to the press, immediately after casting his vote.

President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis was the first political leader to vote. Arriving at Thessaloniki's 410th electoral department in Agios Eleftherios at 08:20, where he was greeted by party supporters.

After voting, Mr. Karamanlis made the following statement to the press: "Today is the celebration for our democracy. Today our citizens decide on the present and the future of our land and we have absolute confidence in their judgment".

A warm greeting was in store for President of PASOK Giorgos Papandreou upon his arrival in Larissa, where hundreds of members and supporters of the party were waiting for him to arrive in order to vote.

"I came to Larissa, to the heart of the farmlands, to carry out my right, while I am a candidate both here and in Thessaloniki, and `voting is the highest right and duty of every citizen. We are all optimistic with this beautiful and sunny day and with a ll the enthusiasm around. My forecasts are very optimistic, the messages from all over Greece are very positive, we are moving towards a very optimistic result."

His optimism that the People's Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) will gain entry to the Parliament was expressed by the President of the party Giorgos Karatzaferis, who voted at 11:10 this morning. "Already, before the closing of the polls, everyone is talking about

the great surprise LAOS is going to make".

His certainty that DIKKI has won its dignity was expressed by party President Dimitris Tsovolas, immediately after voting at 11:15 today. "We have been true to our soul for some time now. What is certain is that we have won our dignity and conscience. We

are certain that from this point on the Greek people will de cide", he stated to the press.

His hope that everything goes well was expressed by President of the Coalition of the Radical Left Nikos Constantopoulos, who cast his vote at 11:30 in Athens. Mr. Constantopoulos stated to the press that: "Voting for the Coalition of the Radical Left is

a vote of conscience and hope in society for a different Greece. It is at the simultaneously a resistance to neoliberal, conservative, bipartisan policies. And it is a force of unity for a major party of the Left I hope everything goes well".

Prime Minister Costas Simitis voted this morning at 11:30 in Piraeus, where he pointed out that in today's elections we are deciding on tomorrow and on the way major domestic and foreign policy issues are going to be handled.

"The elections are being carried out all over Greece normally. I call all citizens to carry out their right to vote, as is the law. We have a beautiful sunny day, it will not only be useful it will also be pleasant", he stated to the press, adding: "Toda y we are deciding on tomorrow, we are deciding on the handling of issues related to the economy, the Cyprus issue, Greek Turkish relations and the Olympic Games. Greece needs progress. It needs progress with security, progress with experience and knowledg e."

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga referred to the struggles her party will carry out beginning tomorrow, after voting at 12 noon in Nikea.

Upon leaving the electoral department Mrs. Papariga made the following statement: "Starting on Monday we have struggles ahead of us and that requires a tough KKE and a strong united front of workers and employees, in the city and in the countryside, of t he radical powers who are not suited by plutocracy, Brussels and NATO".

Specifically, the exit polls are as follows: American Research PASOK 40.5 - 42.5% ND 44.5 - 46.5% KKE 5 - 6% Coalition 2.8 - 3.2% DIKKI 1 - 1.5% LAOS 2 - 2.5%

He wrote the book titled "Eleftherios Venizelos and Greece's foreign relations from 1928 to 1932". He wrote the foreword and edited the following publications "The Spirit and the Era of Gorbachov" 1987 and "Imperialism: the case of Angola" 1988. He colla borated with the "Economikos Tachydromos" magazine from 1987 to 1989. He taught Political Science, Diplomatic History and Law at Deree College and in the Study in Greece student exchange program (1983-1989). He participated in the writing of the collectiv e volume "The European Interation and the Balkan Multi-fragmentation, the Role of Greece", with the research titled "The Post Communist Turmoil in Southeastern Europe" (Sideris Publications 1994). He practiced law from 1984 to 1989. He was a founding memb er and President of the KIPAEA and the Greek center for the promotion of the European Union "Europe 1992".

ONNED and New Democracy official in the organizational and ideological sector during the 1974-1979 and 1984-1989 periods. Elected at the Athens Law School students' conference (1976-1978).

He has been a member of New Democracy since 1974. He was elected second Thessaloniki MP with ND in the elections of June 1989, April 1990 and first MP in the October 1993, September 1996 and April 2000. He served as Vice President at the Council of Europ e, member of the Greek Parliament's Standing Interparliamentary Committee for National Defense and Foreign Affairs and member of ND's Central Committee and Political Council from 1993 to 1997. He was elected President of New Democracy on March 21 1997.

In April 1998 he was elected Vice President of the European Democratic Union and in February 1999 Vice President of the European People's Party.

He speaks English, German and French, he is married to Natasa Pazaiti and has two children.

Specifically, according to the Ray Consultants opinion poll carried out for the "Fileleftheros" newspaper, 62% of the citizens would reply negatively to the referendum, while 24% would answer "yes".

It should be noted however, that the percentage changes only if the President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, the Greek government, and each voter's party encourage the people to vote in favor of the plan.

Also, the vast majority of the voters are pessimistic regarding the resolving of the Cyprus problem, with 63% appreciating that the negotiations underway will not lead to a solution.

Security and human rights

Furthermore, 31% of citizens consider the issue of security as the most important factor in case a solution is reached. The viability of the plan is considered most important by 25% and respect of human rights follows.

The AC Nielsen poll carried out for the "Politis" newspaper found that 53% would vote against the plan, while 19% would vote in favor. Also, 82% agrees with the way President Papadopoulos has handled matters so far, while 9% disagrees and 9% did not answ er.

Finally, according to the poll of Intercollege Reasearch and Development Center, carried out for the "Simerini" newspaper, 54% would reject the Annan proposal, while 11% would vote "yes".

At the same time 40.8% believes that the plan favors Turkish Cypriots, 20.5% that it favors Turkey, while only 0.8% believe that it favors the Greek Cypriot side.

Also, 12.4% stated that it could, in case a solution is reached, live under a Turkish Cypriot administration, while 89% expressed an intense concern with the remaining Turkish settlers in Cyprus after the solution.

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