Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bus hijackers release hostages, surrender to police - PM Karamanlis proud of exemplary police operation, Public Order minister Voulgarakis says

[02] European Council President Balkenende invites leaders to EU Summit in Brussels

[03] European Parliament says yes to beginning accession talks with Turkey but sets conditions

[04] ND Eurodeputies stress Eurlings report a message to Turkey

[05] Dutch deputy Eurlings tells Turkey 'let the leadership of Orthodoxy to be in Istanbul'

[06] Archbishop Christodoulos opposes Turkey's EU accession

[07] Greek policy over 'name issue' difference with FYROM discussed by noted panel

[08] Main opposition leader meets presidential candidate Karolos Papoulias

[09] Gov't again pledges that no EU cash will be wasted

[10] EU takes Greece, other members to court for breach of maritime safety rules

[11] Gov't managing to restrain prices, minister says

[12] Papageorgiou hospital doctors, taxis to strike in Thessaloniki on Thursday

[13] Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish local authorities in tourism project

[14] Stocks rise in blue-chip buying

[15] Ferry rams into pier in Chios port while mooring, all passengers safe and well

[16] City of Athens Christmas Tree to be lit on Thursday, Christmas events begin

[17] General Secretariat for Hellenes Abroad launches youth exchange program

[18] IOC rewards best Olympic Games coverage and TV programs

[19] Turkey has to adapt the Ankara Agreement, says Cyprus spokesman

[01] Bus hijackers release hostages, surrender to police - PM Karamanlis proud of exemplary police operation, Public Order minister Voulgarakis says

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Voulgarakis also expressed his own pleasure at the positive outcome of the hijacking and hostage situation.

Karamanlis, who delayed his scheduled departure Wednesday afternoon for Brussels for an EU summit to Thursday morning in the wake of the hostage situation, and had ordered that priority be placed on the hostages' safety, conveyed his warmest thanks and congratulations to all those who contributed to the successful completion of the rescue operation, in which no one was injured, and expressed pride in the efforts of the police, who acted in an exemplary and exceptionally efficient manner, Voulgarakis said.

"The experience of the (Athens 2004) Olympic Games did not go to waste," Voulgarakis said, adding that the manner in which the Greek police had acted proved that it was one of the best organized police forces in the world.

The two gunmen, who initially claimed they were Russian but were later identified by police as Albanians, boarded the bus -- which was carrying out the first route of the day, departing from Marathon for Athens at about 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday -- in Pikermi at about 6:10 a.m., and hijacked the bus further down the route, at Gerakas. Their plan to obtain a one million euros ransom and head to Albania was thwarted by the quick thinking of bus driver Chrysostomos Mitsou who quickly stopped the bus, opened the doors and escaped the vehicle with the engine key. The bus' ticket collector also took advantage of the move and fled through a side door, dragging a nearby woman passenger out with him. Police immediately cordoned off central Marathonas Boulevard and isolated the immobilized bus, and specially-trained police negotiators began marathon negotiations with the gunmen, who were talked into progressively releasing most of the hostages. The Albanians released the final six hostages and surrendered to police at 12:37 a.m.

Police later identified the hijackers as 24-year-old Albanians Leonard Eldon Murataz from Elbasan -- the mastermind of the hijacking, who called himself 'Hassan' in contacts with the media and police -- and Resuli Haredin Gazi from Berati. Police chief Lt. Gen. George Aggelakos, who hastily returned to Athens from an official visit to Lyons, told ANA that the two Albanians had no police record in Greece, nor was there any information from the Albanian authorities on their having committed crimes in Albania. He said the two men had been in Greece for approximately 7 years and were residing in the seaside town of Loutsa.

He also said that police had Wednesday afternoon located Murataz's brother and Gazi's sister, who agreed to help the police negotiators and contributed to convincing the two men to surrender.

