Present in the reception were Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, opposition party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou, former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, Deputy Culture Min ister Fani Palli-Petralia and Undersecretary of Sports Giorgos Orphanos.

Mr. Stephanopoulos congratulated personally all the athletes and their coaches and appeared to be well informed about their successes, while he asked to learn more about the Paralympic Games sports.

Mr. Liapis stated to reporters after the meeting that he briefed the Prime Minister on his trip to Canada where he attended the ICAO General Assembly.

He stated that Civil Aviation is being upgraded which means that the Greek airlines and airports will enjoy a preferential status internationally regarding their security. Mr. Liapis stated that this is a big success for the Greek government and the Gree k state.

The Prime Minister points out that a new chapter in the history of Cyprus has opened with the accession of the Cypriot Republic into the European Union expressing the hope that this new course will contribute to the solution of the lingering political pr oblem in Cyprus.

The Prime Minister talked with each one of the athletes personally and asked them about their experience of the games and the joy of winning a medal.

Mr. Karamanlis thanked the athletes for meeting the challenge of the Paralympic Games and congratulated them for their victories and successes.

Mr. Michaloliakos met with Hungarian Minister of Defense Ference Juhasz and Deputy Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Imre Ivancsik and Andras Barsony respectively.

Among the issues discussed were the participation in peacekeeping missions, the efforts against international terrorism, the EU enlargement and operation and the role of NATO.

Mr. Michaloliakos also briefed the Hungarian Minister of Defense on the Greek-Turkish relations and it was established that bilateral relations are at a good level, which can be further improved.

Mr. Michaloliakos visited the offices of the Greek community in Budapest and was briefed on the problems it faces, while he also visited Beloyiannis village.

Of the stocks trading today, 75 had gains and 189 had losses, while the value of 139 stocks remained unchanged.

Ministry of Defense general secretary Giorgos Zorbas sent to the prosecutor the documents necessary to investigate the legal basis in the purchase of 2 Russian speedboats in the year 2000 used to carry military personnel and the contract for their dockin g at Amfiali estimated at over 177 million euros.

The second contract concerns the purchase of personnel carrier helicopters from NHL Industry in 2003.

He stressed in his telegram that there is nothing more painful than losing children and extended his condolences to the families of the victims and all the Greeks.

He expressed the belief that the Albanian government will condemn those actions and reminded that the protection of minority and religious rights constitutes necessary condition for the course, the process of Stabilization and Association of Albania with

the European Union. In general, this protection constitutes an element of - and is linked to - the European perspective and course of Albania, stated Mr. Koumoutsakos.

He also stated that no demarche has been made to the Albanian authorities in protest to the violent actions against the Greek minority.

For the record, the Albanian press has mentioned that the Christian Orthodox Church of Albania has called on the Albanian state to intervene to stop the violence targeting religious symbols on the occasion of the violence against a group of Christian Ort hodox young people in a camping site near the St. Georgios Holy Monastery at the village of Tsuka, and the attack against the church in the village of Vouliarati.