The basic axis of his speech was regional development and the adoption of favorable measures for the farmers, while he also referred to the experience gained from the Olympic Games. He referred to the Cyprus issue, and to the importance of the stability and prosperity in the neighboring countries.

Great impression was created by the 13 measures to be adopted for the development of Thessaloniki.

This evening, in his speech in the formal dinner of the International Trade Fair Mr. Karamanlis will present the government's priorities in the sector of the economy.

Mr. Karamanlis will present the real state of the Greek economy and will outline the basic axes on which the government's economic policy will move in the next four years. He will reiterate that the commitments undertaken by the government will be fully met.

participation of Deputy Minister Anastasios Neratzis, Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis and other responsible authorities.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Liapis pointed out that a large part of the 3rd Community Framework of Support was given to Athens and now the time has come for regional development.

Mr. Liapis also stressed that Thessaloniki needs to have better mass transportation and pledged that in the next few weeks he will present a specific plan for the solution of the problems in question.

Most of the countries were in favor of the Stability Pact even though they asked for changes in the procedure, while France and Germany promised that next year will keep the 3% limit.

The expected "recommendation to Greece" will be discussed in Brussels on November 5, according to reliable sources.

The helicopter disappeared 20 kilometers from Karies. A total of 16 people were on board, among them, 4 crewmembers and 12 passengers.

Two military helicopters from Volos and five from Limnos are on their way to the region where the helicopter disappeared from the radar screens.

with special needs, to the fore. The municipal authorities had invited the local people to bring their children to the celebrations so that they could share in the Torch Relay and reinforce its symbolism. The playful keynote of the festivities around the

Paralympic altar was struck by circus artistes on stilts and clowns.

It was shortly before midday that the relay set out from Vouliagmeni, where the Flame had stayed overnight on Friday. It made three stops before reaching Lavrio in late afternoon: in the Saronida area, at the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, and at Palea Fo kea. People flocked on to the streets to watch it go past, applauding vigorously. "The athletes from Athens have already won their own gold medal for guts", said ATHENS 2004 Torch Relay director Penelope Mikelopoulou. "This relay is the sign that people a re opting for a new attitude".

There were similar comments in the speeches of the mayors of the towns welcoming the Flame. They pointed out the need to improve infrastructures and change the way we think about persons with a disability. Among today's Torchbearers were Aris Pananos, pr esident of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with a Disability, and Paralympic victors Antonios Kymoundris and Zacharias Fostiras.

On Sunday, the Paralympic Games Flame will make its way towards the Mesogea district. There will be stops in the municipalities of Keratea, Markopoulo, Kalyvia, Artemi, and finally Spata, where the flame will stay overnight.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos made the statement during the opening of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair responding to a question by a reporter on the issue of the Turkish violations.

A little earlier, Greek Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas in statements he made from the National Center of Operations had said that the last time the helicopter was seen on the radar screens was 15 miles south of Karies and its

pilot had said that he will gain altitude from the 2,500 feet to 4,000 feet.

On board the helicopter were 17 people, among them, Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa. The five-member-crew helicopter departed from Megara near Athens and went to the heliport in Kareas to take the Patriarch and his 11-member entourage an d bring them to Karies in the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki northern Greece where a formal reception had been prepared.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis gave the assurance after the ministerial committee meeting held in Thessaloniki this morning and stressed that whether Thessaloniki will host EXPO 2008 will depend on inter-state relations and interests.

On board the helicopter was Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa, Metropolite Erineos of Pilousiou, Metropolite Chrisostomos of Karthagena, Bishop Nektarios of Madagascar, Holy Monastery of Machera Prior Archimandrite Arsenios, Archimandrite Kallistratos Economou, Deacon Nektarios Kontogiorgos, the Patriarch's legal adviser Georgios Mavros, the Patriarch's technical adviser Patroklos Papastefanou, press adviser Georgios Xenoudakis, the Patriarch's brother Georgios Papapetrou and the Patriarch 's personal police guard Spiridon Koursaris.

Initially, the Patriarch's entourage was made up of 12 members but at the last moment Father Apostolos Forlidas stayed in Athens for personal reasons.

The five crewmembers of the Chinook were Major Papanastasiou, Warrant Officer Raptis, Platoon Sergeant Pantelis Hatzivangelis, First Sergeant Panagiotis Golegos, and Army Airforce Helicopter Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Dimitris Papaspirou.

Rescue crews are at the scene of the crash and are in the process of collecting the bodies of the victims.

Regarding the weather conditions at the time of the crash, Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas said that visibility was good, adding that the helicopter was new and was received by the military about a year-and-a-half ago.

The Archbishop said that the tragic death of the Patriarch has shocked the Orthodox Christians, adding that he has offered a great missionary work and was very active. The Archbishop also referred to the friendship he shared with the Patriarch.

The Archbishop also expressed grief for the loss of the hierarchs and all those accompanying the Patriarch, as well as the helicopter crewmembers.

Mr. Salagoudis pointed out that the government seeks to achieve high growth rates through the balanced development of the country in accordance with the commitment undertaken by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in his speech yesterday during the inaugura tion of the trade fair.

Mr. Salagoudis stated that the goal is to make Greece an energy center and referred to the proposals he submitted in the latest EU Energy Ministers Council meeting concerning the funding of the Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline carrying natural ga s from the Caspian Sea to the countries of the EU, as well as the funding of the natural gas pipeline linking Greece with western Balkans.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that the tragic accident caused great loss to the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Greek armed forces.

Referring to the Patriarch, he underlined his great work and stated that his humanitarian contribution to the suffering African continent was extraordinary.

He extended the government's condolences and support to the families of the victims and announced that the wish of the Prime Minister is to observe a moment of silence in the formal dinner that will follow his speech to the representatives of the country 's production sector this evening within the framework of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that for the moment a total of four bodies have been collected and the search continues to locate the bodies of the rest of the people on board the Chinook.

He assured that penalties will be imposed in case there was a delay in the response of the state mechanism.

On the delay in the landing of the helicopter in Mount Athos, Mr. Rousopoulos stated that based on the information he had by the Minister of Defense the helicopter did not arrive on schedule to Mount Athos because the Patriarch had requested a tour over Mount Athos and each monastery separately.