Yesterday no news was broadcast from radio, television stations and news agencies, no informative programs were broadcast and there was no flow of information to the Internet, while today, newspapers will not be printed.

The works of the two-day meeting will be held at the Thessaloniki Hyatt hotel, with the participation of scientists and specialist on legal-penal issues, as well as high-ranking officers in Balkan police forces.

The announcement made by the Thessaloniki General Police Direction mentions that the goals of this meeting are personal introductions between individuals responsible for security and policing issues on either side of the borders, finding ways to effectiv ely and substantially cooperate on issues concerning organized crime, the trafficking of women and minors, drugs, and in general confronting inter-border crime and modern forms of violence.

Invitations for participation in the meeting have been sent to the Police Chiefs of Albania, Romania, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, FYROM, Bulgaria, as well as the SECI office in Romania.

Greek participation includes the Thessaloniki General Police Chief and police directors from Ipiros, Macedonia, and Thrace, as well as the Heads of Security Departments. Speakers include Professor at AUTh Mr. V. Karakostanoglou, who will speak on the new

security environment in SA Europe, Professor at AUTh LAW School N. Paraskevopoulos (speaking on new legislative models on more effective inter-border cooperation), while representatives of police services will relate their experiences and present inform ation on issues concerning illegal immigration, drug and weapon trafficking, foreigners' criminal activity, smuggling, etc.

The Greek Force, which is composed of 132 officers and non-commission officers, will be deployed 11 km outside Cabul, in an area controlled by the Northern alliance.

The personnel of the Greek Force will be transported to the area within the next few days, on a C-130, while 2 transport aircraft will be used for the transfer of the 65 vehicles.

The assurance was given in parliament by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis responding to a question on the issue by Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos regarding the measures that were taken against illegal gambling in Greece.

Mr. Simitis also announced that a draft bill will be tabled in parliament soon establishing tougher controls concerning the operation of electronic gambling machines. He also left open the likelihood to ban electronic gambling machines all together.

The report includes figures concerning the 10 EU candidate-states, the 15 EU member-states and a total of 100.000 businesses.

Based on the report, the Greek economy has a good performance and favorable prospects, mainly due to the increase of the 3rd Community Framework of Support funding by 10% and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

In addition, the opening of the Balkan markets and the consumer loan interest rates drop will lead to a big rise in exports, investments and private consumption.

The Euro-parliament, with 367 votes in favor and 1 against, adopted a report on illiteracy and social isolation drawn-up by a European Popular Party French Euro-deputy, who characterized the ability to read and write as a fundamental right. The European Parliament also requested from the European Commission to propose specific illiteracy indexes and prepare a Green Bible on the issue as soon as possible.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that certain bank accounts were opened and after a formal investigation the findings were delivered to the Greek Justice Ministry and through the diplomatic route to the International Court in The Hague.

Of the stocks trading today, 92 recorded gains and 219 had losses, while the value of 60 stocks remained unchanged.

Football coach Yiannis Pathiakakis felt weak just before the morning practice today with his team Akratitios of Athens and a few minutes later he died of a heart failure at the football field. He was 48.

He was born in 1953 in Nea Ionia, Athens and started his career as a football player with the teams of Apollo of Athens, PAOK of Thessaloniki and Panionios of Athens, while as a football coach he had worked with the teams of Ethnikos, Apollo, AEK and Akr atitos.

He had suffered heart attacks in November 1998 and in February 1999. He was married and had two children.

The Prime Minister briefed the members of his government on the talks he had with the European Commissioner on Agriculture. He said that the EU official was positive regarding the compensations to the farmers adding, however, that there is pressure on be half of the EU on the implementation of control procedures.

On foreign policy, Mr. Simitis stressed that the moves made by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou are a continuation to the cabinet decisions. He also said that he had spoken twice with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides on the telephone and discussed t he developments on the Cyprus dialogue. Mr. Clerides will visit Athens after February 19 for talks with the Greek Prime Minister.

Mr. Simitis also briefed the members of the governmental committee on the results of his trips to Bulgaria and Romania.

On corruption, he said that the only way to deal with the problem is determination.

Regarding the social security reform, he said that the dialogue with the responsible institutions will start after March 20, while the governmental committee will meet next Thursday to discuss the initiatives that will be undertaken on issues concerning

the mass media.

Mr. Papandreou, who is expected to be present at the opening ceremony of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, explained that one of the basic reasons for his trip, is Greece's initiative on instituting "the Olympic truce".

"We have began a campaign with the International Olympic Committee, on instituting the Olympic truce", stated Mr. Papandreou and added: "We would like the institution to be spread across the world, to become part of global tradition, so that each time Ol ympics are held, the wish of the Olympic movement for peace is respected- with Greek pioneering".

"We have gathered an important number of signatures from many distinguished individuals, beginning with the Foreign Ministers of many countries - in fact, of both the Israeli and Palestinian side. Foreign Ministers of Balkan countries, Turkey, several Eu ropean countries, as well as of the rest of the planet, have all agreed with this proposal", underlined Mr. Papandreou.

The Minister was then asked how Washington viewed this proposal, to which he replied that after September 11 the US wanted to study the issue in depth.

According to Mr. Papandreou, after similar discussions with the President of the IOC, Mr. Jacques Rogue, and after consultations between Mr. Rogue and Mr. Bush, the US submitted a resolution on the Olympic truce to the UN, which was signed by many countr ies, including Greece.

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