According to Aggelakos, the gunmen had been convinced earlier Wednesday night to surrender, but the plan broke down at about 10:00 p.m. when they saw movement on Marathonos Blvd. across the way from the bus and, suspecting a trap, opened fire. Negotiations were resumed, and by midnight police had again convinced the men to surrender, after releasing the last five hostages on board.

The gunmen's motive appeared, at this time, to be the ransom money, and it was believed they intended to flee to Albania with the ransom, Aggelakos said. He opined that the men had claimed they wanted to go to the airport -- the perpetrators had initially demanded a driver to be sent to the bus to drive it to the airport, where they wanted to board a plane for Russia -- in order to mislead the police regarding their identities and intentions.

However, Aggelakos continued, everything would be clarified in the preliminary investigation being carried out by the Attica Security Police, adding that the gunmen would be taken before a public prosecutor on Thursday.

Following arrangements by the police, the hostages were put up for the night at a hotel in Nea Makri, and deputy public order minister Christos Markoyannakis and Aggelakos were due to visit them Thursday morning.

Negotiations endangered twice: The police's marathon negotiations with the bus hijackers were endangered twice, public order minister George Voulgarakis said today, after briefing the premier in detail at government headquarters.

He said the negotiations were twice put at risk when the gunmen managed to speak directly with reporters on air. "We were really scared, then, because it appeared that their psychological state and attitude changed and they became more threatening, while it also appeared that the police psychologists and officers could lose control of the situation," Voulgarakis said.

The minister however thanked the media, which had been contacted by police to provide their assistance, "which they did". He further said that the C41 system -- acquired by Greece for the Olympic Games -- had proved very useful, adding that the system was used in Wednesday's operations after permission from the relevant authority was secured through the due legal process.

The C41 system (Command, Control, Coordination, Communication and Integration) played a leading role in the security of the Games, is a system of communications and IT that gives comprehensive information (picture, sound, data) to the security commanders, who are thus informed in real time on any given situation, therefore allowing them to take the appropriate decisions for action. The C41 system includes: A digital communications radio network, Operational Centers, and IT systems. The Greek government spent 250 million euros on the C41 system, out of a total 1.2 billion euros spent on the Athens Games security, four times the sum spent on security at the preceding 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Legal permission to use the system is required because it could violate private moments of individuals, and it had been acquired to confront any situations that could have arisen during the Games.

Voulgarakis pointed out that three test drills in bus hijacking situations had been conducted by the police ahead of the Games. He explained that the drills had been conducted in simulated environments, under much more difficult conditions, and the results at the time had been completely successful. The minister noted that he, himself, had taken part in one of those drills.

He also said that the prime minister had been informed from the outset of the hijacking, and had ordered that police place top priority on the safety of the hostages and on exhausting all means for a bloodless conclusion of the situation. The minister added that the government was prepared to carry on with police negotiations for even 20-25 days if required in order to save the lives of all the hostages, but explained that the critical turning point in a hostage situation was between 22 and 25 hours after such a situation breaks out.

Voulgarakis further praised the choices made by the police leadership and their management of the crisis as being "absolutely successful", but also the comportment of the hostages themselves and the assistance they provided to police specialists.

Driver's account of hijacking: The driver and ticket collector of the hijacked Attica KTEL-inter-city public bus, who managed to escape from the bus earlier, recounted to ANA the sequence of events in the incident.

According to the driver of the Attica KTEL inter-city bus Chrysostomos Mitsou, 33, who was carrying out the first route of the day of the Athens-bound bus from Marathon, the two gunmen boarded the bus at the Pikermi bus stop from the back door.

Mitsou told ANA that the two men sat down in the back seats, and ticket collector Elias Voivontas issued tickets to them. The driver said that Voivontas told him that he had recognized the two men, as they had been passengers on the same bus route several times previously.

Immediately after the bus set off from Pikermi, one of the perpetrators fired a shot towards the roof of the bus, the driver said, adding that he had thought he had a flat tire or that a problem had developed in the vehicle's heater:

"I immediately opened the bus doors, and Elias and I quickly got off. That's when we realized that something was going on inside. We saw people running towards the front seats, and those two (the hijackers) started firing shots and shouting to the people to sit down. I pulled out a woman who was near my (the driver's) seat, and another one or two people ran out, from what I surmise, and with them the ticket collector and myself," Mitsou said.

