day, Mr. Papandreou will meet with working women in Peristeri. On Thursday Mr. Papandreou will be in London, where he will meet with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw regarding developments in Cyprus.

In his question the Greek EuroMP stated that according to complaints of residents and local government bodies in Eastern Attica near to the airport, aircraft on their way to land at or take off from the airport maneuver over residential areas instead of over the sea, in order to save on time and fuel, thus burdening neighborhoods with hundreds of thousands of residents. Mr. Alavanos asked that the necessary measures be taken so that noise disturbances can be minimized.

On her part, Commissioner de Palacio accepted that there is a serious problem and stressed that "the point is to search for air corridors to minimize the consequences of the noise and in some cases fines may be enforced on Airlines. If it is deemed neces sary we will even reach the point of forbidding flights (at night)."

Mr. Papandreou characterized Lavrio as a model of development in his speech at an open assembly of Lavrio residents. Lavrio has escaped the nightmare of unemployment, misery, black flags and "soup kitchens", and it gives us courage and optimism, stressed

the Minister. It shows that Greece is capable, that Greeks are capable, he added, and congratulated the Mayor and MPs for the efforts they made.

On dealing with youth unemployment, he proposed that young people be hired as soon as they graduate from University, Technical University, High School or Technical Education High School, at a full pension and medical care coverage, and that insurance ded uction for that period of time burden neither the employees themselves, nor the employers.

He referred to the work of Andreas Papandreou and Costas Simitis and responded to the criticism of New Democracy, which often raises questions regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Papandreou when the policies of the PASOK governments were being employed, by saying: "Let them understand once and for all at ND: I was here, I am here and I will be here".

He called the citizens to participate in this new beginning being promised for the creation of a great democratic front.

Mr. Papandreou greeted the response of Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to the proposal he (Mr. Papandreou) expressed during his tour of Thrace, for a mutual and balanced decrease of Turkey's and Greece's defense budgets. This development, he said, is an example that we must not wait for things to "ripen", but to take our own initiatives.

He also added that the democratic front is opening new paths and he expressed the hope that other parties will follow.

Responding to relevant questions, the Greek government spokesman reminded to the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy that notable defense spending cuts are being recorded in the past few years. Unfortunately, it appears that New Democracy d oes not follow the political developments because it should have known that the defense spending cuts were possible, to a certain degree, thanks to the foreign policy followed by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and the government in general, as well a s thanks to the reconstruction of the armed forces, said Mr. Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas stressed that an estimated 2.2 billion euros have been saved thanks to this policy.

Of the stocks trading today, 72 had gains and 238 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

The events will take place in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, Cuban President Fidel Castro, state leaders, archpriests, and representatives of organizations of Greeks living in the US and Central and South American countries.

Mr. Papageorgopoulos is the guest of Metropolite Athenagoras of Panama and Central America.

A necessary precondition for the prosperity of Cyprus is the solution of the Cyprus issue based on the UN resolutions and the European standards, stated Mr. Karamanlis after the meeting, stressing that his party always supports and backs the way the Cypr iot government handles the problem.

On his part, Mr. Christofias appeared optimistic regarding the likelihood of a solution to the Cyprus problem before May 1, while he also expressed the hope that the Turkish moves on the issue will be meaningful and will lead to the solution of the probl em.

Called to comment on the positive response of Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to the proposal by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou for defense spending cuts, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that New Democracy firmly works for the normalization o f the Greek-Turkish relations and expressed the view that such issues should not be turned into a subject of discussion during the pre-election campaign.

The delegates will decide on the changes in the party's charter and the election program of the governing party.

On Sunday, February 8 ballot boxes will open across the country for the election of the new PASOK president. In the elections will participate an estimated 150,000 party members, as well as PASOK's friends, who want to vote.

Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash with the obstructions in the Cyprus issue. Former PASOK Minister G. Petsos will run in the elections as an ND candidate in the I Thessaloniki electoral district. "I come from the (political) area of the Center and I a m running in the elections with ND in order to fight the arrogance, divisionary and analgetic policies of the PASOK government, said Mr. Petsos.

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