Angelos Haristeas scored at the 66' offering Greece the golden draw in the quarterfinal match opposite Spain, which was ahead in the score with a goal by Morientes in the first half.

Greece is now just a step before the next round as it still has Sunday's match with the national team of Russia which lost yesterday to Portugal with a 2-0 score.

After the match, thousands of Greeks celebrated in the streets of major Greek cities and in cities around the world with Greek communities.

They will discuss issues included in the daily agenda of the European Council, the political evaluation of the Euro-election results in relation to the EU agenda and the European Socialist Party tactic in the European Parliament.

The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to Turkey's European orientation stating characteristically that Turkey should become a full EU member state.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is on a formal visit to Austria at the invitation of the Austrian Chancellor.

Greek Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos sent a telegram of condolences to the family of the deceased and the deputy mayor of Ismir.

The church was built with the donations of merchants from Kozani, Greece who were members of the thriving Greek community in Vienna. They had financed publications, founded schools and libraries, supported the poor, the sick and the persecuted and their endowments made them great benefactors of the Greek nation.

In the church of St. Georgios the Greeks of Vienna were initiated into the Filiki Eteria, a revolutionary organization that played a key-role in the revolution against the Ottoman Turks, and in the same holy place they espoused the vision of Rigas Fereos .

Of the stocks trading today, just 43 had gains and 250 had losses, while the value of 93 stocks remained unchanged.

However, the head of the German Christian-Democrats stated that they will not back the Belgian Prime Minister's candidacy. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg has adopted a similar position.

Among the celebrities who held the Olympic Flame torch were comedian Helen DeGeneres, Hollywood star Tom Cruz, and Olympic medallists Janet Evans and Rafer Johnson.

In the US Senate International Relations Sub-committee hearing Mr. Ries stated that if his appointment is ratified in the US Congress he will try to broaden bilateral relations built within the framework of the efforts for the safety of the Athens Olympi c Games.

Mr. Ries also expressed the hope that Greece will help in the promotion of democracy in the countries of the Middle East given the fact that it is the birthplace of democratic ideas.

Mr. Charles Ries is a principal deputy assistant Secretary on European and Euro-Asian Affairs at the US State Department. If his appointment is ratified he will assume his duties as the US ambassador to Athens at the end of the year.

"I am happy, it is the most important moment of my life," said Sylvester Stallone, just before receiving the Flame as first Torchbearer from L.A.'s Mayor, at Venice Beach. Earlier, during a meeting with ATHENS 2004 Executive Director and COO Marton Simit sek, and Theodoros Angelopoulos, standing in for the President of OCOG, Stallone had said he wanted to come to Athens to watch the Olympic boxing. Mr. Angelopoulos promised him an invitation from the President of the Organizing Committee. Sylvester Stallo ne emoted in front of the Hellenic National Television (ERT) camera, equating the honor of being the first Torchbearer with "the dreams of an immigrant come true". Los Angeles Mayor, James Hahn, hastened to explain that no fewer than 42% of the city's inh abitants had been born in another country. "Harmonious coexistence in a way represents the Olympian ideals. Athens will have a successful Games and I hope I will be able to watch them at first hand".

The route of the Olympic Flame through Los Angeles took in all the landmarks that have made the city famous, as the Torchbearers - young and old, athletics champs and kids with disabilities - ran on under the hills of Hollywood and crossed Sunset Bouleva rd, to finish in the very stadium that had hosted the 1984 Olympic Games. There were some moments to pull at the heartstrings. On Wednesday, for instance, Peter Glentzos would be bearing the Torch on his 95th birthday. And who better? For Peter is the old est US citizen alive to have taken part in the Olympic Games. In 1932 he represented Greece at the first Los Angeles Games. He has lived in the USA ever since. But he will be in Athens on 6 August, a spectator at the 2004 Olympic Games. Another emotional moment was at Saint Sophia Cathedral, focus of the L.A. Greek community. The priest of the cathedral carried the Flame as a Torchbearer, and sang the Greek and the American national anthems.

In a live TV broadcast the citizens of Los Angeles were also able to watch a favorite comedy actress, Ellen DeGeneris, who ran with the Flame through Hollywood. "It was very exciting for me", she said. "In the end all of us can have a very personal Olymp ic moment."

Hollywood's third person in the Torch Relay was Tom Cruise, who took the Torch into the Dodgers Stadium. Just a few minutes later, baseball spectators were watching a Greek group dance national dances. "It is an honor to be chosen. I believe that the Oly mpic Games do indeed support international cooperation", said Cruise.

The Last Torchbearer was an all-American Olympic legend, decathlon gold medallist Rafer Johnson.

Early on Thursday morning, "Zeus", the plane carrying the Olympic Flame, took off for St. Louis, celebrating the centenary of its 1904 Games with Athens' 2004 Torch relay.

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