the Holy Synod that are still open. The Archbishop has not visited the Maximos Mansion since the crisis with the Simitis government over the identity card issue. At least ten issues, regarding the State-Church relationship, are expected to be raised by t he Archbishop.

In New York, Hellenism will once again show its strength with mass participation in the 5th Avenue parade, where more than 50,000 people are expected to attend, while more than 70 organizations from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will participate.

The Greek government will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Professor Panagiotis Scandalakis. In his message for March 25, Mr. Scandalakis stated: "With the opportunity of the anniversary of our National Rebirth, I feel a special joy addressing y ou, Greeks all over the world, in celebrating such a major event in Greece's modern history.

Drawing on this anniversary, it is worth contemplating the common values uniting us: Respect for freedom and peace, dedication to international law and human rights, and securing democracy. Based on these values we will proceed to confront the new challe nges of our era. In the immediate future, two major issues will occupy Hellenism as a whole: resolving the Cyprus issue and holding the Athens Olympics.

We will respond to these challenges with the knowledge of how crucial they are, during an especially difficult period, as far as international peace and security are concerned. In this effort, I am sure that we will find you supporting us, just as you ha ve supported all our country's efforts for development and progress so far.

The participation of all Hellenism is required in order for Greece to complete the task at hand, to become a factor of stability within and outside its borders, and contribute to the protection of the values it professes.

With these words, I would like to convey the best wishes of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Foreign Minister P. Molyviatis, as well as my own for your every personal success."

In his message, President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, Mr. Andrew Athens said: "Hellenism worldwide is once again dynamically present for the great celebration of Greece's national rebirth. With a sense of responsibility we honor March 25, this exp ression of freedom, this age-old value Greeks have followed for centuries. We honor and express our gratitude towards the national martyrs of the struggle for freedom in 1821, all those who stood tall and sacrificed themselves for the freedom of our homel and and Orthodoxy. We must not forget at this time, that that struggle was closely connected to real fighting presence of Greeks Abroad, and that it was also the reason for the full expression of the Philhellene Movement in many countries abroad.

At the present, Hellenism abroad, having made the whole earth its home, has not forgotten its history, its roots, its debt to preserve tradition. We support Greece's positions from our second homes by building sturdy bridges of friendship. We utilize the

strength provided to us by the Greek state, with the support of all parties, with the foundation of the Council of Hellenes Abroad. We steadily offer our full support to our national issues and care for the promotion of issues that concern Greeks all ove r the world. We are contributing with all our strength to the promotion of the Athens Olympics with the certainty that they will be successful and safe and that they will make us all proud.

With these thoughts I wish all Greeks all around the world, health, prosperity and progress in all sectors."

A heartfelt, patriotic greeting on behalf of the Regional Coordination Council of SAE of North America, was sent by SAE Vice President - Regional Coordinator Christos Tomaras on the double celebration of March 25.

"It has been 183 years since our then enslaved ancestors stood high and shouted out loud, "Freedom or Death" against the four centuries of Ottoman occupation, which not only did not weaken our patriotic sentiment, but on the contrary encouraged the unity

and decisiveness of the enslaved Greeks to reclaim the wonderful good of Freedom", underlined Mr. Tomaras in his greeting.

"The anniversary of the heroic victory is interwoven with the Annunciation of the Holy Mother which played a decisive role in encouragement of our heroes and is one of the pillars of Orthodoxy. Let this double anniversary inspire in us awe with the sacri fice of our ancestors and the grace of the Holy Mother", pointed out Mr. Tomaras in his message.

Mr. Karamanlis also stated that the international community has a responsibility for the situation in the Middle East, and that it must take up that responsibility.

Meanwhile, a rally and surrounding of the Israeli Embassy to Athens was called for today at 7pm, by the KKE's Athens Party Organization and the KNE (Communist Youth of Greece), condemning the killing of Hamas' spiritual leader, Ahmet Yassin.

As mentioned in a joint statement, the Yassin killing was planned and constitutes a challenge against the Palestinians' struggle to gain a homeland of their own. "This is imperialistic terrorism", they pointed out and called everyone to participate in to day's initiative-condemnation of "Sharon's government of killers".

At the same time he called his MPs to function with modesty and humility, and said characteristically: "Our goal is to serve the collective interest responsibly. With diligence and effectiveness. Our goal is to constantly serve all citizens, without disc rimination, without exclusion, without divisions. It is our duty to do our debt. We must be worthy of the trust of our fellow men and women, without conceit, without arrogance, with modesty and humility.

And to this point I attribute enormous, capital importance. Humility is not a slogan, it is not an announcement. Humility is, above all, a deeply political notion. Because it reveals the view each of us has regarding public life. Put simply, a passion fo r authority has no place in the new government. We are servants of our fellow citizens, not their rulers. Anyone who has not fully comprehended this is foreign to our mission."

Of the stocks trading today, 266 had gains and 58 had losses, while the value of 73 stocks remained unchanged.

The foreign specialists also met with "Athens 2004" President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis.

On the creation of a business-friendly environment, Mr. Sioufas stressed that measures are being promoted aimed at simplifying procedures, cutting down on the cost of operation for businesses, as well as limiting bureaucracy and management cost.

Both Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Cox condemned the assassination of Hamas' spiritual leader, stressing that such actions do not contribute to the efforts aimed at easing the crisis.

Mr. Cox added that the European Union is going to help in the effort to stop such phenomena of violence from being repeated.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated characteristically that the government intends to meet the commitments it undertook during the election campaign and when the time will come a dialogue will be held and decisions will be made after it is completed.

Responding to the question concerning the fact that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will not attend the talks and the likely downgrading of the procedure, Mr. Rousopoulos responded that Greece and the Cypriot leadership will enter the dialogue becau se there is a true will for a just and viable solution and because a request was made by the UN after calling for its assistance for years in order for a solution to be reached.

Regarding the procedure that will be followed, the government spokesman stressed that everything that was agreed upon will be respected.

Egyptian Parliament President Ahmed Fathi Sourour was elected first President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, while Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki was elected Vice-President. The next meeting will take place in Cairo in

2005.

Mrs. Psarouda-Benaki met with her counterparts from Syria and Jordan on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly proceedings. She condemned the recent events in the Middle East and underlined that the Greeks want to contribute to th e normalization of the situation in the region.

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article