The islet in question became part of Greece along with the Dodecanese Islands with the Greek-Italian agreement after WWII. However, in newer maps, the islet appears with the name Topan, and is under Turkish sovereignty. For years, fishermen from Calymnos

cannot approach the islet, which has a Turkish lighthouse on it.

Foreign Ministry Press Spokesperson Panos Beglitis stated yesterday that the Ministry was aware of the "Sunday Ethnos" publication, and was looking into the matter with the necessary responsibility, in cooperation with other relevant ministries, so that there can be a complete and clear response.

Mr. Beglitis initial reactions were: "In order for the publication to be set in the correct historical and time temporal and avoid any possible misunderstandings, that never during the last few years, or by anyone, has any such issue been brought to the attention of the Foreign Ministry or any of ts relevant services".

Mr. Paschalidis noted that during the Greek Presidency of 1994, the first EU-Ukraine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement had been signed, and he stressed: "In 2003, in the framework of the Greek Presidency of the EU, these steps of approach can and mus t continue. The whole of the European continent can become a unified financial region, which respects the individual multicultural characteristics of each country".

He also noted that there are over 200,000 Greeks living in Ukraine, mainly in the Mariupolis area, and that the Greek language is well respected, while underlining: "There is great potential for further development of commercial and financial relations b etween Greece and Ukraine, and businesspeople from N. Greece are already seeking ways of making their presence in the Ukrainian market and economy more systematic".

As he pointed out, "there is no disagreement in Greece or anywhere else, on the danger emanating from the Saddam Hussein regime, from the weapons of mass destruction it holds, or which it can create. The different views on Iraq are concerning the procedu re, not the essence. The message being sent to us by our European friends is strong. They are saying, go through international institutions, through the UN and we are with you. If not, some will follow, others will not. We have got the message and that is

why we have been anxious for 6 weeks to find a resolution that will satisfy everyone at the UN".

Concerning the eradication of terrorism in Greece, he stressed that the effort is continuing and underlined: "During Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis' trip to the US, the US side congratulated the Greek mission on its excellent work, while

we had serious discussions concerning what must happen in the future. You have succeeded in a wonderful strike, a great success for which you deserve congratulations. But I will say what the Minister of Public Order himself said: That the case is not clo sed, and investigations must be expanded to other terrorist groups, and all key people must be arrested. The effort continues."

According to an announcement of the Castoria Police Direction, four border patrolmen had set up an ambush in the area, where, by using a heat detecting cameras, they spotted a group of four Albanians trying to enter the country illegally. In their effort s to immobilize and arrest the illegal immigrants, one of them, K. A. 32, attempted to fire a submachine gun against one of the patrolmen. The gun jammed, and, in defense, the patrolman shot and lethally wounded the 32-year-old.

After searches, four traveler's sacks were found, which held 59.5 kilos of hashish, a submachine gun with 2 bullets in the chamber and a clip with 21 bullets in it, while after the 32-year-old's body was searched, a magazine with 24 rounds and a mobile t elephone were found.

According to the arrested parties, the 32-year-old had paid them to assist him in transporting the drugs.

As far as the consequences the new situation in Turkey will have on Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Giannitsis was reserved while speaking to "Flash" radio: "I would like to be cautious. Statements and what has proceeded has led us to believe that the new g overnment will follow a real approach, and it has not given any signs of tension or for any worries about deep changes in the relations we have built to this day, with so much pain and effort on the side both countries. I would like to be optimistic, but I cannot but be reserved because that is something for reality to show".

The Alternate Foreign Minister characterized Mr. Erdogan's statements on continuing Turkey's approach to the EU as important. He expressed the appreciation that it is important for Greece to have a powerful speaker in Turkey. "The basic issue is that we have a new governmental formation which is politically stable, it does not depend on understandings which may take weeks or more than a month, for Turkey to have a stable government. That they do not have to deal with the issues most coalition governments

have to. Thus it can make decisions and negotiate", he said.

It is obvious that a powerful government can make decisions more easily, but if it will do so in the Cyprus issue, is something about which we will have to wait and see, pointed out Mr. Giannitsis.

