Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-07-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] 7-8 N17 MEMBERS TO BE TAKEN TO KORYDALLOS TODAY

[02] SIMITIS-KARAMANLIS TIED IN THE POLLS

[03] GREECE ATTRACTS 0.2% OF WORLD INVESTMENT

[04] FIGHTING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON TWO N17 MURDER CASES

[05] ROGGE AND AGGELOPOULOU ON N17

[01] 7-8 N17 MEMBERS TO BE TAKEN TO KORYDALLOS TODAY

Seven to eight of the arrested individuals accused of participating in the November 17 terrorism organization will be transferred from the building of the Athens General Police Direction to the Korydallos prison, however the time of their transfer is not yet known.

At the same time, the doctors at Evaggelismos hospital have judged Savvas Xeros' transfer to the Court of Appeals DA will be very difficult, so the authorities are contemplating taking the special examining judge to the hospital, in order for a testimony to take place.

As far as his health is concerned, it was mentioned that he has a problem with his right arm and that the doctors may have to amputate at the wrist, due to an infection caused by the bomb explosion, although it has not officially been announced.

[02] SIMITIS-KARAMANLIS TIED IN THE POLLS

The percentage of preference between the Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Simitis, and the Head of the Opposition, Mr.Kostas Karmanlis, is the same, according to the second part of Metron Analysis opinion poll published in today's Imerisia newspaper.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Karmanlis concentrated 37.2% on the question of who would be the best Prime Minister, while it seems that the Prime Minister is ahead of Mr. Karamanlis by 4.4% in major urban centers, but behind him by 9.8% in rural areas.

It should be noted that 21.3% wants neither party in power, after being asked who do you trust more for the future, PASOK with Mr. Simitis or ND with Mr. Karamanlis?

As far as how satisfied the citizens are, 27.6% stated that they are satisfied with the Prime Minister, while 23% with Mr. Karamanlis. The government's image has improved by 4.1%, reaching 22.5%.

At the same time, the government seems more suitable to handle Greece's issues in 9 sectors (The Olympics, major projects, foreign policy, modernization of public administration, National Defense, the Economy, terrorism, Education and the protection of the environment), while ND in 6 (social securities issue, tax reform, health, corruption, unemployment and drugs).

[03] GREECE ATTRACTS 0.2% OF WORLD INVESTMENT

Only $9.4 billion of the $4,300 billion of foreign investment around the world was attracted by Greece during the 1992-2001 period, according to evidence of the Organization for Financial Cooperation and Development concerning direct foreign investment and mergers-buying out.

Reaping only 0.2% of world investment, points out the structural problem of Greek economy during the 90s, a trend that did not seem to change, even during the golden period of the Greek economy, 1999-2001.

In 2000, Greece attracted foreign investment capital worth $1.1 billion, while in 2001 the amount increased to $1.6 billion, still remaining depressingly low, as is underlined in today's Imerisia newspaper.

[04] FIGHTING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON TWO N17 MURDER CASES

The statue of limitations on murder cases 20 years later, is threatening two November 17 executions that were committed in November 1983, which are expected to be written off in the same month of 2003.

These are the killing of US Navy Captain, George Tsantes and his driver Nikos Veloutsos. According to Ta Nea newspaper, in order for such a development to be avoided, a bill must be issued which will indict the offenders to trial and suspend the limitation for five more years.

It should be noted that the opportunity to prosecute three murder cases has been lost: CIA Athens Stations Chief Richard Wells (1975), retired police officer Evaggelos Mallios (1976), as well as the lieutenant commander of the Greek Police Special Forces Sotiris Stamoulis (1980), since 20 years have passed.

However, according to the terrorism law, forming and participating in a criminal organization is a continuous crime and is prosecuted as a felony.

[05] ROGGE AND AGGELOPOULOU ON N17

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, characterized the success of the Greek authorities concerning the eradication of November 17 as very good news, and he expressed his gratitude to the Greek government.

He also added that the issue of security is the first priority in the Olympics.

The President of Athens 2004, Gianna Aggelopoulou, stressed that we should congratulate the Greek authorities on their success, but she underlined that we are still concentrated on our work and continue to consider security our basic priority.

Our country will organize the Olympic Games with security, in a friendly environment for all those who come to celebrate the Olympics in the country that bore them, she mentioned.

It should be noted that yesterday Mrs. Aggelopoulou signed a memorandum of cooperation at the City Hall of Ancient Olympia with Mayor Christos Aedonis. Present at the signing ceremony were the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, and the Minister of Culture, Evaggelos Venizelos.

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