The lists were given to publicity yesterday in view of the June 13 Euro-elections.

Former government minister Yiannis Varvitsiotis is heading the New Democracy list, while heading PASOK's list is Maria Matsouka, in charge of the youth section of the General Confederation of Greek Labor Unions.

Six new faces and four Euro-deputies make-up the top ten positions of the New Democracy ballot while no PASOK Euro-deputy is up for re-election.

Former deputy Mr. Pafilis is heading the ballot of the Greek Communist Party, Mr. Papadimoulis the ballot of Coalition of the Left, Mr. Karatzaferis is heading LAOS and Mr. Tremopoulos the Greens.

Mr. Miller denied the rumors that the United States are not interested in the Balkans anymore and said that the US role has adjusted to the new conditions, stressing that developments in Iraq and the efforts against terrorism have attracted most of the U S interest but the US has not stopped being interested in the Balkans.

He stated that the interest is increased based on the figures he presented according to which, the previous fiscal year the US had allocated a total of 500 million euros for the Balkan region. In Kosovo and other regions serve 1,800 US soldiers, while th e US is the biggest foreign investor in Serbia with investments corresponding to US$1 billion. The exports are estimated at US$800 million and the imports are at US$1.4 billion.

The US ambassador referred to the speech of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in New York on the Greek investments in the Balkans expressing satisfaction for their level and pointed out that Thessaloniki occupies an important position in those investments .

He condemned the incidents that took place in Kosovo last March and stressed that those responsible must be found, while he backed the speedy implementation of the UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Athens stated on the sidelines of the 10th Thessaloniki Forum that the visit of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to the United States left good impressions in Washington.

On the issue of the Olympic Games security, he said that cooperation with the Greek government is very good and himself is in contact with Greek Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis on an everyday basis. He observed that the safety of the Olympic s is not an issue that concerns Greece alone and efforts will continue without cease until the Paralympics are completed.

The project that cost 750 million euros links the Peloponese with Sterea Ellada, Greek mainland. The Rio-Antirio Bridge is 2,252 meters long and 28 meters wide. It has two lanes for each direction as well as an emergency lane and a sidewalk for pedestria ns.

It is estimated that drivers will need less than 4 minutes to get from one end of the bridge to the other, as the average speed will be 80kms per hour.

An estimated 10,000 cars will cross the bridge daily while in rush hours they will reach 25,000.

The bridge will be given to commuters by the end of August but on August 8 it will be open just for the Olympic Flame events.

He refused to respond to the question if there are security risks for the Olympic Games and stated that Greece will be the judge of that and the NATO assistance will correspond to the size of the risks.

Meanwhile, Mr. Altenburg stated that NATO will announce formally in the Istanbul Summit meeting that the SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina will end its mission by the end of 2004 and will be replaced by an EU military force

However, he underlined that a NATO force will remain in Bosnia to contribute to the efforts for the arrest of those wanted for war crimes by The Hague and assured that assistance will be offered to the country's authorities for reforms in the defense sec tor.

Regarding NATO's presence in Kosovo, he stressed that it remains stable pointing out that when the violent incidents broke out in March the Alliance strengthened its forces and now is more than ever involved in the province's political procedures.

He assured that any reduction of the military presence of the Alliance in the region has to do with the progress achieved in the southeastern European countries and not with a lack of interest in the region.

Addressing the 10th Thessaloniki Forum, he said that Kosovo is the most persuasive example of the activity of destabilizing factors in the Balkans. Russia had predicted this development and unfortunately it became true, he said. He stated that the only l egal framework for the settlement of the Kosovo case is the implementation of UN resolution 1244, adding that those responsible for the extermination of the Serbs should be punished and the destroyed churches and monasteries must be rebuilt. People should

be allowed to return to their homes, the paramilitary groups must be dissolved and their guns must be confiscated, while the participation of the Serbs within this solution framework must be seriously discussed, he stressed.

The Russian ambassador said that if the situation in Kosovo is not faced, there is a risk for a Domino Effect in other Balkan regions as well. He said that the Russian President has suggested that an international conference should be held in which it wi ll be confirmed that borders cannot be violated. He pointed out that Russia, the United States and the UN can cooperate to secure a better future for the Balkan region.

Mr. Vdovin stated that Russia is interested in the Balkans and mentioned characteristically President Putin's visit to Athens in 2001 and in Bulgaria last year. Russia is in a political dialogue with Albania and a friendship and cooperation agreement is going to be signed soon. Russia supplies many Balkan countries with natural gas, Russian companies expand their activities in the Balkans and Russian tourists visit Greece and Serbia-Montenegro, said the Russian ambassador.

He said that Russia sees the EU enlargement positively and hopes that the Russian interests in the region will not be put at risk, while on NATO's enlargement to include eastern European countries, he pointed out that Russia does not dramatize the whole situation.

Opening the Conference Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis characterized it as very important and stressed that Greece can guarantee safe Olympic Games. He underlined that Greece is a small country but it is capable to host safe Olympic Games.

"Athens 2004" Organizing Committee President Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis stated that the budget allocated by the Greek government and the security planning for the protection of the games are unprecedented in the Olympic Games history.

Mrs. Angelopoulou stated that security is the top priority and made a special reference to the recent international press reports. She also referred to the warning issued by the Australian government targeting those who want to visit Greece, stressing th at this way the Olympic Games are being hurt. Mrs. Angelopoulou stressed that no Organizing Committee and no government of a host country have given a greater emphasis on safety and protection.

British ambassador David Madden, as the representative of the Olympic Advisory Group, underlined that the threat of international terrorism needs to be faced in a global and comprehensive manner, adding that the common goal is to host safe and pleasant O lympic Games.

Mr. Samaras referred to his 16-year-long presence in New Democracy and pledged that he will fight for a strong Europe and an even stronger Greece.

On the reactions expressed by ND honorary President Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Mr. Samaras stated that he feels great satisfaction and is very moved because the party he served since he was a young man and was its Parliament deputy for 16 years appears to be more united and optimistic than ever before.

General Antonakopoulos will meet with Defense Minister Berislav Roncevic to discuss issues of mutual military interest concerning the defense revision of the Croat armed forces, bilateral military cooperation, as well as regional cooperation within the f ramework of the initiative of the southeastern European Defense Ministers.

He will also visit the Armed Forces Training Command, the War School and the War Simulation Center.

Of the stocks trading today, 132 had gains and 142 had losses, while the value of 110 stocks remained unchanged.