In letters to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Finance and Transports, Mr. Barnier warned them about the 1.5 billion euro funding to be paid to Greece in order to complete the 2nd Community Support Framework, which still has not been given due to the lack of related studies and malfunctions in general.

The Prime Minister attributed the cost excesses and deviations to "administrative diseases" of the past, which are no longer an issue.

"Half way through the previous decade, problems were discovered and the Special Action Plan for the modernization of production and public works system was undertaken, in order to decrease deviation from cost and quality in relation to the initial planni ng of the projects, and securing adequate maturing before the projects are tendered. The government has promoted an extensive network of reforms, and informed the European Commission in time", underlined Prime Minister Simitis, in reply to the Commissione r for Regional Policy.

"With these initiatives, firstly, the phenomenon of excessive low prices in tendering projects was opposed, secondly, deviation in cost the between initial planning and carrying out a project was limited, and thirdly, the quality of the projects improved

spectacularly, as is proven by the relative reports", mentioned the Prime Minister in his reply.

However, the Prime Minister's assurances did not appease the Opposition. Drawing on the initial letter by Commissioner Barnier, the Chairman of the 2nd Community Support Framework Supervision Committee of New Democracy, former minister and Viotia MP Ar. Tsiplakos, asked for the resignation of Deputy Minister of Finance, Christos Pachtas.

"Our repeated warnings about losing community funds due to bad management of the Community Support Framework, with an "orgy" of cost overruns and "un-transparent" procedures, were treated as attempts to create scandals", stressed Mr. Tsiplakos.

"Even today, when our predictions have unfortunately come true, after the humiliation of the Barnier letter, the government is still trying to excuse what cannot be excused with new obscenities against New Democracy, instead of realizing its responsibili ties", he added.

The ND MP pointed out that "Mr. Pachtas cannot be allowed to continue to handle such an important issue, with enormous importance to our economic development after all these events. That is why we are asking for is immediate resignation".

In statements made after his meeting with the Pancypriot Reserve Rangers Association, Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that the defensive relationship between Greece and Cyprus is very strong, and the reorganization of the Greek Armed Forces is following the track of the unified defense dogma.

"The unified defense dogma, based on which any attack on Cyprus will be considered an attack on Greek soil, is active", he said, adding "I hope it is not necessary".

The Minister of National Defense stressed that the Greek government considers Cyprus' accession to the EU a standard fact, regardless of solving the political problem. "In any case, we are ready for all eventualities", he pointed out.

Following are Lesvos with 21.7%, Magnisia with 13.3%, Chios with 9.71% and Evia with 8.9%. The Cyclades Isles are still outside the options of the traffickers, due to the many Port Authority substations on the islands.

In the meanwhile, according to the same information of the Ministry, requests for asylum have increased by 300% in the first quarter of 2002 in comparison to 2001, since from 470 they reached 1530. The applicants for political asylum come from Iraq (630) , Afghanistan (522), Pakistan (114), Iran (78), Turkey (29), Indonesia (28) and Sierra Leone (17).

Finally, apart from the applications, there has also been an increase in the denials of political asylum, which have increased six fold, reaching 1320 from 240 last year, while this year political asylum was granted only in 10 cases when it was considere d necessary.

the founding convention of the European Social Forum will be held in Florence witht he participation of approximately 20,000 people.

As the spokesperson of "International Action" Panagiotis Gioulis said in a press conference in which the European Social Forum participated, a Panhellenic meeting of body representatives will take place over the weekend in Thessaloniki, on the creation of the Social Forum in Greece. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon until Saturday, a convention on racism, health, the environment, ecology, education and the workers' movement, will be held in the AUTh Polytechnic School and at the Workers' Center o f Thessaloniki.

At the same time "International Action", as well as other major bodies and unions, are preparing for the great counter-protest being programmed to take pace in Thessaloniki, in June 2003, during the Summit Meeting of the European Union, in continuation o f the corresponding mobilizations in Goeteborg, Genoa and other cities. A delegation of these organizations will go to Seville in June, in order to participate in the protests against the Summit Meeting of the EU.

Mr. Garganas was Bank of Greece Deputy Governor and Deputy Governor of the International Monetary Fund. He studied in the Economic School of Athens and in the London School of Economics. He worked as an economist, head of the Agricultural Bank research t eam, received an OECD scholarship and got a doctorate from the University College London.

He worked as an economist with the British National Institute Economic and Social Studies in London and since his return to Greece he is a Bank of Greece executive. In 1996 he was appointed for the first time Deputy Governor. In 1998 he was appointed aga in Deputy Governor and member of the Bank of Greece Monetary Policy Council with a six-year term. In the period 1985-1987 he served as Ministry of Finance Economic Adviser.

He is the writer of many books and articles mainly on issues of macro-economic analysis, international trade, monetary policy and European economic and monetary unification.

He also decided the suspension of prison psychologist Olga Atzamoglou, who helped Sentom to escape. Mr. Petsalnikos announced his decisions today in a press conference.

The 45yarold psychologist helped him escape presenting him to the guards at the prison gate as her colleague. He was wearing a wig and civilian cloths and she persuaded the guards that he was a fellow-doctor. The escape took place yesterday afternoon an d the prisoner was found missing much later in the evening.

The dangerous American criminal was serving a life sentence for the murder of a young student in Athens. The apartment of student Stephania Sardi was used by Sentom to push cocaine. He killed the young girl at the orders of another criminal, Vasilis Grig orakos, because the girl knew about the cocaine trade.

The escapee is wanted in the United States for a number of serious crimes he has committed.

Of the stocks trading today, 169 recorded gains and 128 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

The goal is to deliver a decisive blow on terrorism in Greece, he stated characteristically, adding that the country is the big loser as a result of the existence and activities of terrorism organizations.

He stressed that the government is also determined to do its duty regarding terrorist organization "17 November" and special scientists are working systematically and with determination in order to strike a blow on terrorism.

Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Protopapas stated that the reactions of union leaders and workers are respected. However, the reaction of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy was characterized as negative, and Mr. Protopapas poin ted out that ND does not want the social security issue to be resolved.

Meanwhile, the dialogue on the social security system reform will be completed on Thursday with the final meeting Greek General Confederation of Labor President Christos Polizogopoulos will have with Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas.

Greek F-16 fighter jets took off from Anchialos in Volos, central Greece and Kasteli in Crete and intercepted the Turkish jets.

The two F-16 pilots, who returned to Crete, were congratulated by Mr. Papantoniou, who stated that there is constant provocation on behalf of Turkey.

Mr. Protopapas stated that Greece is focused on the major national issues namely, the Cyprus issue and Cyprus' EU accession. The successful outcome of those two issues will give the right responses to all directions, concluded Mr. Protopapas.

The new measures are expected to be announced on Friday on the occasion of the World Day Against Smoking, dedicated this year to sports without smoking.

Based on the proposals made by a committee of specialists and the intentions of the Ministry of Health, special smoking and non smoking areas will have to be created in restaurants, cafeterias and other crowded spaces, while the giant posters advertising

cigarettes will be banned by law. The law banning smoking in all public health buildings will be implemented, while special information programs will be developed which in cooperation with the Ministry of Education will be implemented in elementary schoo ls and high schools.

The Greek Prime Minister also stressed that a big effort must be made for the fragile Balkan region to become a place of peace and stability. He said that a political will is necessary, while the principles and values of a modern world of understanding t hat condemns violence must be respected.

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