This Week
Monday Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos discuss developments on the Cyprus issue before the Cypriot leader leaves Athens for New York, where he will take part in UN-mediated talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus. Trial of five suspected members of Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA) begins in Korydallos Prison courtroom. PM Simitis to hand over PASOK leadership to Foreign Minister George Papandreou in ceremony at party headquarters in Athens. PASOK leader George Papandreou to meet with General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) Chairman Christos Polyzogopoulos. New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis to speak on «A Competitive Greek Economy in the International Environment» at a dinner organized by the British-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. At the Athinais conference hall, Votanikos. Tel 210.721.0361, or visit www.bhcc.gr. Communist Party leader Aleka Papariga addresses gathering of artists at Veaki Theater at 6.30 p.m. Synaspismos Left Coalition leader Nikos Constantopoulos visits Kavala in northern Greece. Abdou Diouf, secretary-general of the International Francophone Organization and former president of Senegal, pays a two-day visit to Athens. Today he will meet with Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and sign the Olympic Truce declaration. Parliament’s multiparty committee convenes to discuss television air time for parties’ election campaigns. Biopolitics International Organization (BIO) organizes a conference on «Greek-Turkish Cooperation in Biopolitics on the Road to European Union Ideals.» It begins at the European Parliament office, 8 Amalias Ave, at 10.30 a.m. and continues at the National Bank of Greece building at 82-84 Aeolou St at 4 p.m. Turkish Ambassador Yigit Alpogan to attend. See www.biopolitics.gr. Tuesday Attempts to solve the Cyprus issue resume at the United Nations in New York with Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s special envoy, Alvaro de Soto, mediating between Cyprus President Papadopoulos and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. Parliament to ratify the EU enlargement treaty concerning the accession of 10 new member states, including Cyprus. President Costis Stephanopoulos to inaugurate an exhibition in Parliament commemorating the 140th anniversary of the Ionian Islands becoming part of Greece. Olive growers in Achaia Prefecture in the Peloponnese hold a second round of demonstrations at the Meganitis Bridge, demanding oil subsidies. Public Order Minister Giorgos Floridis to speak at a news conference organized by the Foreign Press Association. Issues will include security during 2004 Olympic Games. At the FPA building, 23 Academias, at 2 p.m. Wednesday Parliament to be dissolved ahead of the March 7 elections. Thursday Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis and Press Minister Christos Protopapas are expected to resign from their posts and be replaced by caretaker ministers ahead of the elections. National Bank of Greece to announce 2003 annual results for the bank and the group. Friday New Democracy leader Karamanlis to chair party’s two-day meeting. Saturday Second round of auditions for people interested in volunteering for Olympic opening and closing ceremonies begins, visit www.athens2004.com or call 800.11.2004.1
