in Copenhagen, where the decision for the enlargement and accession of new countries to the EU, including Cyprus, will take place.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is in Madrid today, where he will have discussions with his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Asnar on the issue of Cyprus' accession. Mr. Asnar has already expressed his support for the unconditional accession of Cyprus, durin g his statements at the International Meeting of Center Democrats in Kerkyra, carried out after the initiative of New Democracy President, Kostas Karamanlis. Tomorrow, the Greek Prime Minister will have discussions with the President of the European Parli ament and the President of the European Council, Prime Minister of Denmark, Mr. Rasmussen. On Wednesday morning, a meeting will be held presided over by Mr. Simitis, in preparation for the Summit Meeting, and on the same day he will depart for Copenhagen.

In Cyprus, Special Advisor of the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus issue, Alvaro de Soto, had discussions with President of the Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis and Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash. According to information, Kofi Annan may publici ze the revised plan to both sides.

The winner of the Turkish elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is already in the US and tomorrow he will have discussions with US President George Bush and the UN Secretary General.

Mr. Papantoniou will have meetings with his Italian and Ukrainian counterparts, as well as with the US Undersecretary of Defense.

In an interview to "Ta Nea" newspaper, Mr. Giannitsis supported that if there is no solution before the Copenhagen Summit, more time should be given for negotiations, so that Cyprus' course towards Europe is not held hostage every 3 or 6 months, "because

the other side is pretending it wants a solution, when in fact, it is after a legalization of the '74 invasion results".

He supported that although the Cyprus issue not being resolved at this time may present an image of status quo stability, it also has many negative sides. "For Greece and Greek-Turkish relations, it means that the 1974 invasion will continue to burden an d affect the possibility for an essential opening and a really new situation between the two countries. It will mean, among other things, retaining suspiciousness, bitterness over the past, and the need for constant military vigilance, in order for Cyprus

to protect itself", pointed out the Alternate Foreign Minister

"For Cyprus", he continued, "it would mean a continuation of uncertainty, returning to a long phase of international apathy on resolving the Cyprus issue, loss of an opportunity to grant the island autonomy from the powerful Turkish presence.

As far as consequences for the Turkish side are concerned, he noted that it would mean the continuation of an illegal and problematic presence, which exposes it and distances it in the eyes of Europe and the world, blocking the future of Turkish Cypriots

and standing in the way of an honest solution.

The GDP increase by 3.6% in the third trimester is attributed to three factors: the increase by 2.4% of the final consumption compared to the second trimester, the investments increase by 1.7%, the increase of exports by 2.2% and the increase of imports by 2.3%.

The downward course of inflation was achieved mainly due to the decline in heating oil prices. However, the drop was small because of the food price hikes.

In the 12-month period of November 2001-November 2002, inflation increased by 3.6% compared to the same period last year. Also, the harmonized consumer price index remained unchanged in November at 3.9%.

Of the stocks trading today, only 55 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority of 265 had losses, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

The government spokesman left open the likelihood to hold the national elections together with the Euro-elections. This scenario is being considered but the final decision will be reached by the European Commission, said Mr. Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas reiterated that the time limits are pressing and negotiations on the solution of the Cyprus problem should continue after the Copenhagen Summit.

He said that Greece has showed goodwill by accepting the Annan Plan as a basis for negotiation as opposed to the Turkish Cypriot side which procrastinates.

He characterized the allegations made by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash as a show of intransigence, while he also stated that the Turkish side has created optimism by giving good signs.

Mr. Protopapas wished that Mr. Denktash will abandon his stance, stressing that both the Turks and the Turkish Cypriots will benefit from the opening of the negotiations.

On the issue of a date for the opening of Turkey's EU accession negotiations, to be set in the Copenhagen Summit, he said that there is skepticism and predicted that there will be many proposals. However, he said that the atmosphere today is better than in the past as the EU is not in a "No" phase.

Mr. Venizelos had a chance to brief Mr. Romney on the progress of Greek preparations for the Athens Olympics, the Cultural Olympics and their cooperation with UNICEF, aiming at vaccinating and saving 1.5 million children in developing nations.

On his side, Mr. Romney expressed his satisfaction with the Greek efforts and his belief that the Athens Olympics will be amazing. "Let us not forget that as the cradle of the Olympic movement, Athens is the best place for the spirit of the Olympics to a waken once again, and give the passion and soul that has always characterized the Olympic Games", he stated. At the same time he discussed Olympic security issues with Mr. Venizelos, and experiences from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics were explored.

The Coalition delegation will meet with President of Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis, the President of the Parliament Dimitris Christofias, as well as political party leaders.

He will also meet with the leadership of the four left and progressive Turkish Cypriot parties and a delegation of 92 Turkish Cypriot NGOs, which organized a major rally last week for the reunification of Cyprus and European accession.

The President of the Coalition will also meet with Greek and Turkish Cypriot professors from the University of Cyprus. Upon completing his visit, Mr. Konstantopoulos will hold a press conference.

President of DIKKI Dimitris Tsovolas also visited Cyprus, yesterday, in order to participate in a rally organized by the Pancypriot Citizens' Movement, which took place in Nicosia's "Liberty" Square at 6pm.

Prime Minister Simitis stated that certain moves should be made by Turkey on the Cyprus issue, the Euro-army and the Copenhagen criteria. Mr. Aznar backed the continuation of the negotiations in the effort to find a solution in Cyprus after the Copenhage n Summit.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis stated that none of the European leaders has raised the solution of the political problem in Cyprus as a precondition for Cyprus' ÅU accession. However, he suggested that caution is needed in the handling of all issues and underlin ed that efforts should continue until the last moment to reach a decision in Copenhagen for Cyprus' EU accession and have the Cyprus' EU accession act signed in Athens on April 16, 2003.

Mr. Lotidis underlined that every citizen and mainly, the government and the country's political powers have an obligation to consolidate the Greek economy on a daily basis, shield the country's defense ability, promote Greece's true convergence with the

EU average, and hold a successful EU Presidency and Olympic Games.

Referring to the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr. Lotidis stated that it is not a solution in itself but a chance for a constructive negotiation.

He added that Greece backs the decisions of the Cypriot leadership and that the Cypriot people will decide on the final solution.

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