This Week
Monday Athens traffic police launch a new campaign against drivers illegally entering or parking on the capital’s bus lanes. Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, who is on an official visit to Greece, is to meet with Foreign Minister George Papandreou at the Stathatos Mansion, where Sampaio is to sign a declaration in support of the idea of the Olympic Truce. Sampaio is also the keynote speaker at a conference on «Greece-Portugal: Economic Challenges and New Opportunities in Europe.» It is organized by the Portuguese Embassy at the Athenaeum Inter-Continental Hotel. Tel. 210.338.2242. The Culture Ministry and the Center for Asia Minor Studies present an exhibition «The Last Greeks in Asia Minor» at the National Historical Museum in Athens, which will run to February 28, 2003. Tuesday Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen is due in Athens. He is to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. The American Hellenic Institute holds a panel discussion on «The Making of US Foreign Policy: The Role of Lobbying.» At the Esperia Palace Hotel in Athens, at 8 p.m. The British-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Confederation of British Industries and the London Stock Exchange holds a conference in London on «Greece: The Regional Economic Center in Southeast Europe. Prospects for Business Partnerships and Investment Opportunities.» Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, Governor of National Bank of Greece Theodoros Karatzas and the President of the Athens Stock Exchange Panayiotis Alexakis will be the keynote speakers. To Wednesday. The General Confederation of Professional Craftsmen and Small Manufacturers of Greece holds a demonstration outside the Finance Ministry opposing tax reform. Wednesday Foreign Minister George Papandreou to visit Ankara. He is expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Yakis, to discuss UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s proposal for Cyprus. US Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman visits Cyprus for talks with President Glafcos Clerides. He will then visit Athens. US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz is in Turkey to discuss Iraq and the UN plan for Cyprus. Thursday The Civil Servants Federation (ADEDY) stages a 24-hour strike in protest at the 2003 state budget. State secondary school teachers’ union stages a 24-hour strike in pursuit of financial demands. Former King Constantine to hold a news conference on last week’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on the Greek government’s confiscation of the former royal family’s assets. Friday Prime Minister Costas Simitis visits Rome. He is expected to meet with his Italian counterpart, Silvio Berlusconi. Greek Phililogists Society (Societe des Philologues Grecs) and the Platon review organize a two-day international congress on «Classical Education Today.» Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios, Archbishop Christodoulos and Deputy Press Minister Telemachos Hytiris will attend. The congress is being held under the aegis of President Costis Stephanopoulos. Tel. 210.727.7653.
