Mr. Karamanlis thanked the party officials for their efforts that led to the election victory and assured, in a categorical way, that the government will meet all its commitments. He stated that there will be no discount in the party program and stressed

that the government is determined to succeed.

He said that the government upgraded the political dialogue, called a meeting of the Political Party Leaders' Council on Cyprus and added that it wants a dialogue with the political parties and production forces and a continuous and two-way communication

with society.

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, referring to the Cyprus issue, reiterated the government position that the positive points in the Annan Plan outmatch the negative ones and repeated the firm principle that Cyprus decides and Greece supports.

He said that the reasons are many and concern the day after the referendum and the safeguarding of the unity of Hellenism, adding that if the result of the referendum is "yes" the government will encourage the implementation of the Annan Plan and if it i s a "no" it will respect it and will do everything to keep open the prospect for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In any case, the government is firm in the strategy for the improvement and strengthening of the Greek-Turkish relations. He added that Greece wants a European Turkey, backs its European prospect and will back every effort it makes to adjust to the Europ ean standards.

On the Olympic Games, he said that Greece will host the most successful and safe Olympics and underlined that there are delays and overshooting of the initial budgets but intensive efforts are being made to face all the problems that arise.

He said that New Democracy inherited many fiscal problems from the government of PASOK that hid the truth and presented a fictitious budget and stressed that the government will proceed with solutions without surprises or confrontations. He also said tha t the solution of the everyday problems of the people is a firm priority for the government.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture decision on tobacco, olive oil and cotton is the first major victory of the government, stressing that the government met its commitment to the farmers.

On the role of the Central Committee of New Democracy, he said that it will be a bridge between the government and society and at the same time, it will guarantee the distinct separation of the party and the state.

The vote will last until 5pm in the afternoon and it is estimated that about 480,000 Greek Cypriots will participate in the process. The results will be announced at 6pm. The last opinion poll in the Cypriot Republic showed that 65% of the people are in favor of the "no".

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and AKEL general secretary Dimitris Christofias expressed certainty that there will be another opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In the interview to all the Cypriot television channels yesterday, Mr. Papadopoulos explained the reasons that led him to back a "no" vote and responded to the accusations launched by EU Commissioner Gunter Verheugen by stressing that he never agreed or pledged to the adoption of any solution plan.

He also said that he sent a letter to Mr. Verheugen in which he refers to the issue and thanks him for the efforts he made for Cyprus' EU accession.

The Cypriot Republic President stated that he will undertake an initiative himself for the promotion of a number of measures for the support of the Turkish Cypriots and that his interest is focused on the day after with Cyprus as a member of the EU.

Meanwhile, the EU Foreign Ministers Summit meeting will take place on April 26 and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos will visit Athens on April 27 for talks with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the political leadership.

After the meeting he had with the Board of Directors of Thessaloniki's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he stated that the result of the referendum must be respected. He said that the Greek-Turkish relations are very good and reliable adding that they w ill continue to improve and trade will increase, while the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean will be turned into a free trade region.

Referring to the meeting he had with the Board of Directors of Thessaloniki's Chamber of Commerce and Industry he said that it was very positive for the development of bilateral trade and the increase of investments in both sides. He also said that the G reek side requested Turkey's support to its bid to host EXPO 2008 and responded that Turkey will be active on the issue.

Thessaloniki's Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dimitris Bakatselos stated that the cooperation potential between the two sides was discussed in detail as well as the Greek-Turkish economic relations.

The Greek Foreign Minister met in Athens today with US ambassador Thomas Miller to discuss developments in Cyprus.

Responding to a question by a reporter on what will happen on the day after the referendum in Cyprus in case the result is "no" to the Annan Plan, Mr. Miller pointed out that nobody can know that and added that we will see how things will be. However, he

stressed that after Cyprus' EU accession the northern part of the island should not be left in a disadvantageous position.

For the record, the EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on Monday. The Greek delegation headed by Foreign Minister Moliviatis is expected to record the first reactions by the European partners to the result of the referenda in Cyprus.

"We welcome with great pleasure the positive content of the opinion of the Commission regarding the EU accession application of Croatia, which was deposited in Athens in February 2003, during the Greek Presidency. It is an historic moment for our neighbo ring country and an important step for the European prospects of all the countries in the Western Balkans, which Greece continues to support steadily.

At the same time it reveals the successful EU policy in the region and the progress made during the past years specifically within the Stabilization and Association Process, the upgrading of which is a basic priority of the Greek foreign policy.

The Greek government understands the remarks and conclusions of the Commission's opinion. It will require constant and intensified efforts by Croatia in order to achieve the known and specific targets pointed out by the Commission in order to achieve the

goal of future integration into the European family.

We wish the government and people of Croatia success in this major effort, and confirm that Greece will continue to help them, as well as all the other countries in the region that have a future place in the European family."

The statement was made today by Minister of Agriculture Savvas Tsitouridis after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to brief him on the outcome of the negotiations in the EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture in Luxembourg.

Responding to the question on whether the subsidies will remain unchanged until 2013, Mr. Tsitouridis pointed out that subsidies will remain as they are and in certain cases will be higher, adding that all negative proposals were overturned and this allo ws for optimism even after the ten-year period.

Of the stocks trading today, 153 had gains and 133 had losses, while the value of 96 stocks remained unchanged.

He also said that the referendum result will not affect the course of the Greek-Turkish relations and stressed that the firm position of New Democracy is the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations and the support of Turkey's European prospect to whic h the Cypriot leadership also agrees.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that after the referendum there will be consultations between Cyprus and Greece to determine their future moves, adding that Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos will be in Athens on Wednesday. He also stated that the support towa rd the Turkish Cypriots is placed within the framework of the European Union.

Called to comment on the newspaper article signed by former Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, criticizing the way the government handled the Cyprus issue, Mr. Rousopoulos pointed out that the Greek government entered the negotiations in Lucerne with a

sense of responsibility and succeeded in raising the issue earlier in the Brussels Summit meeting and putting it on the agenda as well as having a statement issued both within the framework of the EU conclusions and the negotiations in Lucerne. He also s tated that the Cypriot President has thanked the Prime Minister publicly for the Greek government's contribution.

The celebrations in Halkida were held in the presence of President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos pointed out that the government waits for the outcome of the two referenda tomorrow and then it will be able to draw up the policy that will follow.

The mayor referred to the tortures and persecutions suffered by the Jews of Thessaloniki and stressed that Thessaloniki has mourned, honored and continues to honor its Jewish citizens who were so unfairly lost, the young Jews and the progressive and dist inguished people who had worked hard to make the city great and prosperous.

The BIE representatives, who are in Greece since Sunday, have not revealed the exact results of the evaluation of the Greek file. Their decision will be announced on May 21 when they will submit the formal findings on the three candidate cities Thess aloniki, Trieste and Zaragoza to the BIE executive committee.

Therefore, the most crucial period for Thessaloniki and its two co-candidate cities will be from June 23, when the executive committee will submit its own report to the BIE general assembly, until early November.

Mr. Skandalakis referred to the Greek community in Ukraine, which contributes actively to the country's progress and stressed that the Black Sea Hellenism is a bridge of friendship and cooperation between Greece and Ukraine.

They also discussed issues concerning the prospects of cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine.

Mr. Skandalakis assured the Ukrainian Foreign Minister that Greece will support the European prospect of Ukraine. They also discussed issues concerning the imminent visit of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to Greece on May 17-20.