This Week
Monday International Shipping Exhibition «Posidonia 2004» opens at the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP). To Friday. See www.posidonia-events.com. Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, police chief Fotis Nasiakos and the head of Olympic Security, Vassilis Constantinidis, begin a series of visits to police departments across the country to brief them on security for the Olympics. To Thursday. Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis visits Washington, as part of her tour of Europe and US cities to promote the Athens Olympics. PASOK leader George Papandreou visits Thessaloniki, as part of the European Parliament election campaign. Left Coalition Synaspismos leader Nikos Constantopoulos to speak at 8 p.m. at Dionysou Areopagitou Street, as part of European Parliament elections campaign. Crews of tug and rescue boats start a five-day strike over financial and pension demands. The Corinth Canal, however, will remain open to ships. General Secretariat for Development, Forest and Natural Environment Protection conference on «Natural Environment and Forestry.» At the National Agricultural Research Foundation, Alkmanos Street, Ilisia. Tel. 210.684.0333 or visit www.nagref.gr. The Ecologists Greens hold a conference on «Climate Changes and the Greenhouse Effect.» At the Athens Journalists’ Union (ESIEA), 20 Academias, tel 210.324.1001. Andreas Papandreou Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISTAME) to hold a conference on «The Future of Europe and the Perspective of Greece.» PASOK MP Costas Skandalidis will speak. At 245 Thivon, Nikaia, tel 210.363.1745. Tuesday King Harald V of Norway visits Greece. To Thursday. Political party leaders hold television debate ahead of the June 13 European Parliament elections. Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis to meet with French European Affairs Minister Noelle Lenoir in Athens. Thessaloniki taxi drivers hold work stoppage from 9 a.m. to noon to protest being barred from bus lanes. Wednesday Olympic test events begin at the velodrome and aquatic center. To Saturday. Public Order Minister Voulgarakis to meet with his Albanian counterpart Igli Toska in Ioannina to discuss security on the Greek-Albanian border in the view of the Olympics. Symposium on «Global Security Challenges: What Can Europe Do?» organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Zappeion Hall. Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis to speak. Tel. 210.725.7124. Communist Party leader Aleka Papariga to speak at 8.30 p.m. at Pedion tou Areos park, as part of European parliamentary elections campaign. Thursday Greece’s national soccer team plays against hosts Portugal at the Euro 2004 championship. National Track and Field Championships, an Olympic test event, begins at the main Olympic stadium. To Saturday. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer meets with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in Athens. National Research Foundation (NRF) hosts the First International Greek Biotechnology Forum, organized by the Greek Biotechnology Journal (BIO) and the National Research Foundation. Prof. Rolf Zinkernagel, Nobel laureate, will speak. Call 210.672.7289 or visit www.igbf.gr. PASOK leader George Papandreou to speak at junction of Patission Street and Alexandras Avenue. Left Coalition (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos to speak at 8 p.m. in Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki. Friday Bank workers’ union (OTOE) stages a 24-hour strike demanding more money and a 35-hour week. Sunday Elections for European Parliament.
