The total funds to be used in advertisement for the new tourist period, is about 10.6 billion drs, 1 billion of which, concerns the US market, where a special effort will be made to "win over" US tourists again. Thus, diplomatic tourist relations must be

upgraded, there must be serious investment in promotional funds and cooperation with public relations professionals is necessary.

Besides, on January 22, at the National Tourism Council meeting, specific answers will be given for problems of the tourist market due to the crisis, as well as a series of initiatives, directions and priorities (i.e. proposals for the adjustment of the developmental law) which connect tourist activity with financial and regional development directly.

The meeting of KYSEA will have the Euroarmy and the armament programme as its main issues. Commissions of more than 1 billion Euro are expected to be approved by the Skaramagas shipyards.

According to police authorities, the 40-year-old killed a Vienna restaurant owner, and then fled, by plane, to Greece. His extradition is expected within the next few days.

The Prime Minister in his statements pointed out that the outcome of his visit to the United States is evaluated within the overall framework of international contacts and the continuous exchange of views. Mr. Simitis underlined the role played by the Ar chbishop of America as thanks to him the climate in the United States has become friendly toward Greece and can help the country in the future. He also said that Greece's international relations are upgraded.

The Archbishop had meetings with parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, while later in the afternoon he will have contacts with the political party leaders.

In Greece, the opinion poll was conducted by the ICAP polling company on a sample of 1.000 people over the age of 15. Of those questioned, 40% believe that this year will be better than last year, 18% believe that nothing will change, 35% believe that th ings will become worse and 7% responded that they "do not know".

Last year, Greece was the most pessimistic country among the EU member-states but this year is accompanied by other three countries, namely, Portugal, France and Italy which are also pessimistic.

The most optimistic country in the world is Kosovo where 8 in 10 people stated that 2002 will be better than 2001. The most pessimistic countries this year are Turkey, Zimbabwe and Poland where 68%, 68% and 51% respectively believe that 2002 will be wors e than 2001.

Mr. Kaklamanis stressed that Greece makes huge efforts against terrorism. He also launched an attack on US circles that do not express the official US position, stressing that they express positions that do not correspond to the feelings of the Greek peo ple toward this massive criminal phenomenon.

The Greek parliament president stated that the Greek agencies are in cooperation with the FBI for the past 15 years, while in the past 3 years they cooperate with Scotland Yard and many other intelligence agencies from around the world. Therefore, he sai d, it is unfair to blame only the Greek side, stressing that the efforts made are on the right track.

Mr. Kaklamanis gave the assurance that the Greek people and the political world in Greece have the will to deal with the phenomenon of terrorism. He also expressed to Archbishop Dimitrios the support of the Greek people to the US concerning the victims o f the September 11 terrorist attack.

Archbishop Dimitrios thanked the Greek people for their moral and financial support to the American people and characterized the Greek parliament as a holy place of peace and justice.

Of the stocks trading today, only 25 recorded gains and 303 had losses, while the value of 19 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the Prime Minister expressed support to Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides' initiatives for a viable and fair solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the UN decisions. He also called on both Mr. Annan and Mr. Bus h to undertake all necessary initiatives for the Turkish side to enter the dialogue for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Protopapas also stated that Cyprus' EU accession course is not associated with the solution of the Cyprus problem.

He said that questions should be raised on who were those who drew up the list in question and in what environment.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the government works hard and in a systematic way to combat terrorism and the stories, that circulate on the issue, are not helpful.

When he was asked on whether the government has evidence in its possession that make it optimistic that terrorism will be eradicated, the government spokesman stressed that the government gets its optimism from the serious work it does.

Mr. Bartholomew is the first religious leader to visit Iran after the 1979 revolution, and he characterized his meeting with the Iranian leader as heartfelt and very human. The two men agreed that interreligious discussion is necessary.

"We are open to this discussion, as we have always been open to all discussions. We have nothing to fear, we love people", stressed Mr. Bartholomew. Furthermore, he praised the efforts made by Mr. Hatami on changing and reincorporating, and he characteri zed him as a pioneer of dialogue.

Yesterday morning, Holy Mass was performed by Mr. Bartholomew in the Greek Orthodox church of the annunciation, in the presence of the few members of the Greek Orthodox community of Tehran. The church was built 52 years ago, but only functions twice a ye ar because there is no priest.

The four day visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Iran, is taking place 3 weeks after the interreligious meeting at Brussels, and is especially important since it is expected to contribute to the better acquainting and cooperation among monotheistic reli gions.

During a meeting he had with the delegation of the Center for Interreligious Discussion, Mr. Bartholomew invited the President of the Organization for Culture and the Islamic Arts, Mohamed Aragi, to Fanari, who reserved his answer.

It should be noted that Iran is the second Muslim country after Bahrain, to invite and welcome Mr. Bartholomew. Today, the Ecumenical Patriarch will meet with the leader of the Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Homeini.

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