After noting that there were no winners and losers and that Democracy and Greece are the winners, Mr. Karamanlis repeated what he had said before the elections about the unity of the Greek people, saying characteristically, all together, united, we move forward... Together we are turning a new leaf. We are building a better future for everyone".

Mr. Karamanlis also mentioned his discussion with Giorgos Papandreou and other political leaders earlier, pointing out that he asked them to cooperate "in the struggle for a better tomorrow".

Departing Prime Minister Costas Simitis and President of the Parliament for the past term Apostolos Kaklamanis are meeting with the President of the Republic, to be relieved of their positions.

Mr. Karamanls may announce the formation of his government today, as he had its basic structure outlined before the elections.

The new Prime Minister, according to ND's secretary of Political Planning Giorgos Souflias, the announcement for the formation of the new government is expected today and Mr. Karamanlis will be sworn in on Tuesday. The outgoing Prime Minister, Mr. Costas

Simitis, visited President of the Republic Costis Stefanopoulos shortly before noon today, in order to formally submit his resignation.

The threshold of the presidential mansion will also be crossed by President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, in order for him to brief the President of the Republic on the new composition of the Parliament, while at 13:00 the new Prime Minister, C ostas Karamanlis, will receive the order to form a government from the Mr. Stefanopoulos. Clear majority

New Democracy won the new Parliament with a broad parliamentary majority. According to the data of the Ministry of the Interior, after the counting of 98.31% of all votes, New Democracy concentrated 45.41% followed by PASOK with 40.56%. The Communist Par ty of Greece came in third with 5.87%, while the Coalition of the Radical Left, following a thriller that ran throughout the night, gained access to Parliament with 3.24%.

LAOS and DIKKI remained outside Parliament, with 2.18% and 1.79% respectively, while all remaining parties received 0.95%.

According to results so far New Democracy has taken 165 seats in the Parliament, PASOK 117, the KKE 12, and the Coalition 6 seats. The first priorities

In his message to the Greek people following New Democracy's election, Costas Karamanlis set Education, Culture, and a new financial and agricultural policy as the first priorities of the government, while he stressed that attention will be paid to the d evelopment of the welfare state.

"The width of the victory also shows the greatness of the responsibility", stated ND Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos upon entering ND's offices this morning.

Expressing his expectations from the new Greek government on the Cyprus issue, he said: "We want the new government to understand that the positive developments in the Cyprus issue will unfailingly be reflected in the trust and stability in the Mediterra nean and Greek-Turkish relations. Our government is ready to cooperate with the new government in order to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus issue."

To the question on what Ankara's reaction would be if the Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan proposal in a referendum, he replied that Turkey wants a just and stable solution for Cyprus, which will protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots and if Greek Cypri ots say no to the Annan proposal, then the EU and the other countries of the international community will have to reevaluate their position regarding the so called "TRNC" and lift the embargo that has been enforced on the occupied territories. To the ques tion of what would happen if Denktash says no to the Annan plan, he replied that that is a question for the Turkish Cypriot leader himself. "We hope that the efforts for a just and stable solution for Cyprus will bear positive results by May 1 with the go od will of both sides", stated the Turkish Prime Minister, while he expressed hopes that the Cyprus issue will be resolved in quadrilateral meeting to begin on March 22.

Regarding the issue of the Aegean, he said: "We do not consider the Aegean a region where there is a conflict of interests between Greece and Turkey. The Aegean is a common sea, which brings our two countries closer together and which strengthens the roo ts of Greek-Turkish friendship. In that light, Turkey honestly wants a just and stable solution, which will stand on the common will of the two sides. We hope that this will be understood by the new Greek government and the discussions will continue from the present point." In response to a question on whether there is an issue in the differences of the Aegean, that is considered more important for Turkey, he mentioned that there is a series of interconnected issues regarding the Aegean between the two co untries and that it would not be right to consider a certain difference more important or a greater emergency. "I would like to underline that Turkey desires a solution that will be supported by the mutual consent of the two sides. Turkey honestly desires

a solution and we hope that our position will be reciprocated by the new Greek government", stated Mr. Erdogan.

In a short statement after the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis marked ND's intentions , saying characteristically that "we are starting work immediately, we are looking ahead".

