The PASOK delegation will have separate meetings with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and all political party leaders represented in the Cypriot Parliament.

The goal of the visit is to be briefed by the Cypriot leadership on the evaluation of the Annan Plan in view of the April 24 referendum.

Speaking yesterday from the city of Messolongi, central Greece, on the occasion of the celebration of the heroic exodus of the Free Besieged, Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that emotion often makes a right decision miss its target. He added that a decision on

the future of Cyprus and the future of Greece should be reached calmly, with determination and patriotism.

Among the issues they discussed was the Cyprus issue and responding to a question by a reporter the US ambassador pointed out that the Cypriot people will decide if they will approve the UN Secretary-General plan, adding that himself is optimistic regard ing the atmosphere that can be formed by April 24 when the two referendums will be held on the island.

Commenting on the outcome of an opinion poll, which shows a high percentage against the Annan Plan, he said that many of those who respond "no" do not know what the plan includes and suggested that it will have to be studied carefully.

The goal of the meeting will be to brief the representatives of the FYROM lawyers on issues concerning the organizing and operation of the Greek Bar Associations to convey the Greek experience to their country.

In the meetings dominated the Cyprus issue as well as the developments in Iraq and the Middle East.

The meeting was held in the presence of the Greek Police Chief Lieutenant General Fotis Nasiakos and National Information Service Director Pavlos Apostolidis. Also present were Portugal's ambassador to Athens Duarte Ramalho Ortigao, Portugal's National O lympic Committee President Jose Vincente Moura, National Spots Institute President Jose Manuel Constantino, Euro 2004 Security Committee General Coordinator Leonel Carvalho and Euro 2004 Coordinating Committee Board of Directors President Vasco Lynce.

In the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest and specifically, issues concerning the security of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, as well as the Euro 2004 that will take place in Portugal.

Among the issues to be discussed in the meeting tomorrow will be the commitment that will be undertaken by the EU Transportation Ministers through the signing of the implementation of the European Charter on Road Security.

Mr. Liapis stated that a very important political decision is going to be made aimed at cutting down the number of traffic accidents and limiting their effects at every level by expanding the implementation of a strategic action plan.

Of the stocks trading today, 220 had gains and 81 had losses, while the value of 95 stocks remained unchanged.

Mr. Rousopoulos said that the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic and the political party leaders will decide when the meeting will take place.

He said that Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis and New Democracy Secretary Vangelis Meimarakis will visit Cyprus tomorrow after consultations with the Cypriot government and will hold meetings with representatives of the Cypriot government and th e Cypriot political parties.

Asked to comment on the statement made by the Turkish Foreign Minister according to which, in case the Greek Cypriots reject the Annan Plan the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state will have to be recognized by the international community, Mr. Rousopoulos stated

that the pseudo-state remains a pseudo-state for the Greek government.

Regarding the Greek government position on the referendum, Mr. Rousopoulos responded that the Cypriots should be left uninfluenced and the Greek government should express its position in the appropriate time. He also reiterated the statement made by the Prime Minister in Parliament that Greece cooperates, supports and participates.

The responsible authorities and non-governmental organizations came to the conclusion that the exploitation of children has taken up invisible dimensions and one of them is child pornography, according to Vincent Tounecuillert, head of the Terres des Hom mes organization in Albania.

In a press conference in Thessaloniki on the occasion of a one-day conference on "Human Trade - Illegal trade of Children in SE Europe", Mr. Tounecuillert pointed out, among others, that the legalization of illegal aliens in Greece is a positive developm ent, adding that he supports the deportation of juvenile foreigners who are in Greek institutions.

They will meet with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos tomorrow afternoon, while they will also have talks with the leaders of all political parties in Cyprus on the issue of the Annan Plan.

Speaking to Swiss journalists, Mr. Pfirter also stated that if the Turkish Cypriots accept the plan and the Greek Cypriots reject it Brussels could reconsider its stance toward the Turkish Cypriot community and offer it a more favorable status.

He also expressed the view that this development could lead to a permanent partition of the island adding, however, that a new referendum could be organized after 6 months.

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