Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Sports roundup

[02] Simitis - Seniors - EMU

[03] Art-Drama-Donation

[04] Rokofyllos- Socialist International-Death penalty

[05] Thessaloniki-Snow-Airport-open

[06] Thessaloniki-Snow-Airport

[07] Greece-Turkey-trains

[08] Gold- Jewelry-Theft

[01] Sports roundup

Basketball

AEK first after downing Panathinaikos

The leaders� board in Greek basketball�s first division changed on Sunday after AEK Athens topped cross-town rival Panathinaikos 78-69. With the home court win AEK caught up with Panathinaikos in the standings, although it holds a better points difference in their two matchups.

In other action, Aris Thessaloniki at home handed Olympiakos Piraeus its four loss of the season 67-65. On Saturday, PAOK Thessaloniki edged Athens-area Maroussi 62-60 in the final seconds for an away victory.

Soccer

Olympiakos edges Xanthi 3-2 to remain atop standings

In Greek first division football action, league-leading Olympiakos held off Xanthi 3-2 at home on Sunday to remain one point ahead of Panathinaikos, who on Saturday easily beat weak Apollon Athens 3-0.

Top Slovenian striker Zlatko Zahovic, who missed several weeks of play with Olympiakos in a dispute with the coaching staff before returning amid a ?prodigal son? atmosphere this past week, scored the Piraeus club�s third goal.

Meanwhile, Colombian striker Adolfo Valencia�s late-minute goal saved at least one point for disappointing PAOK in an away game 1-1 tie with nearby Kavala, in northern Greece. In central Greece, a determined Trikala club eventually succumbed to AEK Athens, losing 0-1 in the 88th minute, as Yugoslav midfielder and ex-Barcelona player Dragan Ciric capitalised on a penalty kick.

In other action, ?Cinderella team? OFI Irakleio tied in Piraeus 1-1 with Ionikos Piraeus; Aris Thessaloniki trounced Kalamata 6-1; Panionios Athens edged Ethnikos Asteras 1-0; while Iraklis Thessaloniki tied in an away game 1-1 with Proodeftiki Piraeus.

Bulgarian midfielder for AEK reported

On the soccer transfers� front, AEK has reportedly acquired Bulgarian midfielder Milan Petkov, or so the president of the TCCKA Sofia club told Bulgarian television recently.

According to some sources, Petkov will arrive in Athens on Tuesday to sign a four-year contract with the popular Athens club.

The Bulgarian team will reportedly receive 800,000 US dollars for the deal, with Petkov expected to take in 60 million drachmas annually, sources said. (One US dollar equals roughly 320 drachmas)

Athletics

Nat�l record in women�s shotput surpassed

Finally, Popi Ouzouni became the first Greek female athlete to surpass the 19-metre mark in the shotput. The Aris Thessaloniki athlete posted a 19.03 throw during an official track & field meet in Athens. She also surpassed the Greek national record -- and her own personal best -- of 18.34 metres.

[02] Simitis - Seniors - EMU

Prime Minister Costas Simitis reiterated on Saturday that the Greek government would submit an application for Economic and Monetary Union entry in March, as the remaining Maastricht Treaty criterion for inclusion � inflation � will have been fulfilled.

Speaking at the first-ever national gathering of senior citizens, held at the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens, the Greek PM also referred to Greek-Turkish relations, noting that over the recent period a positive climate in bilateral relations has emerged. Additionally, he stressed that the government�s standing view holds that peace in the region necessitates good-neighbourliness and cooperation between Turkey and Greece.

?Greece has shown the road towards this direction, Helsinki verified this; Turkey must assume initiatives -- Initiatives whereby international law comprises the framework of reference for bilateral relations,? he added.

Finally, in addressing issues related to senior citizens, Simitis said such issues provide ?a challenge and opportunity for Greek society.?

?Society can demonstrate its sensitivity, organise new networks of social solidarity and prove, using its imagination, that what some people consider a difficult problem can essentially be an opportunity, allowing for development and substantive social prosperity,? he added.

The gathering was organised by the Greek Red Cross and under the auspices of the health and social insurances ministry.

[03] Art-Drama-Donation

Internationally known painter Aggelos Kouyioumtzis donated 60 of his works to his home prefecture of Drama, northeastern Greece.

The paintings initiated the creation of a public Art Gallery in the rural eastern Macedonian city, funded by the local administrations and local cultural societies.

[04] Rokofyllos- Socialist International-Death penalty

The Socialist International decided to begin a crusade for the abolition of the death penalty, for the protection of the political, social and economic rights of individuals, for the protection of the environment and for the employment conditions of women around the globe.

[05] Thessaloniki-Snow-Airport-open

The Thessaloniki, northern Greece, ?Macedonia? airport reopned at about 4 p.m. on Sunday following its closure due to heavy snowfall.

[06] Thessaloniki-Snow-Airport

The Thessaloniki, northern Greece, ?Macedonia? airport closed at noon on Sunday due to heavy snowfall.

[07] Greece-Turkey-trains

The Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) and its Turkish counterpart on Sunday concluded three agreements on passenger and cargo transport between the two countries.

The general directors of the two organisations singed three agreements providing for the transport of passengers and cargo on specific schedules between the two countries.

[08] Gold- Jewelry-Theft

Unknown assailants stole 20 million drachmas worth of gold plates and jewelry from an Athens jewelry making shop at about 3 a.m. Sunday, police said.

According to police the alarm system of the shop did go off, but the assailants made away with their loot before the owner and police officers could come to the scene of the crime.

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