As far as how changes will be carried out in businesses, depending on the space, that will be decided by the employers, who will ask for the view of their employees.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health seems dedicated to working for the real application of anti-smoking measures that have been taken in the public sector and which continue to be violated. In the framework of the effort for the application of the measures , the Ministry announced that it will commence checks by a special corps of investigators, as well as fines starting from 150 euro, for every cigarette smoked in a forbidden area.

Regarding the measures that have already been taken, the Minister of Health, Costas Stefanis, repeated that these will gradually be applied, according to the persuasion, consent, information triptych, underlining that "they must be applied with a sensiti vity which will certify that the measures are not against smokers, but smoking, which harms both smokers and those around them.

one of the depths to which mankind can sink when led astray by fabricated arguments". Our generation will not allow such events to be repeated, said the President of the World Jewish Council, Dr. Singer. The contribution of the Greek clergy in saving man y Jews was pointed out by the President of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, David Saltiel. The Patriarch then visited the Jewish Museum.

This clarification was made in an announcement today by company owner of the resort, TECHNIKI OLYMPIAKI, drawing on publications made by a portion of the press on the progress of the works.

"The technical wholeness and know how of Techniki Olympiaki, as well as the experience of the Porto Carras Grand resort staff, guarantee the complete success of hosting the European leaders and the thousands of journalists during the Summit", ended the a nnouncement.

For the first time, the head of Orthodoxy attended the ceremony held at noon today at the Jewish Holocaust Monument and laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the holocaust.

Present in the ceremony were Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Mrs. Berkley member of the US Congress, Rabbi Israel Singer President of the World Jewish Congress, New Democracy Euro-deputy Antonis Trakatelis, the consul generals of the United States,

Germany, France, Spain and Turkey, Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis, Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, World Council of Hellenes Abroad Andrew Athens, the Metropolite of France, a representative of the Metropolite of Thessaloniki, and President Da vid Saltiel and members of the Jewish Community.

No interpretation can justify the mass extermination of thousands of people for the sole reason of belonging to a certain race or religion. Some people cannot accept the existence of others who are different from them, said the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos backed the peaceful coexistence of different people. He said that the anniversary of the Jewish holocaust is a National Memorial Day, stressing that Thessaloniki is proud for its Jewish dimension.

The program "THEMIS-MACEDONIA" was presented during the event constituting a new appeal for the information of the international public opinion, in which it is stressed that the Greeks around the world do not accept a name for FYROM that will include the

term Macedonia or any of its derivatives.

After the collection of thousands of signatures, the appeal will be forwarded to the President of the United States, the members of the US Congress, the UN members, the EU members and the members of all state Parliaments in the world. A total of 6.000 Pa rliament deputies worldwide will receive the collected signatures.

It is stressed in the appeal that a continuous and persistent effort is being made by the FYROM state, which is falsely attempting to associate the Slav population of the country with the ancient Macedonians who were indisputably Greeks. It is also stres sed that the arrival of the Slavs in the region did not take place until the 6th century AD.

More details on this effort can be seen in eight languages at the electronic address www.greece.org/themis/Macedonia and also, at www.greece.org/themis/macedonia/associations.htm.

Of the stocks trading today, 116 recorded gains and 192 had losses, while the value of 70 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Mallias stressed that the Stability Pact is not a regional cooperation instrument but a tool for its support, adding that the Balkans is a necessary addition for Europe. He also said that with the EU enlargement the need for the region to acquire a s tronger voice in the European continent becomes bigger.

Mr. Mallias said that it is important for the United States and the EU to keep the Balkans among their top interests and continue the cooperation. He added that the EU will have to prove that it is in a position to become active in policing and security.

Mr. Mallias added that the most important problems in the Balkans are unemployment, insecurity (as a result of the conflicts) and the feeling that what Europe is offering is distant and not tangible. He said that the EU can send a tangible message for th e governments in the region to be able to use it and make constitutional and legislative reforms which they would be impossible to be made in a different case.

Mr. Solans stated that the harmonized price index in the Euro-zone will drop under 2% during the year, while by the end of the current year the European economy will reenter a development course.

The assessment made by Mr. Solans on the course of inflation is regarded by analysts as one more indication that the ECB will announce an interest rate cut.

Mr. Hitiris underlined that nothing has changed in the Greek government's position regarding the issue of the FYROM name and reiterated the response given by the "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee.

Mr. Hitiris pointed out that the Committee has located the source of the mistake, which was made by a foreign company, and underlined that it was corrected and therefore, there is no issue pending. He also ruled out the likelihood of expedience, repeatin g that it was nothing more than a mistake.

Smoking will be prohibited, starting on October 1, 2003, in waiting, reception, and transaction areas for the public, in conference rooms, amphitheaters etc, while the measures will be in effect in the rest working areas beginning on March 1, 2004.

With the consensus of employers and employees every company will have to adopt measures for the protection on non-smokers.

The violators of the anti-smoking measures will pay fines of up to 150 euros.

Simitis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Later today, Mr. Simitis will visit the Greek Square where the statue of Ioannis Kapodistrias, will be unveiled made by sculptor Klikov and funded by Greek Diaspora businessmen.

The Prime Minister will give a press conference tomorrow and he will meet with the Chinese leader.

The EU-Russia Summit meeting will take place on Saturday. A joint press conference will be given by European Council President, the President of the Russian Federation and the European Commission President.

by Greek Prime Minister and European Council President Kostas Simitis, who attended the unveiling ceremony.

Mr. Simitis is visiting Saint Petersburg to attend the ceremonies on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city and for the EU-Russia Summit meeting to take place on May 31. He thanked the Greeks in Russia for the statue of the fir st governor of the Greek State and stressed that their gesture highlights the strong ties between the Greek and the Russian people.

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