K. Koulouris, who gave his assurance that consumers can feel safe, as there are specialists carrying out checks on the meats. Prices are going up and there is lack in supply. Truck drivers in the Kipi customs took over the station symbolically, as they c annot continue with their exports.

The strike of civil agriculturalists and veterinarians, which has caused tons of perishable goods to be exported or imported to spoil at the borders, as there is no one to check them and let them through, will be tried today, after the suit filed against

them by the Ministry of Agriculture asking that their strike be proclaimed illegal and excessive.

The strike has caused a lack in fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish throughout the country's market, as well as an increase in prices.

University and technical school teaching staff are still on strike after a failure to reach an agreement on the raise they are asking for. Their strike has jeopardized the September exam period, although there have been provisions for students graduating

from university, who need to make dates for post graduate degrees and receive their diplomas before leaving for their tour of duty in the Greek Army.

However some there is some hope of a solution being found soon, after the announcements made by the Minister of Finance, Nikos Christodoulakis, following a meeting he had with a university staff delegation last night. The Minister made a commitment that funds towards education this year will be increased by 19 million euro, 14% in contrast to the 25% asked for by the rectors, while there will also be emergency funds, to be determined later.

In fact, the Minister proposed an increase in the raise they were to be given, which was initially 6.5%, and is now 8%. However, this will limit their benefits, so that the total cost for university teaching staffs remains at the same level.

Employees under the contract of the Ministry of Culture are continuing their strikes, thus keeping many archeological sites closed to the public. The employees have organized a protest rally outside the Ministry of Culture today.

They are accusing the Ministry of the procedures used to hire 1000 employees, 300 for permanent positions and 700 for an indefinite period of time. These procedures will leave out all those who have worked for the Ministry for many years, they supported.

Courts, land registries and cadastral offices all over Greece will remain closed for the second day, due to the 48-hour strike of judicial employees. They are fighting to resolve their salary, institutional and pension demands, as well as for the coverag e of 1700 positions. An emergency meeting of the 5 Presidencies of judicial association Administrative Councils will be held today to assess the situation.

Judicial employees have declared another three-day strike for the 15, 16, and 17 of October.

Further mobilizations have been announced for tomorrow, with hospital doctors and staffs throughout the country joining in. Hospital doctors have announced a three-day strike for October 6, 7 and 8, in reaction to the failure of the government to meet th eir institutional and financial demands. On the dates above, hospitals will be running on security staffs only. The doctors are asking for a new payroll, an increase in funds towards healthcare services and emergency work being counted towards remaining t ime till their pensions.

In fact, public hospital staffs have decided to move to five-hour walkouts every Thursday, beginning October 9. They will not work from 10am to 3pm, and only emergency cases will be treated.

Olympic Airways will also have to move to a change in itineraries, so as not to cause problems in flight schedules, due to the walkout announced by the Union of Flight Attendants.

The Union has announced walkouts from 8-11am and 5-8pm, accusing the administration of OA of training flight attendants under contract to cover its flights needs, while going around permanent staff members, as it is preparing to fire employees under the guise of forced retirement.

Of the stocks trading today the overwhelming majority of 325 recorded gains and 21 had losses, while the value of 16 remained unchanged. Eighteen stocks had no transactions.

Mrs. Diamantopoulou stressed that Romania has requested to become a European Union member and the convergence process with the EU has begun, with all the consequences involved in terms of the respect of the fundamental human rights.

Mrs. Diamantopoulou stressed characteristically that when fundamental human rights and earlier traditions collide then it is the traditions that have to be adjusted and human rights should prevail.

The BSTDB's corporate loan will be directed at further improving the quality of Severstal's specialized steel products and covers the modernization and technical upgrading of the production facilities of Severstal.

"We consider this as a first step toward the long-lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation of our two organizations", said Alexander Andrianov, CFO of Severstal. "We are very happy to begin cooperation with Severstal, one of Russia's model companies,

with an excellent regional and international reputation", said Mustafa Gurtin, President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, signing the project.

Situated at Cherepovets, in Russia's northwestern Vologda region, Severstal is one of the leading Russian steel producers. Its capacity is more than 10 million tons per annum and it ranks number 17 worldwide by steel output.

Including the Severstal project, BSTDB's approved investments in Russia total more than US$ 140 million.

It was clarified categorically both by the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense that no sovereign right is affected by the agreement that has to do with the operation of civil aviation.

On their part, the opposition Parliament deputies stated that this is an unfair agreement that serves only the interests of Turkey.

Based on the new agreement, 15 new air corridors are being created. Nine of them will belong to the Athens FIR, five will be shared by the Athens FIR and the Istanbul FIR and one will belong to the Istanbul FIR.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the state budget backs development as it aims at an increase of 4.2% for the GDP, and one of its goals is to bring unemployment down to 8%. It is also a social budget, with a social package of 2.3 billion euros and aims at the f airer distribution of income, while it is expected to contribute to the materialization of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

In the summit will be discussed the EU-NATO relations, the development of the military capability and the creation of a European organization on armaments and research. The participants will also discuss the role of the EU and the peacekeeping missions i n the Balkans, as well as the Mediterranean Dimension of the European Policy on Security and Defense.

On the sidelines of the summit, Mr. Yiannitsis will have meetings with his EU counterparts.

The Defense Ministers of the 10 EU acceding countries and the NATO Secretary General have been invited to attend the summit.

Justice in Greece is independent. We will wait for the Supreme Court ruling, said Mr. Protopapas adding that Greece is very careful when handling minority issues. Greece respects their rights and operates within the framework of International Law and the

Treaty of Lauzanne, stressed Mr. Protopapas.

Mr. Beglitis stated that Greece's policy on the minority in Thrace is firmly based on the respect of International Law and International Treaties especially, the Treaty of Lauzanne.

In the specific press report it is mentioned that Supreme Court Judge N. Kasavetis in his introduction accepts that the use of the terms "Turkish Association" and "Turks of Western Thrace" by members of the Muslim minority is legal.