Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-08-03

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] CONNECTION BETWEEEN CRIME AND TERRORISM

[02] GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN GREEK BANKING

[03] WEEK ENDED WITH SMILES FOR THE ASE

[04] NEW CHIEF OF POLICE

[05] PRESSURE FOR GREEK RESTRUCTURION PLAN

[01] CONNECTION BETWEEEN CRIME AND TERRORISM

The authorities are looking for a connection between infamous criminal Kostas Passaris, responsible for the murders of police officers and terrorist groups, through the arms and various items found in the house where they attempted to capture him.

Yesterday was the premiere use of the new terrorist law that was passed last June. 24-year-old D. Polydoropoulos, to whom the apartment where police tried to arrest the criminal, belonged, is being charged with three felonies and three misdemeanors. The creation of a gang with intent to launder money, for possession of arms, and for the use and distribution of narcotics. The misdemeanors were illegal possession of firearms, harboring a known felon, and the illegal possession and use of a radio transmitter. Creation of a gang with criminal intent used to be a misdemeanor, but is now a felony punishable by 10 years incarceration, due to the new "terrorist law".

In the apartment there were: 1 assault rifle, 5 hand guns, grenades, bullets, radios and various other items. there were also some marked bills, probably from the bank robbery last Friday in Alimos.

If the authorities manage to connect Polydoropoulos to a terrorist group, then many arrests are expected in the next days since the people may be connected to organizations, and prosecuted accordingly, just by circumstantial evidence.

[02] GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN GREEK BANKING

Greek banks seem to be logically assessed towards their European competitors, and can now be compared to them, according to assessments of ABN-AMRO in a report on the potential of the field in "Kathimerini" newspaper.

The Dutch bank believes that the basic "alluring" element of Greek banks is the important potential of development in the monetary and economic sector, which- in combination with rapidly increasing rate of the GDP and the low interest rate environment, create the appropriate prerequisites for the improvement of quality (and quantity...) of their profit. They are, however, cautious concerning their short term perspectives.

[03] WEEK ENDED WITH SMILES FOR THE ASE

The week ended impressively for the stock exchange, with the general index breaking the 2.800 barrier. The day ended with it at 2.806 points, with profits of 0,54%. The volume of transactions came to 169,2 million Euro with 157 stocks gaining profits, 159 with losses and 61 showing no changes.

[04] NEW CHIEF OF POLICE

The until today Major General Fotis Nasiakos, Department Head of the police force, security and order at the Headquarters of the Police Force, was promoted to Lieutenant General and Chief of Police, after the resignation of Ioannis Georgakopoulos, due to the failure of the police to capture the criminal Kostas Passaris. The above decision was made today by the Governmental Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defense, presided over by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. Mr. Nasiakos has served as director of the Antiterrorist Service.

After the GCFAD meeting, Minister of Public Order, Mihalis Chrysochoidis stated that the Committee will do all it can to upgrade the Police Force, and a relevant bill will be submitted to Parliament in September.

[05] PRESSURE FOR GREEK RESTRUCTURION PLAN

The immediate promotion of the bill on the Reconstruction of the Balkans and the creation, function and structure of the Bureau of Economic and Commercial Affairs, was asked for by the employees in the foreign sector of the Ministry of National Economy, while the political leadership of the Ministry assessed that the other relevant Ministry, the Foreign Office, is delaying the signing of the bill for no reason.

As stressed in a press conference held by the President of the employee Union, Mr. Jen, the Foreign Ministry is delaying the bill because he assesses that it questions the coordination of foreign affairs, by his own Service. It should be noted that the bill was drawn up under the supervision of the Ministry of National Economy, Giannos Papantoniou, the undersecretary of the Ministry, Giannis Zafiropoulos, and in cooperation with the Foreign Office.

The control of the Foreign Commercial Affairs Bureau is only the first thorn in the side in the Foreign Ministry. The second is the 35% cutback in the Developmental Help fund, an amount that will be diverted to the Plan for Reconstruction of the Balkans. The Foreign Ministry has already asked for an increase in funding, and disagrees with the cutbacks. According to some employees, the Foreign Office may not be in complete agreement with the control that the Ministry of National Economy will have in the administration of the funds to be used in the Balkans.

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