Mr. Stefanopoulos repeated his condemnation of terrorism on behalf of Greece and stressed that such actions only lead to enmities between peoples.

"A black day for civilization", was the characterization deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Magriotis gave to September 11, while at the same time he pointed out that "nobody should turn a blind eye to actions that take us back to blindness and raw violence ".

In his interview, the Green minister of the Gerhard Schroder government characterized modern terrorism as "a new form of totalitarianism" and applauded America's intervention in Afghanistan, characteristically stating: "I am a realist!"

At the same time however, the head of German diplomacy is keeping a safe distance from Washington, supporting that the priority of the International Community must not be a forceful confrontation with Sadam Husein, but resolving the Palestinian issue, a problem of crucial, he believes, importance for the stabilization of the Middle East. Furthermore, Joschka Fischer appreciates that there is no evidence of connections between the Iraqi regime and Al Quaeda, and supports that a possible foreign interventi on in Iraq "carries a taint of colonialism".

Mr. Karamanlis will visit the lake at 11:30 on Friday and will go to Kilkis at 12:30, where he will speak to local body representatives in a room of the city's worker's center.

At 14:15 he will be present at the dedication ceremony of an indoor gym in the Municipality of New Chalkidona, and at 19:30 he will visit the campaign center of candidate Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos.

On Saturday, at 10:30, he will visit the offices of the Journalists' Union of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers (ESIEM-Th), at 11:00 the 67th TIF, and at 12:30 the campaign center of candidate Prefect, Panagiotis Psomiadis.

At 20:00, he will speak at the official dinner held at the "I. Vellidis" conference center.

On Sunday, at 13:00, he will hold a press conference at the "Macedonia Palace" Hotel.

"We are still discussing if it will be held in Thessaloniki or not", added the Prefect, stating however that he was in favor of holding the Summit in Thessaloniki and all citizens and bodies contributing to security.

While explaining the goals and priorities of the Greek Presidency for European Security and Defense Policy, Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that the main parameter for the EU's operational capabilities, is the lifting of obstacles on agreements of permanent regulations between the EU and NATO.

He stressed that "the Greek Presidency aims at achieving a permanent agreement, consistent to the Seville texts, and specifically that the participation of NATO members will not be connected to issues and demands that are not related to the operations' o bject, and that it will secure equality and autonomy in the decision making of both Organizations".

Based on the fact that no immediate solution is visible on the issue of the Euroarmy using NATO facilities due to Turkish objections, Mr. Papantoniou proposed a temporary solution, so that the presence of an international peace keeping force in FYROM con tinues, at this crucial period for the country, after the September 15 elections.

At the press conference, the Greek Minister of National Defense stressed that the main goal of the Greek EU Presidency is the forming and complete functioning of a European Rapid Response Force within the next few months, i.e. covering shortages in weapo n systems, means and potential, and its second parallel goal is to find a permanent agreement between the EU and NATO, while he referred to one more great goal, the promotion of cooperation on the issue of European equipment.

Finally, referring to the issue of international terrorism, he said that there are thoughts in the EU, which are expressed by the Greek Presidency, on reinforcing the European Rapid Response Force with military abilities to confront such threats.

"For example, cooperation in the information sector, acquiring weapons' systems, cooperation in the sectors of communications and transfers, could contribute to the military confrontation of international terrorism. These thoughts are being promoted in t he European Union and there are various texts moving in that direction", he said, adding that the Greek Presidency will fight, so that these texts are not just words, but they be put into practice, with the completion of the European Rapid Response Force' s abilities, with means and weapons systems, which will contribute to the confrontation of international terrorism more effectively".

Mr. de Marco stated that his country backs Cyprus' accession into the European Union just like Greece had supported Malta's EU accession course.

Both Mr. de Marco and Mr. Simitis backed the peaceful solution of the problems in eastern Mediterranean and called for the immediate solution of the Palestinian problem through the implementation of international law and the UN resolutions.

Specifically on the issue of Iraq, Mr. Simitis reiterated Greece's position which supports the implementation of international law and the UN resolutions, stressing that an intervention should be in harmony with international law within the framework of the United Nations.

The decision to hold a new boycott after the successful mobilization of September 3 in terms of consumer participation, was reached because the market did not get the message, according to an INKA statement.

Based on figures provided by the Ministry of Development general secretariat on commerce, the prices of most farm products were increased up to 50% yesterday compared to last week and up to 94.7% compared to last year.

A new situation was created in the "17 November" terrorist group case after the discovery of a fingerprint, in the group's Damareos Street hideout, that belongs to Angeliki Sotiropoulou, partner in life of 17N member Dimitris Koufodinas.

It is a fingerprint that proves Sotiropoulou's presence in the 17N hideout as it was not discovered on a movable object in the apartment. Fingerprints that belonged to Sotiropoulou had been discovered in the Patmos Street hideout as well. However, they w ere found on a book and a newspaper and therefore, they could not be used as a proof that she had actually been in the specific apartment.

Greece will be represented by Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrisochoidis and Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos.

Mr. Chrisochoidis will depart for Copenhagen today accompanied by Greek Police senior officials.

The 2004 Olympic Games are not only a leading global sports event but constitute a significant development opportunity for Greece, said the Prime Minister. He stressed that the Olympic Games will increase the GDP, create new job positions, improve the qu ality of life and the picture of the Olympic events host cities and give a boost to Greek sports.

The upward course of revenues in the specific period is due to the 10% boost received by the VAT revenues, the income tax 6.5% increase and the overall improvement by 11.6% of the rest budget revenues.

According to information, Sotiropoulou was not arrested in any of the houses where she was staying as a guest, to avoid creating a difficult situation for her 13yearold son. For this reason, she was arrested in the area of Exarchia, in Athens on her way to her lawyer.

The whole procedure for her arrest got underway by the prosecutor after the discovery of a fingerprint at the Damareos Street hideout of terrorist group "17 November" that belonged to Sotiropoulou. The fingerprint was discovered on a non movable object i n the apartment constituting incriminating evidence. Her fingerprints were also discovered in the Patmos Street hideout as well but they were on a book and a newspaper and therefore, they could not be used as incriminating evidence.

For the record, in the last two days Sotiropoulou was not allowed to visit in prison her partner in life Dimitris Koufodinas, who has admitted his participation in the terrorist group.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 275 recorded losses, while 52 had gains and 48 remained unchanged.

Mr. de Marco stated that it would have been best if a political solution was found for Cyprus before its accession into the EU but this is not a precondition. He also stated characteristically, that the Copenhagen criteria have been met by Cyprus a long time ago.

Mr. Kaklamanis thanked Mr. de Marco for Malta's support in the efforts for Cyprus' EU accession and a fair solution to the Cyprus problem.

The President of the Greek Parliament expressed the belief that during the Greek EU Presidency both Malta and Cyprus and the rest candidate states for EU membership will become members of the European family.

Forty-year-old Sotiropoulou was arrested in Exarchia, Athens this afternoon, while earlier a warrant was issued for her arrest. Sotiropoulou is the partner in life of Dimitris Koufodinas, a confessed member of the terrorist group "17 November".

The new stipulations included in the draft bill provide for the specific definition of terrorism, extension of the time after which a crime is erased and is no longer punishable, longer prison sentences for terrorist group leaders and prison sentences fo r those accommodating terrorists in any way.

The main points of their discussion will be bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue, Turkey's progress towards EU accession and the possible US attack on Iraq.

Giorgos Papandreou will meet with US Secretary of State Collin Powel on September 16.

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