Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-08-22

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] NEW EVIDENCE FROM XEROS' TESTIMONY

[02] DEATHS OUTNUMBER BIRTHS IN GREECE

[03] N17 CONNECTED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

[01] NEW EVIDENCE FROM XEROS' TESTIMONY

More evidence has come to light concerning November 17, from Savvas Xeros' statement to the special examiner.

Savvas Xeros allegedly told the special examiner that the only person he knew as the founder of N17 was Alexandros Giotopoulos. He also mentioned that he had heard the names of other founding members, but that he could not remember any.

According to information, the 40-year-old holy icon painter pointed out that he knew nothing on N17's connections to secret services. Further more he mentioned that he had heard of a woman that had been a member of N17 but that he did not know her name.

Savvas Xeros allegedly said that Dionysis Georgiadis, who is awaiting trial for participating in N17, did not participate in the Pagrati National Bank robbery in December 1998, knew nothing of the organization and is not the one that rented the hideout on Damareos st.

Dionysis Georgiadis who is awaiting trial in the Corydallos penitentiary for participation in N17, is expected to file a release request, based on Savvas Xeros' testimony. Dionysis Georgiadis will only admit to participating in placing the bomb at the Pisteos (Credit) Bank in Patissia in 1998.

In fact, the authorities are ready to make the next step, which is to begin the eradication of ELA, and other sponsored organizations, such as May 1st and June of '78. According to information, during the Prime Minister's meeting with the Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis, Mr. Chrysochoidis presented the action plan and received the Prime Minister's agreement.

[02] DEATHS OUTNUMBER BIRTHS IN GREECE

Deaths in Greece have outnumbered births according to an EU study in 2001, published in today's Eleftherotypia newspaper. There was also a decrease in the number of marriages, while the number of divorces is very small, as is the number of children born outside wedlock, in contrast to most other European countries.

Greece has a serious problem as far as its birthrate is concerned. The birthrate for 2001 was 1.29 children per Greek woman, and Greece is in the third place before last, followed only by Spain (1.25) and Italy (1.24).

Furthermore, the number of marriages has been constantly dropping during the last 20 years in all EU countries. From 6.5 marriages per 1000 people in 1980, the number in Greece has fallen to 4.3 in 2002, and was 5.4 in 2001. The most faithful people to marriage are the Cypriots with 14.4 marriages per 1000 people.

The Swedes are first in number of children born outside wedlock, with 55.3% of their total number of births, while the percentage in Greece rose from 1.4% in 1980 to 4.1% in 2000.

[03] N17 CONNECTED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The new information given by Savvas Xeros in his latest testimony to Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos, is of great importance in connecting "November 17" to the Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA). The injured terrorist pointed out that Christos Tsoutsouvis had repeatedly attempted to recruit him into ELA since 1982.

Specifically, Savvas Xeros mentioned: "At that time there was a rumor that ELA was searching for new members. In 1983 I met with Christos among common friends and just said hello. A few days later Christos visited me at my workshop and tried to recruit me once again but I did not show much interest. Tsoutsouvis visited me steadily until his death in 1985, but I was never recruited to ELA".

N17's relation to ELA was apparent in the publication of Dimitris Koufontinas at a young age, which holds an exceptional resemblance to the sketch of the hitman for the "June 78" organization, who accompanied Christos Tsoutsouvis in the murder of officer Petros Babalis.

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