on the Kirkos accusations for the forging of his signature on the amendment.

After pointing out that "this sad event" is a sample of the radical changes that must be made and the new credibility PASOK wants to bring, Mr. Papandreou made mention of the "new ethics" necessary in politics.

PASOK's candidate President made a commitment that he will allow no event to overshadow public life, by promoting changes to institutions and the functioning of the state, aiming at a radical decentralization.

He also made mention of a new "contract of trust" with this new beginning, concerning a new state-citizen relationship, without bureaucracy, troubles and corruption, and a new way of governing, with the Parliament functioning in such a way that would sec ure the MP's role, so that they are both responsible and protected, that they are invulnerable to any outside interest, and with the creation of a democratic participial society, where the citizen's voice will be heard.

However, the case of the extension of "Porto Carras" hotel and the resignation of deputy Minister of Finance Ch. Pachtas, caused intense reactions from the President of the Opposition Costas Karamanlis, who is on a pre-election tour in Crete, accompanied

by honorary President of New Democracy, Constantinos Mitsotakis. Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the insult of Parliament has taken on enormous proportions in the case of the Pachtas list, during a speech he made in Ierapetra, Crete.

Referring to the latest developments in the political scene with the writing off of 10 PASOK MPs from the party's lists, due to the amendment for the extension of "Porto Carras", Mr. Karamanlis turned his fire to the governing party, making mention of a new explosion of corruption and hypocrisy in the "PASOK system", as he characteristically said, as well as an effort to sell off public property through un-transparent procedures, "an industry for the submission of drafts and amendments hiding pre-electio n goals, hiding deals "under the table", dependency and shady dealings".

Drawing on the Pachtas amendment, Mr. Karamanlis referred to a series of other scandalous, as he supported, amendments promoted by PASOK, such as that of Hellenic Tourist Real Estate as well as the Stock Market.

Without referring specifically to G. Papandreou, Mr. Karamanlis made mention of fireworks and flares, offering a good show, but ending in the air" in the governing party lately, and of dead end populism, petty politician practices, showing a lack of resp onsibility.

Regarding the policy to be followed by New Democracy - if it is elected to power - Mr. Karamanlis made mention of the need for an aggressive agricultural policy, support to the production sectors of the economy, investment in Education and Culture, human

Capital, the new generation and new technologies, the connection of education to production and the labor market - he specifically mentioned the "education - development - employment" triptych, a growth acceleration at a rate of over 5%, and dealing with

unemployment with new businesses, new investment and new markets.

What is necessary, he said, is an essential change in the Turkish position "so that it is made possible to find a fair and viable solution on the Cyprus issue, within the framework of UN decisions. And what is needed most of all, is that the solution sec ures the participation of the Cypriot Republic in the European Union, without difficulties and obstacles, so that it may reach its full potential".

Mr. Simitis stressed that he briefed Mr. Stefanopoulos on interior and foreign policy issues, and he refused to answer journalist questions on whether it would be fair to exclude the MPs that signed the "Pachtas amendment" from PASOK ballots in the March

7 parliamentary elections.

The leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world underlined that the problems of various states, can be solved "face to face" and that nothing is solved "back to back, with a closed door against a closed door".

Hundreds of Cuban citizens and pilgrims from Greece, the US and other countries who were gathered in the central square of the cathedral in downtown Havana, next to the newly built church of St. Nikolaos held an enthusiastic welcome for Patriarch Varthol omeos and the large entourage of arch priests and priests carrying the Holy Cross to the church, while Fidel Castro was also welcomed with cheers.

Upon receiving the key to the church from Fidel Castro and the order of the Ministry of Justice signing over ownership of the church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarch expressed his wish that in the future there are other churches in other par ts of Cuba, noting at that point that the free expression of one's religious faith is a basic human right, which along with all other human rights must be respected by all and inviolable, especially by those whose basis of government is humanism. American dissatisfaction

A few hours before the ceremony, the head of the US diplomatic mission to Cuba, James Casson, expressed his intense discomfort with the absence of the Ecumenical Patriarch from the reception held in his honor at the delegation building, at which the Arch bishop of America Dimitrios took the place of Mr. Vartholomeos.

The reception, which none of the Greek members of the press had been informed about, was attended by members of the Cuban opposition, the mothers of three people who were executed recently for antiregime actions, as well as the wives of political prisone rs, who were holding photographs of their husbands.

The opposition members told Archbishop Dimitrios that "brave men act, they do not just speak" as far as human rights are concerned.

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