testify. New important witnesses in the case, seemingly including businessman Mr. D. Kontominas, are expected to testify before the DA.

protesters. Mr. Reppas appealed to parties and syndicates for mobilizations without extremism. The Coalition of the Left disagreed with the decision of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) to hold its own rallies. "There are street movements and there are par lor movements", replied KKE Secretary General A. Papariga.

According to statements of seismologist at the Thessaloniki university, Manolis Skordilis, to the MPA, the Thessaloniki seismograph network "caught" the earthquake, but it is impossible to analyze its magnitude due to the distance. As Mr. Skordilis expla ined, from the telegrams that have been arriving at the Thessaloniki lab since early this morning from other seismological centers abroad, it was estimated to be a surface earthquake, of 7.8 and not 7.5 R, as was initially announced, and its epicenter was

traced to the shores of the Pacific, approximately 50 km from the city of Colima.

Seismologists at the Thessaloniki lab are in contact with two European and Mediterranean seismology centers, stationed in Edinburgh and Strasburg and the NEIS center in the US.

"The Olympics are not a major sports and communications event to last 15 days in August 2004. It is an opportunity to realize a great developmental investment in Greece, a real modernization. So what really interests the state is the proper preparation f or the Olympics, but mainly that the post Olympic heritage is large and viable, both to Athens and Attica, and to Thessaloniki, Patra, Volos, Heracleon and every single prefecture and city in the country", stated Mr. Venizelos characteristically.

The Minister gave his assurance that the budget of the "Greece 2004" program, concerning the Greek periphery, will not be transgressed and he pointed out that everything undertaken by the Greek State is being handled in the overall state budget for Olymp ic preparations, which is 4.6 billion euro.

The International Secretariat of the World Organization Against Torture noted that Greece is holding the European Presidency and that it has announced that among its priorities is the issue of refugees and immigrants.

So the OMCT has called the Greek authorities and the Greek Ombudsman to immediately investigate all violations mentioned and to immediately release all foreigners held illegally all over the country.

The goal set by the European Central Bank for the index in question was 2% and according to economic analysts, the increase recorded is mainly due to the services sector.

The EU expresses its support to the contribution the "Friends of Venezuela" Group could have to the efforts aimed at finding a viable solution to the crisis in Venezuela in accordance with resolution 833 adopted by the Organization of American States. Th e resolution provides for a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution through elections.

The EU urges the institutions and the people of Venezuela to seek a solution assisted by the OAS General Secretary and the "Friends of Venezuela" Group within the framework of democratic principles and the state of law.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, Mr. Papandreou discussed with his counterparts the developments in Iraq, in view of the General Affairs Council meeting that will take place on January 27 to form a common EU position.

Mr. Papandreou also had a telephone communication with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan and discussed the likelihood of a political solution to the crisis in Iraq.

He referred to the special constitutional status of Mount Athos and reminded that the Vatican is another example of special status.

Mr. Venizelos stated that he addressed the European Parliament Committee on Education and Culture on the issue and explained to its members the special constitutional status of Mount Athos based on article 105 of the Greek Constitution. He said that the Mount Athos charter was approved jointly by the Greek Parliament and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He also said that Greece's EU accession treaty provided for Mount Athos to maintain its special status. This status was confirmed in the Inter-governmental C onference that led to the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Mr. Venizelos underlined that special territorial statuses can be found in many European Union countries and especially, in those with old colonies. A special status is in existence in regions of Denmark, France and other states.

He said that Mount Athos is the private property of the 20 monasteries making up the monastic community. If the EU wants to deal with such an issue then it should consider dealing with the Vatican as well, which is a sovereign state within a sovereign st ate, and address the fact that it is governed only by men.

Mr. Venizelos stated to the European Parliament Committee that he believes that tradition in the Vatican must be respected and the same should happen in the case of Mount Athos. He underlined that nobody can say that the EU will live without traditions.

Of the stocks trading today, 109 recorded gains and 183 had losses, while the value of 89 stocks remained unchanged.

He said that the Greek side believes that there is still room for a peaceful solution to the problem and stressed that Greece as the EU President has undertaken initiatives and wants a common position to be adopted by the representatives of the EU states

in the United Nations.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the EU would have, at some point, to prove that it is capable of displaying a common foreign and defense policy.

Mr. Schroeder stressed his country's interest in the Athens Olympics and agreed with Mrs. Aggelopoulou on the formation of a joint Greek, German and Italian committee. The committee with deal with the European dimension of the Olympics, in view of the ma jor sports events to be held in Europe.

In fact, Mr. Schroeder accepted an invitation to be present at the 2004 Olympics, and expressed his wish to participate in the torch race immediately after the Olympic Flame reaches Germany.

Mrs. Aggelopoulou pointed out that the Athens Olympics are the first Olympics to be held in a state of economic and monetary union in Europe.

The President of "Athens 2004" stressed that interest in the Athens Olympics is very lively in Germany, and can be discerned in the fact that 1,869 German citizens have applied to participate as Volunteers.

Mr. Shroeder and Mrs. Aggelopoulou agreed on a new meeting in June, in the margin of the Summit Meeting in Greece.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that in view of the likely war in Iraq it is very important for Europe to have enough energy reserves and form a Crisis Management Committee.

He said that the Greek EU Presidency regards the EU-Russia dialogue of strategic importance as 40% of the EU needs in natural gas are covered by Russia. The EU gets natural gas from Algeria and the North Sea as well, but the goal is to bring to the EU th e natural gas from the Caspian Sea countries. A good deal is expected to be reached on the issue in the EU-Russia Summit Meeting in Saint Petersburg at the end of May.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also stated that the EU backs the establishment of a Regional Electricity Market in SE Europe. Regarding the energy policy, he said that the Greek EU Presidency works systematically toward the creation of an operational internal energ y market in accordance with the Barcelona European Council program.

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