of Prime Minister Costas Simitis. MPs Mr. Chrysanthakopoulos and Mr. Katsanevas did not appear before the party committee to explain themselves in connection to the case.

Of the stocks trading today, only 44 had gains and 278 had losses, while the value of 61 stocks remained unchanged.

In a letter to the Library of Alexandria Director, Mr. Kaklamanis mentions that with this donation the Greek Parliament wants to express its support and friendship to the spiritual institution that has undertaken the significant task of collecting and sa feguarding the human thought from the ancient times until now.

Mr. Psomiadis, referring to the stance of the rest of the Greeks toward the Greek Jews, pointed out the moving intervention undertaken by Archbishop Damaskinos together with 29 presidents of associations and organizations, saying that it was not totally successful but it displayed the strong reaction of the people of Thessaloniki, while all the victims of the holocaust were distinguished members of the local community.

Wreaths were laid at the Jewish Holocaust Monument this morning by US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, Prefect of Thessaloniki Panagiotis Psomiadis, Parliament Deputy Sotiris Kouvelas representing the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, City Councillor Theodoros Aspasidis representing the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Central Jewish Council President Moisis Konstantinidis, the German Ambassador and the General Consuls of France and Russia.

In an event held afterwards at the amphitheater of the Byzantine Instruments Museum Elie Wiesel, who received a Nobel Prize in 1986, was the main speaker. He stated that he is deeply moved because he is in Thessaloniki as most of the Greek Jews killed in

Nazi concentration camps came from the city. He underlined that he met many Jews from Thessaloniki in the concentration camps where he was held himself and his family.

Mr. Wiesel referred to the importance of the adoption by the Greek Parliament of January 27 as Greek Jews Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust Day. He also stressed that it is unfair the fact that the role of the Greek Jews in the resistance is not mentio ned in the history books, adding that he felt it was his duty to refer to them in his books.

Mr. Wiesel expressed the belief that soon a solution will be reached in the peace problem in Israel.

Thessaloniki Jewish Community President David Saltiel declared Mr. Wiesel honorary member of the community.

In a discussion with the press shortly before the landing of the "Olympic Airways" flight in Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarch mentioned the unexpectedly warm welcome he received from the Cuban government and its President Fidel Castro, as well as the p ressures of the US.

"The Americans cannot be pleased, but we are not a party, we are not an ideology", pointed out the Patriarch, asking those who continue insist on the embargo against Cuba: "What did the poor do, what did the children do, so as not to have medicines", ask ed the Head of Orthodoxy.

Mr. Vartholomeos observed that the role and mission of the Patriarchate place it above ideologies, political confrontations and quarrels.

The extent of the warm welcome Mr. Vartholomeos found from both the Cuban leadership and people, is evident in the fact that the President of Cuba met with the Patriarch 7 times, had three private meetings with him, accompanied him to the airport in his car, and expressing views that were unimaginable for an unyielding Marxist revolutionary such as Fidel.

According to statements of the public, they expect help from the Ecumenical Patriarch and Greece, not merely financial, but help with ideas, because it seems that Cuba is at the beginning of impressive openings. Evidence of this opening can be found both

in the wish expressed by Fidel for books on Mt. Athos and Orthodoxy to be sent to Cuba, in order to be distributed to the country's schools and foundations, and in the invitation for the foundation of Theology School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Hav ana, with the expenses to be covered by the Cuban State.

In a discussion with the press shortly before the landing of the "Olympic Airways" flight in Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarch mentioned the unexpectedly warm welcome he received from the Cuban government and its President Fidel Castro, as well as the p ressures of the US.

"The Americans cannot be pleased, but we are not a party, we are not an ideology", pointed out the Patriarch, asking those who continue insist on the embargo against Cuba: "What did the poor do, what did the children do, so as not to have medicines", ask ed the Head of Orthodoxy.

Mr. Vartholomeos observed that the role and mission of the Patriarchate place it above ideologies, political confrontations and quarrels.

The welcome in store for the Head of the 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world by the Cuban government, but mainly by the Cuban people was staggering. The President of Cuba met with the Patriarch 7 times, had three private meetings with him, a ccompanied him to the airport in his car, and expressing views that were unimaginable by outsiders for an unyielding Marxist revolutionary such as Fidel.

