Beginning today and until March 26 the draft dodgers living abroad can enter Greece and stay in the country without preconditions and special procedures. If they choose to return they will also have the opportunity to be in Greece for the national holida y of March 25 and the Olympic Flame Ceremony.

Of those who responded to the questionnaire, 37.9% stated that more fit for the post of the Prime Minister is PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou compared to New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis with 36.3%. Also, 47.4% stated that they are satisfied with Giorgo s Papandreou and 48.2% with Kostas Karamanlis.

Of the stocks trading today, 88 had gains and 206 had losses, while the value of 92 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Prodi underlined that he will remain to his post until the end of his term and stressed that "everything else lies in the hands of God", responding to the question if it is likely to head the Center-Left in the Italian elections.

Responding to the question if his successor in the European Commission Presidency will be from northern Europe and the Center-Right according to the tradition or there will be an exception, he said that there is a kind of an informal agreement that in th e leadership of the European Commission will be a former European leader who has served as a Prime Minister for at least two years and comes from the political party that will get the majority vote in the Euro-elections. However, he said, this is an unwri tten law and in the case of a deadlock or other problems other solutions are not ruled out.

Regarding Turkey's European prospect and if there is a likelihood for a date to be given concerning the opening of its accession negotiations, he said that the European Council in Copenhagen has authorized the European Commission to prepare a report on T urkey's progress for a decision to be reached possibly in the 2004 December Summit.

Mr. Papandreou thanked all those who have worked hard in the Foreign Ministry guided by vision and passion for a strong Greece able to respond effectively to the challenges of the times, while he referred extensively to the achievements of his foreign po licy.

He pointed out, among others, that the policy followed has yielded fruit, making a special reference to the Cyprus issue and expressing the hope that a united Cyprus will become a member of the EU.

According to the Athens television station "Alpha", many crops have suffered total destruction, while based on initial estimates the damages reach 150-200 million euros.

Over 50,000 tons of potatoes were destroyed by the frost recorded in Kalamata, southern Greece, while tons of oranges and cauliflower were destroyed in Volos, central Greece.

Mr. Papandreou will also meet with Cypriot Parliament President Dimitris Christofias and afterwards, with political party leaders.

Tomorrow afternoon, he will have contacts with Turkish Cypriots at Lydra Palace and will address an event at the Conference Center organized by the Prefectural Committee of PASOK in Cyprus.

The European Parliament expresses concern for the state of the oil tanker crew and regards as unacceptable their detention. It calls on the government of Pakistan to release those held and give assurances that they will be repatriated. Concerning the com pensations for the destruction caused by the shipwreck, the Euro-Parliament calls for the implementation of the procedures predicted by international law.

Also, the Euro-Parliament calls on the European Commission and the EU Council to make the necessary diplomatic efforts for the release of the sailors held by the Pakistani authorities.