Mitsou confirmed earlier reports that there were no children on the hijacked bus.

In a related development, a KTEL employee who is a hostage on the bus, Stella Matara, contacted the Attica KTEL president and told him that the situation inside the bus was good, that the hijackers were not putting psychological pressure on the hostages, and that she was optimistic that everything would turn out alright.

Also, Athens court prosecutor Spyros Mouzakitis was at the police operations center from shortly after the outbreak of the hijacking.

In addition, the Albanian ambassador in Athens has arrived at the scene, and told reporters that he wanted to see for himself whether the hijackers were Albanian, as was rumored in early reports. He said that if one or both of the hijackers were Albanian, he wanted to help the security authorities to speak with the perpetrators.

Police sources said later that, regardless of the hijackers' claim that they are Russian, the possibility was still open that one or both of the perpetrators were Albanian.

Union rally called off due to hostage situation: A planned rally in downtown Athens on Wednesday by the country's largest umbrella trade union group, GSEE, and the civil servants' union, ADEDY, was called off in the early afternoon due to a hostage situation following a bus hijacking in northeast Athens hours earlier.

Work stoppages were reported at mostly state-controlled banks during the same day, as well as various public sector offices.

Drivers using the Attiki Odos highway toward Markopoulos and Spata, meanwhile, were not charged any tolls on account of the detour imposed by police at Stavros to steer traffic away from the scene of the hijacking on Marathonos Boulevard in Geraka. The temporary measure was carried out at the request of the public order ministry.

Traffic in the opposite direction from Pallini toward Athens was being redirected onto a detour avoiding the area at the Anthousa junction.

Police have cordoned off a large area around the immobilized bus and stopped all traffic in the vicinity.

The public order ministry has also been contacted by the political parties, who sought to be updated on the latest developments regarding the hostage crisis.

Newly-elected Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Alekos Alavanos stressed in his conversation with minister George Voulgarakis that the only goals should be to rescue the ordinary working folk who suddenly found themselves caught up "in a nightmare".

A prayer for the safe release of the hostages was also offered on Wednesday by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Commenting on the hijacking, Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis said such actions were "another form of terrorism".

"There is nothing more unfair then getting up at 5:00 in the morning to go to work and finding yourself imprisoned in a bus and your life threatened. I hope and pray that all will go well and this will end without bloodshed," she told reporters.

[02] European Council President Balkenende invites leaders to EU Summit in Brussels

BRUSSELS 16/12/2004 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis)

The prime minister of The Netherlands calls on his European counterparts to attend the working dinner of the heads of state and government which will take place at the Justus Lipsius building of the Council of Europe Union on Thursday evening, during which issues concerning the enlargement of the European Union, that is, towards Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia will be discussed.

The agenda of the separate dinner for the foreign ministers will include issues such as the Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the European Security Strategy. The same day, meetings will be held of the two big political groups, of the European People's Party (EPP), at which Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will attend, and of the European Socialist Party (ESP).

According to the letter, on the morning of December 17, a meeting will be held between the President of the European Parliament and the members of the European Council. A speech will follow by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who is expected to discuss with the members of the European Council issues concerning the challenges and threats of the 21st Century.

During the EU Summit, High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Defense Policy Javier Solana will also present data on the progress marked concerning the combatting of terrorism.

The EU Summit will end with the meeting of the members of the European Council and the foreign ministers of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, when the final decisions will be announced.

[03] European Parliament says yes to beginning accession talks with Turkey but sets conditions

PARIS 16/12/2004 (ANA/O.Tsipira)

Among the amendments approved and which are of interest to Greece is amendment 59, which was proposed by the Socialist Eurodeputies. The amendment calls on the council to realize its promises and to end the Turkish Cypriot community's isolation, and to quickly approve the two regulations regarding financial aid and commercial relations with the northern part of the island.