It is indicatory that Fidel Castro acted outside protocol and went to the "Park Central" hotel, where the Patriarch was staying, in person in order to see him off at the airport.

Another characteristic was the warm way in which the Ecumenical Patriarch was received by the Cuban people, in a country which until recently included a mere handful of Greeks and Orthodox Christians. In all of his Holiness' public appearances, hundreds of citizens, some of whom bore small flags with the Patriarchate's symbol, flooded the streets in attempts to shake and kiss his hand, while there were cheers of joy and gratitude for the support of the Patriarchate to Cuba at this difficult turning point

in its history.

According to statements of the public, they expect a lot from the Ecumenical Patriarch and Greece, not mere financial aid, but help with ideas, because it seems that Cuba is at the beginning of impressive openings. Evidence of this opening can be found b oth in the wish expressed by Fidel for books on Mt. Athos and Orthodoxy to be sent to Cuba, in order to be distributed to the country's schools and foundations, and in the invitation for the foundation of Theology School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Havana, with the expenses to be covered by the Cuban State.

The success of Vartholomeos' visit to Cuba becomes even greater if one takes into account the intense pressure from the US initially to call off the trip, "so that moral support is not given to dictator Castro", as was the message from many sides. This w as followed by attempts to downplay the trip and finally, on the eve of the inauguration of the St. Nikolaos' church, to implicate the Patriarch as an official invitee of the Cuban government, in an antigovernment event, regardless of the organizers' inte ntions and the just demands for the release of political prisoners expressed by their relatives and the officials of the Cuban opposition.

During an opening ceremony of a Greek artwork exhibit, the Patriarch stressed that the Cuban people has the right to freely develop relations with all other peoples. Cuba must be allowed to breath freely and develop commercial and cultural relations with

all other members of the international community, he added, stressing that the lifting of the embargo this year, when the Olympics are to be carried out in their birthplace, Greece, would be a good symbol.

It should be pointed out however that in his speeches in Cuba, in the presence of Fidel Castro, the Head of the Orthodox Church did not stop repeating the need to respect human rights and religious and civil liberties. His most noteworthy speech was at t he opening of the church of St. Nikolaos in Havana, where he underlined that "the free expression of religious faith, is a basic human right, which along with all other human rights, must be respected and inviolable, especially by those who have humanism as the basis for their ideology". Further along his speech, with Castro by his side, Mr. Vartholomeos underlined that the church of St. Nikolaos will send "a message of respect towards the human face and its rights, its freedom, its dignity, its right to disagree, its inviolable right to life".

The results of this significant visit will soon be seen and we expect impressive moves by Fidel Castro, in the spirit of his discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarch, best of which would be a general amnesty and the release of all political prisoners.

They both underlined that the discussion was held in a very good climate and soon a protocol will be signed for the realization of the action plan. Also, Mr. Magriotis and Mr. Razov gave positive answers to a number of pending issues between the two coun tries.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister pledged that he is going to send a letter to the company "GASPROM" for the implementation of the 1998 natural gas for Greek products agreement. The agreement, which has not been implemented yet, provides that 70-75% of

the foreign exchange received from the natural gas supply to Greece will be used by Russia for the purchase of Greek products. Mr. Razov confirmed Russia's political will for cooperation in the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil-pipeline.

Mr. Magriotis stated the Russia-Germany agreement for the issuing of visas to Russian citizens within the framework of the Schengen agreement is being examined for the purpose of implementing a similar agreement between Russia and Greece, which will brin g a big number of Russian tourists to Greece.

The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister expressed the belief that starting in the next academic year a Slav Studies Department will be in operation in the University of Athens and Mr. Razov expressed satisfaction over this development.

The issue of the erection of a monument in the Municipality of Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, where graves of Russian soldiers have been found, was also raised during the meeting.

On February 25, Mr. Magriotis will meet in Athens with the Russian undersecretary, responsible for Black Sea issues, to discuss the prospects of further cooperation between the two countries in the specific region.

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