Brussels, 29/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - For the very first time, euro notes will be coming to life when they are shown to the public by the European Central Bank (ECB) at a press conference on Thursday, two days from the start of advance supplies of single currency to the banks, the last lap before the "big bang" in January 2002. "So far, notes shown in the press or on institutional posters were only inexact copies, for reasons of security", said an ECB spokesman, explaining that many processes (filigree water mark, reflecting holgraphic film, special ink) are being used to make the fiduciary issue impossible to forge. On Saturday, "we shall be entering the phase of advance supplies of euros to banks. Some 15 billion notes are to be distributed over the next few weeks", said the spokesman. The ECB will also seize this opportunity to call on the citizens of the twelve countries of the euro zone to change all the notes and coins that they have in their possession before 1 January 2002, in order to avoid the rush to the tills at the fatal date.