Another amendment proposed by Athanassios Pafilis and Diamanto Manolakou from the United Left was rejected. Pafilis' and Manolakou's suggestion was for the issue of the continental shelf in the Aegean to be referred to the International Court in the event that it wasn't resolved otherwise.

Amendment 31, which requested that the Committee formulate a "road map" with a timeframe regarding the implementation of the Copenhagen criteria, with special emphasis given to: the recognition of Cyprus and the withdrawal of Turkish occupational forces from the island; progress in resolving problems related to the Kurds, guarantee of human rights and fundamental civil liberties in theory and practice.

The voting was conducted by secret ballot, something that provoked many reactions. "The ALDE [Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe] group is opposed to holding a secret vote on the Turkey report. Parliamentary responsibility and political accountability require MEPs to take positions openly. We reject the coward's option" ALDE leader Graham Watson said.

"Our view is that fundamental decisions must be clear, open and transparent so that voters know what their elected representatives are doing on their behalf," Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz said.

The United Left asked European Parliament President Josep Borrell for the issue of the secret vote to be voted upon. Borrell said that he had examined the issue with the Parliament's legal department and had concluded that the secret vote was legal.

ND Eurodeputy comments on outcome

"The message that the European Parliament has sent to Turkey by adopting the report of Camiel Eurlings, Dutch Eurodeputy of the European People's Party, is multidimensional and at the same time crystal clear," head of New Democracy Eurodeputies Ioannis Varvitsiotis said.

"Turkey has to realize that it has to fulfill all that is outlined in the Eurlings report," Varvitsiotis stressed. "That includes continuation of reforms, recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, immediate re-opening of the Theological School of Halki, public use of the ecclesiastical title Ecumenical Patriarchate and protection of the basic rights of all Christian minorities and communities in Turkey, such as the Greeks of Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos," he added.

Furthermore, the European Parliament has also asked that Turkey recognize the Armenian genocide and to protect Kurds' rights.

[04] ND Eurodeputies stress Eurlings report a message to Turkey

PARIS 16/12/2004 (ANA/O. Tsipira)

"Turkey should become aware that it needs to satisfy what is underlined in the ( Dutch deputy Camiel) Eurlings report, which includes the continuation of reforms, the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, the immediate re-opening of the Theological School of Halki, the public use of the ecclesiastical title of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the protection of the fundamental rights of all the Christian minorities and communities in Turkey, such as of the Greeks of Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos," Varvitsiotis said.

On his part, ND Eurodeputy Antonis Samaras, commenting on the amended report of Camiel Eurlings, which was voted by the plenum, said that it was "a very important message to Turkey.

Turkey's recognition of Cyprus a "matter of dignity for EU itself", ruling New Democracy MEP Samaras says: "It is a matter of dignity for Europe itself for Turkey to recognize Cyprus," ruling New Democracy Euro-parliamentarian Antonis Samaras said Wednesday, replying to a press question on whether Turkey should recognize EU-member Cyprus.

"Otherwise, how can Turkey sign an agreement with a co-signatory when it doesn't recognize the co-signatory?," Samaras added.

[05] Dutch deputy Eurlings tells Turkey 'let the leadership of Orthodoxy to be in Istanbul'

ISTANBUL 16/12/2004 (ANA/Kourkoulas)

"In my country, Holland, there are many mosques. The Turks are a part of our society. We also desire in Turkey that the Christians have the same ease."

To a question by the newspaper whether the Orthodox are subject to pressure in Turkey, Eurlings noted the issue of the operation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. "Let the leadership of Orthodoxy to be in Istanbul and to enrich your country," said the deputy, adding that "this is what we mean when we talk about adoption of the EU's principles."

