For example, if someone was to call Thessaloniki, they would dial 031 0 and then the number, while for Athens, 01 0 and the number they would normally dial.

There will also be changes in the Internet dial up number for all of Greece. The number 0965 will change to 09625 and then the usual number dialed.

Approximately 50 businesses will be housed in the meat market facilities, while those in use today will be put out of use. The project is estimated to cost 12,619,222.3 euro.

Regarding criticisms on Greece after inspections performed by European Committee experts at the Central Meat market in Redi, Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos stated that there were some problems, which will be dealt with, and he added that the

Ministry has planned its policy for the central meat markets of Athens and Thessaloniki (Varvakio, Redi, Modiano, Kapani), which concerns their transfer and reconstruction.

According to the Minister, both EFET and the Ministry of Agriculture must promote methods of effective daily intervention, something that will occur in the near future.

It should be noted that the European currency is under intense pressure since Tuesday, aince many Spanish banks, as well as US funds, have moved to buying dollars, while selling euro, in a move to protect themselves from the crisis in Argentina.

This "international rendezvous" will include the participation of countries of South and Southeast Europe, and will give a chance to Greek professionals of the audiovisual field to present and promote the work they have done in television stations in Gre ece and abroad. At this year's Pitching Forum, Greek producers will have a chance to present their projects to representatives of European television stations, aiming at a sale.

In statements he made, Mr. Papantoniou stressed that Greece is going to support the Cypriot Republic in the framework of the Joint Defensive Dogma with all means it has at its disposal.

The Minister of National Defense stated he is in favor of Cyprus' participation in the Euroarmy, and he repeated that the text composed by Britain and Turkey on Turkey's cooperation with the Euroarmy is unacceptable and must be reexamined.

Greece never had and does not have any relation with terrorist organizations and the Turkish press publications have ulterior motives, stated Mr. Beglitis, who also called on the correspondents of the Turkish newspapers to do their job based on journalis tic criteria.

Information on the goals of the specific campaign can be found on the Internet (http://www/greece/org/themis/halki). Organizations and private individuals can electronically sign the petition for the reopening of the Theology School of Halki, while they can also participate in the campaign as sponsors together with a large number of Greek Diaspora organizations.

The project is regarded as very important and its goal is to offer equal opportunities for education to minority students in the prefectures mentioned above.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the basic priority is to make the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2003 a major milestone in the course of the EU. At the same time, Greece seeks the completion of the EU enlargement process and Cyprus' accessi on into the European Union.

Mr. Simitis expressed Greece's support to the UN secretary-general effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on the UN decisions and resolutions. He also stated a positive development will contribute to the consolidation of relations of trust b etween Greece and Turkey.

The Prime Minister gave the assurance that Greece will be on Cyprus' side during the talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. He also announced that yesterday he had a telephone communication with Mr. Cle rides, who will visit Athens when he will have a clearer picture of the developments concerning the negotiations and proposals made by the other side.

Cemil Ipekci is the nephew of journalist Abdi Ipekci and a relative of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Speaking about the Greek-Turkish relations, he said that there was never hostility between the two peoples, only lack of trust.

Cemil Ipekci presented his collection "A thousand and one nights 2002-2003" in Thessaloniki yesterday within the framework of the events held on the occasion of the 2nd Turkish Clothing-Leather Exhibition "Turkish Fashion".

Of the stocks trading today, 316 recorded gains and 32 had losses, while the value of 13 stocks remained unchanged.

As far as the imminent meeting of ETE Governor Mr. Karatzas with Alpha Bank President Mr. Kostopoulos is concerned, there is no official information. However, the two will have to meet at some point, as they will have to discuss the merger of the two ban ks without any preconditions.

In statements he made to the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini", Mr. Karatzas stated that he does everything he can for the merger agreement to materialize, stressing, however, that this should be the desire of both sides in order to happen. He also stressed

that the National Bank of Greece will not abandon the idea of the creation of a powerful regional bank with a European orientation.

The budget for the materialization of the projects that will be included in the four priority axes within the framework of the Interreg III A program is at 226 million Euro or 77 billion drachmas. In addition, there will be a funding cooperation with the

Phare program which is being materialized by the Bulgarian side.

The Interreg III A program provides for the materialization of projects or actions that concern the inter-border infrastructures, the economic development, employment, the quality of life, the environment and culture as well as, technical assistance meas ures.

The Archbishop thanked the members of the council for the ceremony and referred with great love and nostalgia to the city of Thessaloniki which is his hometown. He also referred to the successful struggle of the Greeks living in the United States and aro und the world to keep the Greek tradition and Orthodoxy alive. The Archbishop stressed that the Greek-Americans have offered a lot to Orthodoxy while living in a culturally powerful place, stressing that currently there are about 22.000 different religiou s groups in the United States.

In his speech prefect of Thessaloniki Mr. Papadopoulos expressed the respect of the prefectural council to the Archbishop as well as, its members' appreciation for his contribution to the peaceful coexistence of peoples, cultures and religions beyond fan aticism and religious fundamentalism. He also referred to the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and his solidarity to the Greek-American community.

The above were stated by Ministry of Finance general secretary Minas Stavrakakis speaking in the Regional Symposium on Telecommunications organized in Skopje today by the Institute of Telecommunications Studies in southeastern Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.

He also stressed that the planned implementation of the Greek Plan for the Reconstruction of southeastern Europe that will benefit FYROM, Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania forms a solid ground for the development of economic cooperation.

He stated, however, that even though the local economies have made the first steps toward the free market economy by lifting the counterincentives for foreign investments, such investments are still limited. Referring to the telecommunications sector in southeastern Europe, Mr. Stavrakakis stressed that Slovenia, Romania, and Bulgaria will have to liberate their markets by 2004 based on the agreement for their accession into the EU.

In statements he made on the sidelines of the Regional Telecommunications Symposium organized in Skopje today by the Institute of Telecommunications Studies in southeastern Europe in cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Balkovski st ressed that in five to six months from today the second GSM operator in FYROM will be OTE because it meets all necessary preconditions.

The commercial operation of the OTE mobile phone company will be launched in FYROM before the summer, stated OTE International Investments President and OTE vice-president Giorgos Skarpelis.

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