organization.

Meanwhile, the Giannis Serifis has been implicated in the most direct way with the organization, since Savvas Xeros allegedly confessed that he was one of the organization's recruiters until 1983, and had furthermore participated in the Wells murder, a f elony that is beyond the statute of limitations. In any case, Serifis will not be arrested, but will occupy the police authorities since he stated that he is at their disposal.

Xeros also revealed information on Alexandros Giotopoulos, whom he accused of "taking advantage of us ideologically and financially", as well as on Dimitris Koufontinas whom he said was "the brain of the organization. For that reason no operation was car ried out without him".

The goal of the conference is to encourage the new generation of the Greeks living abroad to be involved citizens and especially, to be involved in matters concerning the Greeks from Pontus in America.

In the conference will participate representatives of 24 associations, members of the federation, and about 300 delegates, mainly young people, from the United States and Canada.

Mr. Anomeritis stressed that the government has a concrete policy regarding the ports in the country. He stressed that there are a total of 1.600 merchant and fishing ports and marinas across the country, also Greece has the largest shipping register in the European Union with 38% followed by Italy 13%, while the rest of the countries have between 6 and 7%.

A message by the Daily Newspapers Journalists' Association of Macedonia-Thrace will be read by a representative of the association's board of directors in support of the demand.

In the message it is stressed that the return of the Nike of Samothrace will be a victory of civilization and the efforts will continue until the goal is met.

The notes referred to information concerning certain individuals who played an important role in the Greek political, diplomatic and social life. Also, they referred to their relations with other individuals, their political beliefs and ambitions.

Giotopoulos appeared to be well informed on details concerning acts and decisions made by the individuals in question, while he had taken down notes on specific information concerning a number of private cars.

Mr. Protopapas also said that such practices are strange to the principle of Democracy and the rules of Law in effect in Greece. He suggested self-restraint when dealing with this serious problem and spoke of moral responsibility for those who violate th e laws.

The statement was made when he was called to comment on the information according to which, the European Commission President raises many questions with relation to the Cyprus problem in an informal document he has sent to the leaders of the EU member-st ates.

Of the stocks trading today, 68 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority of 257 had losses, while the value of 81 stocks remained unchanged.

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Andreas Loverdos met in Sofia yesterday with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi and discussed among others the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, a plan of great importance for both count ries as they stressed.

Mr. Pasi referred to the construction works at three border crossings, stressing that they proceed in a quick pace, while the construction of the Gotse Veltsev border station is at an advanced stage. According to Mr. Loverdos, the first border station wi ll be put in operation before the 2004 Olympic Games.

Greece will offer 54.29 million Euro to Bulgaria for the materialization of infrastructure plans.

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