Earlier, Mr. Stefanopoulos wished Mr. Karamanlis all the best regarding his new duties, and pointed out that it was the Greek people with its vote, that gave the order for the formation of a government. He also briefed the new Prime Minister on a series of issues concerning the presidential decrees on the appointment of the Prime Minister and the members of the new government.

Based on the results, those not elected with PASOK are Stefanos Manikas, Stefanos Tzoumakas, Vasilis Kontoyiannopoulos, Nikos Bistis, Anastasios Mantelis, Thodoros Tsoukatos, Giorgos Daskalakis, Eleni Anousaki, Lefteris Economou, Lefteris Verivakis, Pana giotis Kritikos, Panagiotis Fotiadis and Nikos Gesoulis.

In the Ionian Sea island of Corfu, the only parliament seat won by PASOK went to actress Angela Gerekou and as a result, former Minister of Agriculture Giorgos Dris will not be elected to the new parliament.

The New Democracy parliament candidates who are not elected, based on the results so far, are Alexandros Papadogonas, Sotiris Kouvelas, Maro Kontou and Maria Karra.

International Olympic Committee, IOC, President Jacques Rogge is expected in Athens on Saturday for contacts with the new Prime Minister and the responsible ministers. No changes are expected in the issues concerning the Olympic Games but the work done f or the completion of the Olympic Games' projects will be accelerated.

"Athens 2004" Organizing Committee President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis visited the New Democracy central offices in Athens last night to congratulate Kostas Karamanlis for the election victory.

On Cyprus, the four-party conference aimed at reaching an agreement is imminent and New Democracy had begun preparations since last week in order to deal with the issue.

Special attention will be given by Mr. Karamanlis to the government ministries responsible for issues of everyday life to make it obvious that there is a real intention to deal with the problems faced by the Greek people.

At a legislative level, among the first laws that will be passed in the new parliament will be laws against corruption.

Of the stocks trading today, 161 had gains and 142 had losses, while the value of 89 stocks remained unchanged.

The correspondents of both BBC and Reuters covered with extensive reports the latest political developments in Greece and spoke of "an easy victory for New Democracy that returns to power after 11 years".

CNN mentioned that the "Conservatives have put an end to the ten-year domination of the Socialists in Greece", pointing out that Mr. Karamanlis will have to face the challenge of the Olympic Games' preparations and the solution of the Cyprus issue.

According to The London Times, "yesterday's elections signal the collapse of PASOK's old guard and the close friends of the late Andreas Papandreou".

The newspaper underlines that Kostas Karamanlis will have a tremendous work to do, as apart from the efforts for safe Olympic Games, "Greece's public deficits are rising, unemployment is at 11% and the EU enlargement will lead to the drying out of the co mmunity funds".

According to the Guardian, the clear majority of New Democracy in the new parliament "allows it to adopt a tough line regarding the preparations for the Olympic Games and the hard negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus". The British newspaper also points out that "the strong, and controlled by the Socialists workers' unions have already made it clear that they will move ahead with strike actions and other disruptive moves".

The conservatives have ended a decade of socialism in Greece, mentions the Independent, adding that Kostas Karamanlis faces "the dual challenge to speed up the delayed Olympic Games' projects and seal an agreement for the reunification of Cyprus".

The Financial Times writes that Kostas Karamanlis had maintained relations with the Turkish leadership since his time in the Greek opposition but he will have to persuade the Ankara government that the conservatives will continue the rapprochement policy

launched by the socialists. The British newspaper points out that the new Prime Minister will have to appoint to the Ministries of Defense and Public Order ministers who will win the trust of the International Olympic Committee and Greece's western allie s.

Fox News points out that this political development signals the return of New Democracy to power after 11 years, while the new government will have to deal with the massive delays in the Olympic Games preparations. It is also pointed out that, "the Socia list Party of PASOK was punished for the political arrogance it had displayed as a result of its long stay in power since 1981, with the exception of a three-year period".

The Australian ABC television channel, spoke of a "triumphant victory by New Democracy in yesterday's parliamentary elections" pointing out that the victory of New Democracy was not a surprise.

When asked if security issues will be discussed at the meeting today, Mr. Papadopoulos responded that the Greek Cypriot side will aim at expressing its positions on the issue today.

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