This Week
Monday Court in Korydallos Prison expected to announce verdict on 19 defendants accused of being members of the November 17 terrorist group. Support groups to stage a demonstration outside the prison at 8.30 a.m. and outside Athens University in central Athens at 6 p.m. Athens taxi drivers launch 24-hour strike at 5 a.m. American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce conference on «The Hour of the Greek Economy.» Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, US Ambassador Thomas Miller and New Democracy opposition leader Costas Karamanlis will be among the speakers. Athenaeum Inter-Continental Hotel at 1.30 p.m. Tel. 210.699.3559. To tomorrow. Energy ministers of Southeastern Europe meet in Athens at the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Development Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos and EU Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio will speak. Crewmen on Rio-Antirio ferries on strike from noon to 4 p.m. World Children’s Day. UNICEF and state TV channel ET-1 will hold a tele-marathon to raise money for children. Tuesday Ombudsman Giorgos Kaminis and his Spanish counterpart Enrique Mugica Herzog hold a press conference at the Citizen’s Advocate premises, 5 Hadziyianni Mexi. In the afternoon they are to speak at a conference on «The Establishment of Constitutional Democracy and the Role of the Citizen’s Advocate in Greece and Spain.» Tel. 210.728.9610 or 210.921.3123. Police, fire brigade and coast guard officers, in uniform, stage a demonstration in Omonia Square in Athens. They want the government to classify their work as dangerous, leading to more benefits. Wednesday Athens appeals court hears case against former Police Chief Athanassios Vassilopoulos, who is charged with the manslaughter through negligence of Amalia Ginaki, a 25-year-old hostage, who was killed during a botched police rescue operation in Athens in September 1998. Parliament to discuss the report drafted by the National Confederation of the Disabled, titled «Disabled People: Equal Citizens – National Action Plan for the Disabled 2004-2010.» New Democracy opposition party leader Costas Karamanlis to chair a meeting of ND parliamentary group on the economy and the 2004 state budget proposal. Kastaniotis Publications to present the book titled «What I Didn’t Write,» by columnist and former Kathimerini editor Stamos Zoulas. At the Athens Journalists’ Union (ESIEA) at noon. Tel. 210.330.1208. Thursday World Council of Hellenes Abroad begins fifth World Convention in Thessaloniki. To Sunday. Lawyers begin 48-hour strike, demanding the State pay 352 million euros to their social security fund. Hellenic-American Union holds a three-day seminar on «Modern Teaching Methods.» At the HAU, 22 Massalias. To Saturday. For further information, tel 210.368.0907. Friday PM Costas Simitis to attend EU summit in Brussels. To Saturday. Olympic Airlines, the streamlined version of ailing state carrier Olympic Airways, due to be launched. Foreign Press Association in cooperation with PASOK Euro-member Myrsini Zorba hold a conference on «The War in Iraq: The New Reality – The Independence of Mass Media in Critical Conditions.» Veteran war correspondent Peter Arnett will be the keynote speaker. At the FPA offices, 23 Academias. Tel. 210.921.6444. Agriculture Minister Giorgos Drys to chair meeting on agriculture policy in Larissa. Common Agriculture Policy reform will top the agenda. Greek Association for Atlantic & European Cooperation holds the 12th International Symposium on «Security & Cooperation in the Broader Euro-Atlantic Area.» Deputy Defense Minister Theodoros Kotsonis and Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos are among the speakers. At Zappeion Mansion. To Saturday. Tel. 210.865.5979. Saturday Athens Bar Association meets to discuss further strike action.
