Responding to the statements made by Savvas Xiros on the medication he received while in "Evangelismos", he stressed that Xiros never received scopolamine, which has a spasmolytic effect and in very high doses it can cause dizziness, drowsiness or amnesi a, or any other similar drug.

The doctor stated that from the day the tubes were removed from Savvas Xiros' body until the day he left the hospital, he received medication for his asthma, eye drops for his eye injuries, antibiotics and in general drugs to treat the different injuries

he had on his body. For the record, Xiros was seriously injured in Piraeus in the evening of June 29 when a bomb, he intended to plant, exploded in his hands accidentally.

Meanwhile, "Evangelismos" Hospital director Mr. Alexopoulos categorically denied that a political personality had visited Xiros' room, stressing that the patient was unable to distinguish faces during the first week of his hospitalization as his eyes wer e covered with gauze for medical reasons.

Supreme Court prosecutor Mr. Kroustalakis stated that Xiros' rights were respected during his questioning and made an appeal for justice to be left alone to do its job.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas when asked to comment on the statements made by Xiros, he responded that the government has no reason to enter a dialogue with those accused of terrorist actions. Mr. Protopapas said that investigation in this cas e was done with total clarity and respect to the law, and with a deep faith in Democracy.

According to statistical figures announced by INKA, the consumer turnout dropped between 40 and 60%.

The action undertaken by INKA appears to give results as according to figures gathered by the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution and trade federations, a 60% drop is already being recorded in their prices.

Meanwhile, the fresh fruit and vegetable producers and vendors in open-air markets have announced a strike action of their own starting on October 1 to defend their own demands. Producers and vendors maintain that while the production cost has doubled th e market prices are still at the lowest possible levels.

There will be no deviations from the fiscal discipline line, assured the Minister of Finance, who will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

In the meeting with the Greek Industries Association Presiding Board, Mr. Christodoulakis referred to the discouraging estimates by the Eurogroup council according to which, the Euro-zone growth rate will be under 1%, while the recovery that was expected

in the second half of 2002 is being shifted to early 2003.

The downward trend was due to the small capitalization, while there was resistance by the high capitalization of selected blue chips.

Of the stocks trading today, 53 recorded gains and 266 had losses, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Protopapas reiterated that the international community wants the Cyprus problem to be solved within the framework of the UN resolutions.

The Turkish Foreign Minister speaking in the UN General Assembly had stated that Cyprus' EU accession is illegal and in essence warned that if Cyprus becomes an EU member it will bring destabilization to the region.

According to Mr. Christodoulakis, 1/3 of this growth rate, about 1.2%-1.3%, will be the result of EU resources, while 2.7% of it will be the result of internal effort and funding. He said that for this reason the procedures for the materialization of pub lic investments, the backing of businesses, the liberalization of the markets and structural changes are being sped up.

Referring to the international scene, he spoke of prolonged stagnation in the economic activities in Europe, the US and the rest strong economies. He said that a US intervention in Iraq could cause problems but the Greek economy is prepared for those dev elopments and will face them by speeding up the privatization program, the liberalization of the markets and the structural changes.

Maintaining a low tone and without naming his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Papandreou stated that the values shared by Greece and Turkey through the rapprochement are being tried in a painful way in the case of Cyprus.

He said that there is an indisputable deadline to settle the problem of the continuing division of the island. The negotiations for Cyprus' EU accession will be completed in December.

Mr. Papandreou expressed the wish that a free and united Cyprus will become a member of the free and united Europe. He said that unification will undoubtedly bring more security and prosperity both to the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. However,

he pointed out that if no political settlement is reached the internationally recognized Cypriot Republic will become a member alone. He stressed that the walls that keep future European citizens apart should be brought down.

He stressed that the whole world with the exception of Turkey shares the vision for Cyprus as a federal state with an international personality and nationality, without foreign soldiers on its territory and with equal rights and security guarantees for i ts two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot.

The overwhelming majority of the Cypriot population, stated Mr. Papandreou, agrees that the two communities can and should live together united by the values they share while at the same time they will maintain their distinct cultural identities.

Mr. Papandreou called for the respect of the UN Security Council resolutions and characterized Cyprus as a crucial factor for stability and security in south Europe and the Middle East, stressing that a solution to the Cyprus problem will bring stability

and peace to the region.

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