and averting war, while he considered a UN decision a requirement for any action.

Participants in the meeting included the General Director of the IOC's technical sector, Gilbert Seri, Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos, and the President of the "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee, Gianna Aggelopoulou.

Mr. Rogge and Mr. Oswald asked questions concerning the works being carried out at the Olympic Village and the international zone of the Olympic Village, and received immediate responses, said Mr. Venizelos.

The Minister of Culture stressed that certain issues concerning the Schengen Treaty on Olympic accreditation, which have also gone very well, were raised during the discussions, and they are also of interest to Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rogge inspected the Olympic projects from a helicopter accompanied by Mrs. Aggelopoulou and Mr. Oswald.

This afternoon, Mr. Rogge will also meet with the President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis.

According to the note, which was written on two separate occasions, April 3 and 8 1985, Mr. Michalopoulos informed Dimitris Aggelopoulos that he was abducted by members of N17, blindfolded and taken to a remote area. There he was informed that they were going to kill Vardis Vardinoyannis and Dimitris Aggelopoulos. However the note made no mention of any money changing hands. "...he (Michalopoulos) intervened stating that he was a relative of mine and took my name off the target list. I have no idea to wh at degree this is true..." "8/4/85 Mr. Michalopoulos brought me the note regarding my erasure from the list (mysterious)". Dimitris Aggelopoulos was killed by N17 one year later.

Suspicions against Mr. Michalopoulos grew lately with the statements of Argyris Saliarelis, former president of Olympiakos FC and businessman with shady dealings (imprisoned during the Koskotas scandal), to various channels, which he told that after he r efused to fund a television station he received a telephone call from Mr. Michalopoulos who tried to extort protection money from him. One of the dangers he was to "protect" him from, always according to Mr. Saliarelis' statements, was N17.

However, Mr. Michalopoulos on his part refused any implication in extortion and supported that he had met with Al. Giotopoulos (alleged leader of N17), who was recognized by two witnesses as having come to his office.

The Church's NGO stressed that: "The clouds of war have grown thick over Iraq. Everyone wishes for peace in the region, since a possible confrontation would have serious consequences, especially on the civilian population".

Mr. Solana will participate in the meeting of the EU-India troika, while he will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou, and the Head of the Opposition, Kostas Karama nlis.

The main point of discussions will be developments in the Balkans (in light of Mr. Papandreou's tour of the region), the Middle East, and Iraq, the materialization of the Berlin plus agreement on the Euroarmy, the enlargement, the Cyprus issue, and prepa rations on the EU Summit with leaders of the Western Balkans and Russia.

Mr. Robertson will also meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and Minister of Defense Giannos Papantoniou.

EU action in FYROM, developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, will be the issues of the discussions with Lord Robertson.

Finally, on January 18, Foreign Minister of Germany Joschka Fischer will visit Athens. During his meetings with Prime Minister Simitis and his Greek counterpart, they will mainly look into developments in the discussion on "the future of Europe", as well

as international developments.

Of the stocks trading today, 193 recorded gains and 103 had losses, while the value of 84 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Protopapas stated that every evidence on the case is in the hands of the responsible authorities, who make all necessary moves for its investigation, adding that a systematic work is being done for the past few years aimed at combating terrorism.

The government spokesman also stated that the investigation will go deep and no evidence will remain in the dark.

were discussed with the European Commission in its joint session with the Greek Cabinet in Athens last week.

in Skopje, although according to Mr. Papandreou Greece wants to find a solution. The issue of the necessary measures for the protection of minorities in Albania was discussed in Tirana.

In a press conference he held after this morning's meeting with the Foreign Minister of Croatia, Tonino Picula, Mr. Papandreou stressed that Croatia has made important steps insofar as the application of European principles and values is concerned, it ha s formed institutions to prepare itself for its accession to the Community, and, in general, it has noted greater progress, which makes it an example for the Western Balkans. He also noted that Greece will support Croatia's accessional course.

Mr. Picula revealed to the press that he received the Greek Foreign Minister's assurance that the Greek Parliament will ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which was signed by Croatia and the EU in 2001, within the duration of the Greek P residency.

It should be noted that Croatia intends to submit its official application for accession to the EU in February.

Mr. Papandreou began his tour of the Blakans with FYROM as his first destination where he met with Prime Minister Branko Cervenofski. After their meeting Mr. Papandreou stated that their main issues of discussion were the program of the Greek Presidency until the Thessaloniki Summit Meeting, where a parallel Summit of Balkan and EU countries is expected to be held. The name issue was not discussed during their meeting, although Mr. Papandreou stressed that Greece is hoping for a solution to be found.

His second stop was in Tirana, where he discussed bilateral relations and the accession prospects of Albania and other Balkan countries to the EU, with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano. Participants in the meeting included EU Representative on Foreign Policy and Security Issues, Xavier Solana, and Italian deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Antonioni.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that Balkan countries belong in the EU and added that every step taken by every individual country towards this direction, is a contribution for the approach of the entire region to the EU.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that there is a new strategic cooperation between Greece and Albania, which can be proven by the large number of Albanian immigrants in Greece, who, as he said, send home approximately $300 million annually.

Mr. Xarhakos asked if Europol had received any information on the case provided by the Greek authorities or whether it had gathered evidence in the past at its own initiative both on those already arrested and others involved in different Greek terrorist

groups.

Also, the Greek Euro-deputy wants to be informed on whether the Echelon global surveillance network has been used for the collection of evidence and in the case this has happened if the evidence has reached the Greek police and judicial authorities.

In a statement issued by Mr. Xarhakos it is mentioned that the European Commission has avoided in a very diplomatic way to adopt a clear position on whether Europol and the Echelon global surveillance network had any evidence on the arrested 17N members.

Analyzing the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency, the Prime Minister referred to the completion of the enlargement, the reform of the European economy and the promotion of social cohesion. He also referred to the measures against illegal immigration, the future of Europe and the strengthening of the EU role as a factor of stability, peace and cooperation.

Mr. Simitis made a special reference to the issue of Iraq, stressing that it is a main priority in the Greek EU Presidency agenda. The Greek Prime Minister said that we will work for peace and the peaceful settlement of conflicts, while efforts are being

made for the UN initiatives to bring a positive result and avert war. He said that the UN will and decisions should dominate. Therefore, Iraq has to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions, stated Mr. Simitis.

On the issue of the EU enlargement, Mr. Simitis pointed out Greece's will for Cyprus to enter the EU as a united country and reiterated that the Annan Plan is an opportunity for the solution of the political problem on the island. He underlined that Cypr us will become an EU member as it was agreed in Copenhagen. On Turkey, he said that the drawing up of its new partnership relation with the EU is included among the goals of the Greek EU Presidency.

Speaking on the Lisbon strategy, he presented the axes defined by the Greek government on the issue, referring to the need for European economic policy credibility, the promotion of business activities for the small-sized businesses, the promotion of ec onomic cooperation among the European states and sustainable development.

On the issue of illegal immigration, Mr. Simitis stressed that initiatives must be implemented on a fair basis for the protection of the EU external borders and the promotion of asylum and repatriation policies. On the common policy of security and defen se, the Greek Prime Minister stated that the Greek EU Presidency aims at the complete operational readiness in the sector of crises management through the implementation of military and non military options. Specifically on the Balkan region, he said that

the Greek EU Presidency will focus on the strengthening of the stabilization procedure.

The law, based on which OTE will purchase capital shares worth 242.62 million euros, will have to be signed first by Romanian President Ion Iliescu.

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