The Minister of Culture underlined the need to differentiate between the incidents caused by the Greek hooligans against the Greek delegation, and the episodes between the two football clubs' fans. "The second ones are also condemned, but are, unfortunat ely, usual and must not be given political significance. The first incidents, however, are tragic, show a lack of national responsibility and consciousness", he added.

On the issue of the joint organizing of the 2008 European Championship, Mr. Venizelos stressed that it is difficult, but a sport like football, which is naturally a form of conflict, must become a bridge of peace and cooperation. He also mentioned that s trict security measures will be taken for the scheduled rematch in Athens.

The 18th Philoxenia was recorded as another success in the history of the institution, which, at the same time with the other events, contributed once more to the support, development, and promotion of national tourist policy, the strengthening of touris t bodies and businesses, and success in achieving partnerships, while it gave answers to the modern forms of organizing and upgrading tourism.

This year's organization received more commercial guests than the previous year, while during the last weekend, thousands of visitors came in order to be informed on vacation packages available.

Meanwhile, ND Coordinator of Commerce Giorgos Salagoudis stated that the government has no strategy or planning, during his visit to the Exhibition with a delegation of ND officials.

Both he as well as Tourism Sector Chief Anastasios Liaskos spoke of a prolonged crisis in the tourism sector, and the degrading of "Philoxenia", while recently elected Thessaloniki prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis characterized the specific sector report as "blind".

Meanwhile, Savvas Xeros, the first suspect to be arrested, had pointed out that his brother Avgoustinos had nothing to do with N17, in a supplementary testimony he submitted, and that the fingerprints the authorities found were there because his brother had helped him move. He furthermore supported that what is being said about his brother is an attempt to pressure him into changing his testimony.

Mr. Beglitis stated that according to the Greek side, the draft plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on the UN Security Council resolutions. It will also have to be compatible with the European standards and the European Court for Hu man Rights terminology, while it will have to provide for a viable and operational system for Cyprus.

Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos pointed out that Greece has nothing to fear of because the environment under creation is a most favorable one. The political system in Turkey is being upgraded, stated Mr. Tsochatzopoulos as only one or two po litical parties will now dominate in the country's political scene.

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Political Planning Secretary Giorgos Souflias pointed out that ND does not interfere with the domestic affairs of a foreign country. However, he wished that the new Turkish government will adopt European orientation and a policy aimed at reaching solutions within the framework of International Law and the EU and UN decisions.

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos wished that the new Turkish government will open the door to development, democratization and European prospect for Turkey, while at the same time strengthen the efforts for the creation of a positive climate of underst anding between the two peoples.

The minister stated that the draft law should not be associated with the trial of the 17N members because it was drawn up to deal with the side-effects of the unregulated presence of television cameras in the Greek courts. Mr. Petsalnikos stated that thi s does not mean that the court trials from now on will be held behind closed doors.

Supreme Court Prosecutor Evangelos Kroustallakis, who visited with Mr. Petsalnikos the National School for Judges in Thessaloniki today, refused to comment on the presence of television cameras in court trials and stated that the Parliament will decide o n the issue.

In a written statement Mr. Beglitis points out that the issues concerning the sea borders between Greece and Turkey have been resolved based on the existing international treaties. He also clarified that the relevant press report referred in essence to t he islet of Atsaki which, according to the 1932 Italian-Turkish Treaty, belongs to Turkey as well as the reef, named Tsouka, located southeast of Atsaki.

The general index rose to +3.29% at 1.834,19 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 122.3 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 337 recorded gains and only 14 had losses, while the value of 24 stocks remained unchanged.

According to the Turkish news agency ANADOLU, the AKP leader will visit Greece at the invitation of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Greece, added the government spokesman, is interested in the promotion of Turkey's European course and its contribution to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He pointed out that Greece wants to continue the policy of close cooperation, friendship, good neighborly relations and solidarity with the Turkish people.

According to "The Australian", in the church of St. Constantine and Helen in Newtown, the Head of the Australian Orthodox Church condemned terrorism, characterized the position of Australia towards the US as "servile", and reminded the Australian Prime M inister of his obligation to "treat the people he is supposed to represent properly".

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