Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-08-18

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM returns from holidays with Olympics topping his agenda; others to follow

[02] Athens mayor visits the European Bicycling Championships facilities

[03] Ex-king's adventurous entry to Olympic Equestrian Center

[04] Australia prepares for Olympic Flame

[05] Archbishop visits Lefkada, in quakes aftermath

[06] 10 illegals intercepted on Samos

[07] 57-year-old shopkeeper murdered

[08] Police arrests kidnapper in Thassos Island

[09] Two Turkish nationals arrested for illegally entering Greece

[10] Australia's archbishop refuses invitation to visit Ecumenical Patriarch

[11] Large numbers of ethnic Greek Albanians return to their homes for summer holiday

[12] Archbishop officiates memorial service of late metropolitan of Thessaloniki

[13] Australia's "Channel 7" begins promos for "Athens 2004"

[01] PM returns from holidays with Olympics topping his agenda; others to follow

Prime Minister Costas Simitis returned to Athens on Saturday after concluding his summer holidays, while the rest of the country's political leadership is expected to have returned to the capital by Monday.

According to sources, the first items on the premier's agenda will be preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games as well as preparation for his early September keynote address at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

On Monday Simitis will meet with IOC Coordinating Commission head Dennis Oswald, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and ATHOC President Gianna Angelo-poulos-Daskalaki.

The premier will also meet with National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis to discuss a so-called "social convergence charter'', which will be unveiled during the traditional state-of-the affairs address at TIF.

PM returns from holidays with Olympics topping his agenda; others to follow

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis will also return on Monday for contacts with his staff, as he will also prepare for his address at TIF, traditionally given by the main opposition leader a week after the prime minister's speech.

[02] Athens mayor visits the European Bicycling Championships facilities

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Sunday visited the facilities of the European Bicycling Championships for men and women under the age of 23 and expressed her enthusiasm for its organizations structure.

She stressed that Greeks will move on with such kind of joy to meet the challenge of the Olympic Games, so that Greece may ''win this great bet'' it made.

''Athens, this year and in 2004, will be in the sights of international interest. Bicycling, is one of the sports events, through which our city will be showcased, through one of the most rare and beautiful tours…We are called to show this tour with the best possible colors and under the best possible light,'' she said.

''Everyone that is working here (the European Bicycling Championships) is doing everything possible, so that everything will turnout to be very good. With the same joy and the same decisiveness we must go on to the Olympic Games of 2004 as well, where we will have more people and which are the grand bet for Greece and the Greeks,'' she concluded.

[03] Ex-king's adventurous entry to Olympic Equestrian Center

Constantine de Grecia, IOC honorary member and former King of the Greeks, was not allowed, on Saturday, to enter the Olympic Equestrian Center of Athens as an honorary IOC member, as his accreditation papers were not issued on time.

The accreditation papers are necessary for everyone for entry to the installations of the Olympic test events, now taking place in Athens. Accompanied by the Greek Equestrian Federation President Isidoros Kouvelos and the former president of the federation Freddy Serpieri the former monarch of the Greeks was not allowed to enter.

ATHOC officials clarified later that IOC members have the right to enter all installations, but only during the actual Games and not during the pre-Olympic Games test events, where the accreditation is necessary even for the prime minister of the country.

The solution came in the form of an entry pass, same as that of all other spectators to the Equestrian test event.

Upon his departure, Constantine de Grecia expressed his enthusiasm with the quality of the installation and its operation, stressing that the function of the test events is to fix elements that were omitted and may create problems.

Further problems of the type are not expected as Constantine has secured an accreditation for the sailing test events, which was granted due to the fact that he is an honorary president of the International Sailing Federation.

[04] Australia prepares for Olympic Flame

The state government of Victoria, Australia and the municipality of Melbourne are preparing to receive the Olympic Flame in June 2004, following its stop in Sydney, where the 2000 Olympics were held and before its departure for Tokyo, in a run that will include all former Olympic cities around the world.

Thousands of dollars will be sent and 130 torch bearers will fashion an event that is taking place in cooperation with the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.

[05] Archbishop visits Lefkada, in quakes aftermath

Archbishop of Athens And All Greece Christodoulos on Saturday visited western Greece's earthquake struck Lefkada Island and officiated an open air pair service for the health and welfare of the people of the island.

At the end of the service, the Archbishop announced that the Archdiocese will send some 75 tons in bottled water for the needs of the citizens, as a token of solidarity, while he promised substantial aid to large families.

Metropolitan of Preveza Meletios, who has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the island was also present.

[06] 10 illegals intercepted on Samos

Ten illegal immigrants were intercepted early Sunday by the coast guard on a remote part of the eastern Aegean island of Samos. All of the Third World illegals were transferred to a reception centre on the island.

According to reports, a Turkish smuggler who ferried the group onto Greek territory escaped arrest.

[07] 57-year-old shopkeeper murdered

A 57-year-old shopkeeper was murdered in Athens' southern Neos Kosmos suburb on Saturday late afternoon, in what appeared to be an execution, as according to an eye witness the killer walked in shot the man and left immediately.

George Liritis, the owner of a soccer poll shop, was murdered for yet undermined reasons, as the killer did not rob the shop.

According to sources, police believes that it was a contract execution, but the killer murdered the wrong person, stepping in the wrong shop, but on the right street.

[08] Police arrests kidnapper in Thassos Island

Police arrested a 46-year-old meat merchant on Saturday in connection with the kidnapping of a 26-year-old cattle herder, that took place in Thassos Island, northeastern Aegean.

According to sources, Christos Baxevanis said to police that he kidnapped Athanasios Makedos and asked 500,000 euros in ransom payment, because he faced economic problems.

The police was continuing its investigation into the case as at least another two members of the group that committed the kidnapping were not identified.

[09] Two Turkish nationals arrested for illegally entering Greece

Two Turkish nationals were arrested near the island of Kos, southeastern Aegean, by men of the coast guard for illegally entering Greece without the proper papers, a press release issued by the merchant marine ministry said on Sunday.

Akil Karakaya 27 and Mustafa Altan 18 attempted to enter Greece using a canoe. According to their statements to authorities they left Turkey as they were attempting to evade arrest in connection with a case of arson in the southwestern part of Turkey.

The two men will be arraigned in Kos, while the cost guard is continuing its investigation.

[10] Australia's archbishop refuses invitation to visit Ecumenical Patriarch

MELBOURNE 18/08/2003 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

Earlier in the month, Stylianos called the promotion of Joseph ''an act of murder'' against him, which he said he was not ready to accept.

[11] Large numbers of ethnic Greek Albanians return to their homes for summer holiday

GIROCASTER, 18/08/2003 (ANA - P. Barkas)

This interest became more apparent as most of them dealt with the reconstruction of their families' homes or the construction of new homes, re-establishing their bonds with their native soil.

Along with business, however, there was also pleasure, as many religious and secular festivals and events were organized in mostly the southern regions of the country for the holidaymakers.

[12] Archbishop officiates memorial service of late metropolitan of Thessaloniki

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Sunday officiated the memorial service for the 40 days from the late Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Panteleimona, calling during his sermon the faithful to show courage and calm in the face of adversity. During his stay in the city, Christodoulos also inaugurated an exhibition of Byzantine Icons that is taking place in the Monastery of St. Theodora.

[13] Australia's "Channel 7" begins promos for "Athens 2004"

MELBOURNE, 18/08/2003 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

Channel Seven has the rights for the exclusive coverage of the Games for Australia and it is beginning its promotion of the Games with specials that will begin airing on Monday evening.

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