Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] N17 "CLEANED OUT" UNNECESSARY MEMBERS

[02] TIMES: SAUNDERS KILLING A MISTAKE

[03] PELLA IS...THE CAPITAL OF FYROM, ACCORDING TO CNN

[04] CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST PAVLOS SERIFIS

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] PAPANDREOU-CHRISOCHOIDIS BRIEFED THE EU AMBASSADORS

[07] CABINET MEETING ON AGRICULTURE POLICY

[08] "HELLAS-SAT" WILL BE IN ORBIT IN MARCH 2003

[09] A HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUAL IS EXPECTED TO BE ARRESTED SOON IN CONNECTION

[10] THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX INCREASED BY 0.9% IN THE FIRST HALF OF

[11] PAVLOS SERIFIS WILL APPEAR BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR

[12] CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE US ON N17

[01] N17 "CLEANED OUT" UNNECESSARY MEMBERS

The counter-terrorism service expects to arrest the grandparents of November 17 very soon, since, according to the Vima newspaper, it holds a full image of the organization's composition during the 1975-1983 period.

According to the same appreciation, 5 individuals were involved in the organization during that period, while it is appreciated that Alekos Giotopoulos and Pavlos Serifis or Nikitas, participated in the killing of CIA Station Chief Richard Wells, while there is information about a woman implicated, as well as Christos Kassimis, who was killed in a police shooting in 1977 at the Redi AEG.

The counter-terrorism service is looking into the circumstances under which three individuals died, since a cleaning out of the organization in the 90's is not out of the question.

These are, the death of Kanellos Zabouflos, former roommate of Christodoulos Xeros, who died of a pulmonary edema at the age of 33, Giannis Skandalis or the Count, who was killed in a car accident in Peloponnisos, and OjurkYavouz or the Mission, who died of a heart attack.

[02] TIMES: SAUNDERS KILLING A MISTAKE

A lack of information in November 17 was ascertained by the London Times. In a publication, they mentioned that the murder of Brigadier Steven Saunders was a mistake, and that the organization was targeting a US officer with the same last name as the British Brigadier.

Specifically, the Times publication mentioned that the target was a US officer involved in planning the 1999 NATO operations in Yugoslavia, and stressed that the British Foreign Office had pointed out, after the Saunders killing, in relation to the organization's declaration, that the Brigadier had nothing to do with the bombings in Yugoslavia.

[03] PELLA IS...THE CAPITAL OF FYROM, ACCORDING TO CNN

The television network CNN is responsible for a major blunder. On its Internet site http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/sites.html refers to FYROM as Macedonia and as if this was not enough, it presents Pella as the capital of this state in violation of the rules of ethics and international law.

In a letter to the Director of CNN, Macedonian Press Agency Board of Directors President Mr. Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos characterizes as ignorant of history and geography those responsible for CNN's Internet site and stresses that the geographic reality is fixed and does not take neither misinterpretations nor misunderstandings.

Finally, he urges those responsible to apologize to the Greek people and stop presenting Pella, a Greek city, as the capital of FYROM.

[04] CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST PAVLOS SERIFIS

The prosecutor filed criminal charges against terrorist group 17 November member, Pavlos Serifis, who used the code-name Nikitas. He was arrested in Argithea, Karditsa in central Greece yesterday. Serifis appeared before the examining judge today and requested and received more time to prepare his testimony.

Two other 17N members, Iraklis Kostaris and Kostas Karatsolis, refused to testify before the examining judge maintaining that responsible to take over their case are the examining judges of the Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, police has launched a search in the apartment of 42-year-old Patroklos Tselentis, another 17N member, who used the code-names Alekos or tenias. Tselentis was arrested at noon today and was active in the terrorist group since 1983. According to information, he was one of the so-called foot-soldiers of the terrorist group and was under Koufodinas in its hierarchy.

Thomas Serifis and Kostas Telios will testify before the examining judge tomorrow afternoon, while the preliminary examination of Savas Xiros conducted by the responsible prosecutor Ioannis Diotis will be completed by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two more members of the terrorist group, one of them a woman, are expected to be arrested within the next hours.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +2.22% at 2.072,41 points, while the volume of transactions was at 86 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 308 recorded gains and only 29 had losses, while the value of 44 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] PAPANDREOU-CHRISOCHOIDIS BRIEFED THE EU AMBASSADORS

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis briefed the EU ambassadors today on the developments in the efforts against terrorism. Meanwhile, Major-General Stelios Siros briefed on the issue the Turkish embassy charge d' affaires.

Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece's cooperation with the rest EU countries within the framework of the European Union decisions was underlined in today's contacts. He also congratulated the Public Order Ministry leadership for an excellent work.

Mr. Chrisochoidis characterized today's briefing very useful and reiterated that Greece works closely with the rest EU countries on the issue of international terrorism. He stressed that Greece is a safe country and can host safe and successful Olympic Games.

[07] CABINET MEETING ON AGRICULTURE POLICY

The cotton subsidies issue dominated in today's cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after the unfavorable EU decision for Greece concerning the repayment of the subsidies that will be received by the Greek farmers for last year's crop.

The cabinet meeting also dealt with the issue of the consultations for the revision of the Common Farm Policy. Describing the goals of the consultations, the Prime Minister pointed out that Greece seeks the redistribution of funds in favor of medium and small farmers, the strengthening of the EU social cohesion, the creation of incentives for professional farming and the training of new farmers.

[08] "HELLAS-SAT" WILL BE IN ORBIT IN MARCH 2003

The first Greek satellite will be in orbit in March 2003. Hellas-Sat will be funded by Greece and Cyprus. The agreement for the supply of the satellite was signed today by representatives of the Hellas-Sat joint venture and the French company Astrium.

President and Managing Director of the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE Group Lefteris Antonakopoulos characterized the Greek-Cypriot cooperation as a big step and stressed that the satellite widens the horizons for the country placing Greece among those with a presence in space.

On the occasion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he said that the Greek satellite secures the televised broadcast of this great sports event around the world. He also referred to the possibilities offered by the Greek satellite in a wide spectrum of services like, satellite Internet, etc. The specific satellite will be in orbit for 15 years.

[09] A HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUAL IS EXPECTED TO BE ARRESTED SOON IN CONNECTION TO 17N

The arrest of a high profile individual, who is not a politician or a member of the academic community but has very high connections and is a personality enjoying wide acceptance from all political parties, is being prepared by the police, according to the Athens newspaper Eleftheros Tipos.

According to press information, this individual is the terrorist group 17 November informer, who gave information even on confidential reports by state agencies or on the contents of closed government meetings.

This high profile individual is around 50, with unknown marital status. For a considerable amount of time lived in Italy and has a clean police record.

The arrest of this individual, who had contacts only with Alexandros Giotopoulos, is expected to be announced within the next 10 days.

[10] THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX INCREASED BY 0.9% IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR

The industrial production index rose by 0.9% in the second half of the year compared to the same period last year, according to figures provided by the National Statistics Agency. Also, the industrial production index rose by 0.6% in the month of May compared to the same month last year.

The increase in the mine production index was considerable at 11.3%, while the industrial production index itself dropped by 0.6%. Also, the electricity-natural gas-water supply index increased by 2%, mainly due to the increase recorded in the natural gas production and distribution.

[11] PAVLOS SERIFIS WILL APPEAR BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR

Another member of the terrorist group 17 November will appear before the prosecutor. He is Pavlos Serifis born in 1956 in Morfio, in the prefecture of Thesprotia, and a resident of Athens.

Greek Police spokesman Lefteris Economou stated that Pavlos Serifis has denied all charges against him. However, based on evidence gathered during the preliminary examination he is an old member of the terrorist group and used the code-names Vangelis or Nikitas.

Together with other 17 November members took part in the assassination of the CIA Station Director in Athens Richard Welsh on Dec. 23, 1975. From time to time, he received money from 17N and knew about its criminal activities and decisions.

[12] CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE US ON N17

Congratulations to the Greek government and the Greek authorities in charge of the November 17 investigations were given by the US National Security Council Spokesperson, Sean McCormack, who stated that this is only part of the important efforts Greece is making in the war against international terrorism, and repeated Greece's excellent cooperation in the war against international terrorism.

He stressed that the arrests in Greece are very important because they send a message to terrorists and those harboring them all over the world, that no matter how long ago the terrorist action took place, the international community will continue to hunt them, find them and bring them before justice.

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