The goal of the visit is to form a close-up picture of the atmosphere in Cyprus after the negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland and in view of the April 24 referendum and also to be briefed on the positions of the Cypriot President and the political parti es in Cyprus and not to make suggestions or exert any kind of pressure.

Mr. Valinakis will brief Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on the conclusions of his visit to Cyprus as soon as he returns to Athens.

The Greek government will announce its position on the Annan Plan in the proper time, stated yesterday government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos, while it has not been decided yet when the Political Party Leaders' Council will meet chaired by President o f the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. The meeting is expected to take place after the Easter holidays.

Both in Nicosia and in Athens, the message to the Cypriot people by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos is expected with great interest scheduled to take place at 8pm tomorrow.

After a decision by Prime Minister and party president Kostas Karamanlis, journalist Nikos Eleftheroglou is the party's new Press Office Director.

Ambassador Madden expressed the wish that the Cypriot people will vote "yes" in the April 24 referendums. He said that the decision concerns the people of Cyprus and this is provided in the New York agreement, adding that it is a fundamental principle th at the people living on the island should make the decision. From Britain's point of view, we hope that the response will be "yes" in both referendums for Cyprus to become a member of the EU as a united island on May 1, said the British ambassador.

They discussed bilateral issues, as well as issues of wider cooperation. They discussed border cooperation between the two countries, immigration issues, as well as issues concerning bilateral economic relations. In the meeting they also examined the lat est developments in Cyprus.

At noon today, Mr. Skandalakis received Iran's ambassador to Athens Mehdi Mohtashami and discussed bilateral issues, as well as the Cyprus issue.

After the meeting, Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis stated that the government is going to request a discussion to be held on the economy outside the Parliament's daily agenda as soon as the Parliament reopens after the Easter holidays.

Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas referred to the atmosphere in the Greek market in statements he made after the governmental committee meeting. He stated characteristically that the market moves smoothly without interventions.

According to state-run NET television station information, Mr. Moliviatis pointed out that Greece participated in the Lucerne negotiations to contribute to the efforts for a solution. However, he clarified that Greece was not the main negotiator and Prim e Minister Kostas Karamanlis offered his cooperation at the request of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Mr. Moliviatis underlined that Greece does not have the capability nor is willing to impose its views on anybody.

Meanwhile, it became known today that the Foreign Minister has sent a letter to the opposition political party leaders asking them to appoint a representative in the Foreign Policy Council meeting.

Of the stocks trading today, 132 had gains and 145 had losses, while the value of 120 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Papandreou was briefed by Anna Diamantopoulou and Panos Beglitis on the contacts a PASOK delegation had during its visit to Cyprus. He stated to reporters that PASOK has undertaken initiatives on the specific case and will continue to do so. He annou nced that Mrs. Diamantopoulou is going to be in Brussels tomorrow to meet with European Commissioner Gunter Verheugen.

Mr. Papandreou stated that PASOK respects the thoughts and decisions of the Cypriot people and the Cypriot political parties but PASOK will present its own position.

Mr. Annan made the statement in response to a question on Cyprus after the meeting he had in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who stressed that regardless of the outcome of the referendums Russia's interest in the Cyprus issue will not be reduced.

In the meeting, Mr. Liapis agreed with his counterparts to issue a European Charter on Road Safety on the occasion of the World Health Day tomorrow, dedicated by the UN to Road Safety.

The implementation of the 2001-2005 Strategic Plan for the improvement of Road Safety in Greece, aimed at cutting down traffic accidents by 20%, will intensify to achieve the greatest possible reduction in the number of traffic accidents and their conseq uences.

Mr. Valinakis reiterated that the final judgment belongs to the Cypriot people and pointed out that the goal of his visit is to be fully briefed on the positions of the Cypriot political parties after the Lucerne negotiations and in view of the April 24 referendums.

In statements he made after the meeting he had this afternoon with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, Mr. Valinakis said that he had the chance to be briefed directly on the thoughts and views on the Annan Plan after Lucerne and in view of the refere ndums.

New Democracy Central Committee Secretary Vangelis Meimarakis was also present in the meeting that lasted one hour.

Earlier, the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister and Mr. Meimarakis had a meeting with former Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

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