The tremor was felt in the prefecture of Ilia, while seismologists maintain that there is no reason for alarm. No damages were reported.

He added that Turkey's stance toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate is known for many years. For Greece and the EU partners is self-evident that the respect of religious freedoms is a fundamental criterion for Turkey's European prospect, said Mr. Antonaros.

He also stated that in the contacts Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis will have with his counterparts in Rome, London, Berlin and Vienna will raise the issue.

Responding to a question by a reporter he said that for all 25 EU members the non recognition of the Cypriot Republic by Turkey constitutes political and institutional paradox, adding that negotiations are in full progress.

Of the stocks trading today, 229 had gains and 67 had losses, while the value of 124 stocks remained unchanged.

The Ecumenical Patriarch stated during the meeting with Mr. Avramopoulos that no problem has been solved, while the attacks and worries have increased. He added that just a few days before Turkey receives a date for the opening of EU negotiations he expr esses the discontent and disappointment of the Christians and the Church to every direction, Athens, Ankara and Brussels.

The Patriarch expressed regret for the fact that the Turkish government insists to its refusal to recognize the ecumenical character of the Patriarchate, stressing that he has assured the Turkish government that there will be no second Vatican and the ti tle has no political content. It is a historical title that belongs to the Patriarchate and cannot be relinquished, he said. He underlined that the Patriarchate will not reject its identity and added, "we will not be told who we are. We know for centuries

who we are".

The Ecumenical Patriarch also referred to the draft report to the Turkish Security Council in which the Theology School of Halki is being referred to as a threat.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated regarding the issue that a Turkish citizen can not try to have a title that comes from abroad.

Mr. Avramopoulos spoke about a new architecture in the Greek-Turkish relations the politicians have an obligation to build, during the meeting he had with the Turkish Prime Minister while he reiterated that Greece supports Turkey's European prospect.

Head of the Greek parliamentary delegation, governing party of New Democracy parliament deputy, Mrs. Elsa Papadimitriou proposed a rider based on which the WEU decided to condemn the recent US decision on the FYROM name.

Addressing the WEU Parliamentary Assembly plenary session, Mrs. Papadimitriou called on Turkey and the new EU members to meet their legal obligations toward the EU.

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