[06] Archbishop Christodoulos opposes Turkey's EU accession

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Archbishop Christodoulos stressed:"The leaders of all the European member-countries will decide whether they will give a date for the start of accession negotiations with Turkey. This is not the time to explain why I have placed myself against the entry of the neighboring country... There was no referendum in order for the peoples to decide whether such a thing should happen. I ask of you to pray because from this decision depends the future of Europe and particular of our country. From this decision depends whether the EU will remain Christian, even by name."

Armenians hold protest rally in Athens in light of Turkey accession talks at EU Summit: Members of the The Armenian Community, at the initiative of the Armenian Youth of Athens, held a protest rally outside of the offices of the European Union in Athens on Wednesday in light of the discussion on Turkey's European Union accession course at the EU Summit in Brussels on December 16-17.

With the main slogan "No to Turkey in the EU", the demonstrators expressed their opposition to the start of accession negotiations for Turkey's entry into the EU, without the fulfillment, on Turkey's part, of certain preconditions, including the recognition of the genocide of the Armenians (1915) and the maintenance and protection by UNESCO of the Armenian cultural monuments which are on its territory.

[07] Greek policy over 'name issue' difference with FYROM discussed by noted panel

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Greece steadfastly maintains its stance against recognizing the neighboring state with that name, insisting on the one adopted by the European Union in the early 1990s, namely, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Greece's largest province is also called Macedonia.

Veteran journalist and columnist Antonis Karkayiannis reminded that names of places, as in the case of "Macedonia", are more enduring than invaders and even peoples.

"Therefore, the residents called themselves Macedonians after the region regardless of whether they are Albanians, Slavs, gypsies or Vlachs," Karkayiannis said in referring to FYROM.

However, he said the United States, as the only remaining superpower with interests everywhere in the world, had every right to recognize FYROM with that name, although the timing and the method in which Washington took the decision entailed a "diplomatic oversight".

On his part, the president of the influential Athens-based Hellenic American Union (HEU), former New Hampshire state senator and NH Democratic Party chief Chris Spyrou, detailed the actions taken by distinguished Greek-Americans and the Greek-American community, as a whole, during the crucial 1991-93 period.

He categorically dismissed any notion that the Greek-American community in the present day failed to sway the Bush administration against Washington's recognition.

Spyrou said a new Clinton administration in early 1993 and both Houses of the US Congress earnestly supported Athens' position on the "name issue" following concerted and systematic lobbying by the Greek-American community, a position he said was undermined almost overnight by a compromise - accepted by Athens -- allowing the new state to be recognized by the US and United Nations as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Noted journalist and investigative TV reporter Alexis Papahelas emphasized that Greece's stance at the time could be defined as "how not to exercise foreign policy".

In the most critical comments of the evening, he said "an all or nothing" strategy adopted by the Greek government and political parties in the early 1990s offered no room for diplomatic maneuvers.

Conversely, noted newspaper columnist Stavros Lygeros blunted stressed that successive FYROM governments never "budged a millimeter" on the "name issue", and had no intent to do so, even in the aftermath of an interim agreement in 1995 between Athens and Skopje to find a mutually acceptable name.

Moreover, Lygeros said the name "Macedonia" is merely a vehicle used for a "state-sponsored ideology" by FYROM, one he said purports the existence of a partitioned nation - a fact he said will continue to poison bilateral relations unless a composite name is agreed upon.

"The last and best Greek card is to insist on a correct name, and to underline that a 'Republic of Macedonia' will not join NATO and the European Union," he stressed.

Finally, academic Theodoros Kouloumbis praised the "unemotional" reaction by Athens to the Bush administration's "misdirected" decision in early November.

"Reason dictates that a composite name be found, one that differentiates from Greek Macedonia and Bulgarian Macedonia", he added.

The event was sponsored by the Association of Greek Alumni of American Universities and held before a capacity audience at the Hellenic American Union's downtown Athens auditorium.

[08] Main opposition leader meets presidential candidate Karolos Papoulias

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Papandreou met with Papoulias, a close associate of his father and PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou, at the party's headquarters at Harilaou Trikoupi street for talks lasting an hour.

