On the occasion of celebrating the “Day of the Police” and the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Police Force, Great Martyr of Christendom, St Artemios, the Hellenic Police Force has programmed a series of three-day festivities starting tomorrow (18-10-05) and ending on 20-10-05.

The programme of the festivities includes the following:

–Grand opening of the 4^th Pan-Hellenic Plastic Arts Exhibition of works made by the Hellenic Police Force staff, from the Public Order Minister, Mr. George Voulgarakis, at 19H30. The exhibition shall be hosted at the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Athens (50, Academias ave.) from the 18^th to the 23^rd of October 2005. The exhibition shall include works in painting, sculpture, hagiography and engraving made by the Hellenic Police Force staff.

–Two-day Pan-Hellenic voluntary blood donation of the Hellenic Police Force staff for the Blood Bank of the Hellenic Police Force (18 and 19-10-05). In Athens, the voluntary blood donation shall take place in favor of the children suffering from Cooley?s anemia.

–Ceremony to officially rename the meeting hall of the 7^th Floor of the Ministry of Public Order which is to be the “PAVLOS BAKOYANNIS MEETING HALL” from now on, at 10H30, as a tribute to Pavlos Bakoyannis, the only Member of the Greek Parliament assassinated by the terrorist group “17^th of November”.

–Visits of groups of pupils to the Attica and Thessalonica Police Services, so that they can be briefed on the role and mission of the Hellenic Police Force. The Services to receive the visits are the Operational and Immediate Response Centres at the Attica and Thessalonica General Police Divisions as well as the Police Academy in Amygdaleza, Attica.

–High Prelacy Vespers at 18H30, at the Holy Temple of the Highest Archangels (96, Messogeion ave.) and processional chant for the Sacred Picture of St Artemios.

–Holy Mass and Te Deum at 10H30, at the Holy Temple of the Highest Archangels (96, Messogeion ave.) in the presence of the Political and Physical Leadership of the Hellenic Police Force as well as of other VIPs.

–Central event and reception to celebrate the festivities at 18H00, at the Athens Hall of Music (Megaron Hall, -Friends of Music- theatre hall), in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, of representatives of the political, intellectual and social circles of the country as well as the leadership of both the Armed and Security Forces.

For the first time, an invitation to attend the festivities has been addressed to the Heads of Police Forces in the Balkans (Albania, Turkey, FYROM, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina) and in Cyprus.

In the context of the Heads of Balkan Police Forces visits to our country, a meeting shall be held at the Ministry of Public Order on 20-10-05, at 12H30, chaired by the Head of the Hellenic Police Force, Police Lieutenant General Mr. George Aggelakos to reinforce cooperation between the countries in the region.

For more information: Tel: +30 210 69 77 505
Fax:  +30 210 69 29 764
e-mail: elasgrty@mopo.gr