Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-01-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Traffic Accidents-New Year's Holiday

[02] Church Service-New Year

[01] Traffic Accidents-New Year's Holiday

Eleven people were killed and 195 injured in 149 traffic accidents which occurred throughout the country from Friday afternoon until press time on Monday night, despite the special measures taken by traffic police.

Meanwhile, traffic police decided to provide an extra lane from oncoming lanes and deviations at overpasses, where necessary on the two national motorways, to facilitate motorists driving back to the capital on Monday at the end of the New Year's holiday.

[02] Church Service-New Year

President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, party leaders, deputies, representatives of the armed forces and security services and representatives of other faiths attended the traditional New Year's church service held at the Athens Cathedral on Monday morning and officiated by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos.

On arrival at the cathedral, President Stephanopoulos was applauded by the crowds and was welcomed by Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and a senior clergyman.

In another development, President Stephanopoulos received New Year's greetings by Simitis and members of the government, as well as by representatives of the judicial and diplomatic representatives at the Presidential Mansion.

President Stephanopoulos wished Simitis "peace, prosperity and political calm" and Archbishop Christodoulos "health and strength" for his task.

Speaking to main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, he wished "all to go well, family happiness and the achievement of your targets."

He also exchanged greetings with Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas.

Meanwhile, various children's choirs sang New Year's carols for President Stephanopoulos, Premier Simitis and party leaders on Sunday. Among others, the Presidential Guard, Black Sea Greek groups and children from the Greek Women's Christian Union sang carols for President Stephanopoulos.

A Cretan group and children's choir sang for Simitis, while children's choirs also visited the home of Costas and Natasa Karamanlis at the seaside resort of Rafina to sing carols for them.

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