Afterward, Papoulias said the meeting had been useful and friendly and that he hoped it would not be the last. He did not make any comment on the hijacking of a bus in an Athens suburb earlier in the day.

Papandreou said he was touched by Papoulias' visit and also described the meeting as friendly and useful, while wishing Papoulias all the best in his new duties. He expressed conviction that the new president of the Republic will work closely with all the political parties in Parliament, stressing PASOK's support for Papoulias' efforts in the presidency.

The elections to elect a new president to replace Kostis Stephanopoulos, who soon completes two terms in office, will take place in Parliament in March.

Commenting on the Geraka bus hijacking, Papandreou noted that PASOK Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis was in constant contact with the public order ministry.

"We have the same anxiety as the families of the hostages," he said, expressing his support and the hope that all will go well.

[09] Gov't again pledges that no EU cash will be wasted

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

"All necessary measures are being taken to avoid the loss of funds and to improve management authorities, payment authorities and authorities that control spending," Alogoskoufis told a meeting of a committee that monitors the employment of funds under the EU's Third Community Support Framework, which included representatives of the bloc's Commission.

Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis told the meeting that absorption rates for the program remained relatively low, despite an acceleration, and greater speed should be attained.

"If the funds are not used correctly, we may have undesirable results. The way in which funds were made available that were received from the EU was not always the best," the minister added.

The government took office in March, 2004 after winning national elections.

[10] EU takes Greece, other members to court for breach of maritime safety rules

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

The aim of the infringed legislation is to enhance the safety of maritime traffic by improving the response of authorities to incidents, accidents and potentially dangerous situations at sea, therefore contributing to better prevention and detection of pollution by ships, the Commission said in a statement.

"Five years after the wreck of the Erika and three years after that of the Prestige, I am appalled that member states delay the implementation of key measures to improve maritime safety. Countries need to define places of refuge in case of emergency and ensure the installation of black boxes on all ships", said Jacques Barrot, vice president responsible for transport.

The 2002 directive sets out the obligation to notify maritime authorities if a ship is carrying dangerous or polluting goods. The directive also provides for the monitoring of hazardous ships and for intervention in the event of accidents at sea. The law states that member states must draw up plans to accommodate ships in distress in waters under their jurisdiction.

The eight member countries - Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and the United Kingdom - all failed to communicate national measures stemming from the directive when they had to adopt the legislation by February 5, 2004, the statement said.

[11] Gov't managing to restrain prices, minister says

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

"We have managed to control and restrain the impact on the market and on prices, so inflation in March-November remains among the lowest in the last four years," Sioufas told reporters.

[12] Papageorgiou hospital doctors, taxis to strike in Thessaloniki on Thursday

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

The doctors have declared a 24-hour strike to demand extra staff and implementation of the hospital operating organization, while taxi drivers will take part in a 24-hour nationwide strike called by the entire sector in support of financial and other demands.

[13] Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish local authorities in tourism project

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

After meeting in Edirne, Turkey, prefects from the three countries discussed publicity for tourism and organizational matters.

Plans include a tourism map of the eleven prefectures involved and creation of a website.

The prefects agreed to hold a three-day conference in Drama in mid-May, 2005 for local authorities, travel operators, hoteliers and media.

[14] Stocks rise in blue-chip buying

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,697.47 points, posting a rise of 0.58%. Turnover was 223.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.75% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.30% lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.71% down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 185 to 83 with 74 remaining unchanged.

[15] Ferry rams into pier in Chios port while mooring, all passengers safe and well

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

The ferry "Theofilos", owned by the Lesvos Shipping Company (NEL), rammed into the pier during mooring operations at Chios port under adverse weather conditions and high winds of 8 beaufort magnitude, local harbor authorities said.

The ferry, carrying out the Piraeus-Chios-Lesvos route, was banned from sailing until an inspection of the vessel was completed.

[16] City of Athens Christmas Tree to be lit on Thursday, Christmas events begin

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis on Wednesday said she was inviting all Athenians to attend the celebrations that will begin at 7:30 p.m. to usher in the Christmas period.

The municipality's Christmas events program, featuring 260 scheduled performances by 420 artists, street parties, outdoor concerts and theatre over three weeks, will be officially launched on Friday.

On Saturday, 'Gift Town' and a second carousel will open its doors at Kotzia Square opposite the Town Hall and on Monday a special ice rink dubbed 'Fairy Story on Ice' will begin operating outside the Zappeion Building. This will be open to the public in the morning, while professional ice skaters will perform shows on ice in the evening.

Finally, the 'Crystal Tree' on Omonia Square will be lit next Tuesday.

The full program of events for the Christmas period in Athens is available at the website www@christmasinathens.gr and information is available at the municipality's 195 phone line.

[17] General Secretariat for Hellenes Abroad launches youth exchange program

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Specifically, 100 youngsters between the ages of 18-25 years old, from the US and Canada will be visiting Greece for the first time. Another 140 youngsters of Greek origin will be visiting from countries of Oceania, Africa and Latin America.

Aside from reinforcing the cultural identity of Greek youngsters living abroad, the programs aim at improving their Greek language skills, promoting friendly ties between Greek communities abroad and Greeks living in Greece, as well as laying the foundations for possible cooperation in the future.

[18] IOC rewards best Olympic Games coverage and TV programs

Athens, 16/12/2004 (ANA)

Category I: Best Sports Coverage by the host broadcasting organization, Athens Olympic Broadcasting (AOB)

Golden Rings: Gymnastics - Makoto Nakamura and Kostas Katapais

Silver Rings: Swimming - Greg Clarke and Ian Hirst

Bronze Rings: Canoe/Kayak Slalom - Daniel Costeris and Kostas Katapais

Category II: Best Olympic Program

Golden Rings: Seven Network Australia - Seven Network Australia Telecast

Silver Rings: NBC Olympics - "Games of the XXVIII Olympiad"

Bronze Rings: CBC - "Perdita Felicien Coverage"

Category III: Best Olympic Athlete Profile

Golden Rings: Eurosport Olympic Magazine - "Heike Drechsler - One Life"

Silver Rings: NOS Television Sports Departments - "Inge de Bruijn"

Bronze Rings: ZDF German Television - "Runner's Land Ethiopia: Track and Field Athletics - Running"

The winners were picked by an international jury, chaired by IOC Honorary President for Life Juan Antonio Samaranch, from a total of about 30 films from various countries. The "Olympic Golden Rings" was established by the IOC in 1976 and is held every two years.

[19] Turkey has to adapt the Ankara Agreement, says Cyprus spokesman

NICOSIA 16/12/2004 (CNA/ANA)

In statements after a Council of Ministers meeting, Chrysostomides said the government is pleased to see that the Commission has called on Turkey to do that, a move EU circles suggest that is tantamount to recognition of Cyprus by Turkey. The Agreement relates to Turkey's customs union with the EU.

The spokesman said that various drafts, prepared by the six-monthly rotating EU presidency currently held by The Netherlands, urge Ankara to extend the Agreement to include Cyprus.

Responding to questions, he said the government is doing everything possible to achieve the best possible outcome at the European Council, taking place in Brussels on December 16 and 17, which will decide whether the EU will begin accession negotiations with Ankara.

Cyprus is seeking to secure recognition from Turkey and have Ankara afford Nicosia the same treatment it affords to other EU member states. The Dutch presidency is trying to reconcile the various views on the matter to achieve a consensus for the Council final conclusions.

''This matter is a matter of discussion among EU partners and the exchange of views among them and the presidency continues. This is an issue that interests other EU members as well,'' the spokesman said.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos leaves Thursday for Brussels to participate in the summit. He has said he does not oppose the start of accession negotiations with Turkey provided it fulfills its obligations to the EU and to Cyprus as well.

He will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou, the spokesman and the Director of his Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis.

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