This Week
Monday President Costis Stephanopoulos visits the town of Kalavryta. Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis to attend EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. To tomorrow. International Development Association (IDA) meeting is held at the Athens Hilton Hotel. Approximately 140 representatives of donor countries (the International Development Association Deputies) and borrower countries convene to discuss IDA support for the poorest countries in the world. Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis will give the opening address. To tomorrow. Employees of the criminal records department and archives begin five-day strike. Union of diplomatic employees hosts seminar on 60th anniversary of the United Nations. Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki inaugurates exhibition of children’s Christmas books from EU countries. French Embassy and Hellenic Migration Policy Institute (IMEPO) hold a seminar on «Immigration: Perspectives,» at Athens University at 7 p.m. Tel. 210.368.9522 or visit www.imepo.gr. General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) begins three-day mobilization protesting against unemployment and price rises and demanding income subsidies to the lowest paid and the existing social insurance system. Tuesday Federation of Bank Employees’ Unions (OTOE) to meet with National Bank of Greece’s governor Takis Arapoglou to discuss social insurance system. Wednesday General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) and civil servants’ federation (ADEDY) hold a rally at 4 p.m. at the Pedion tou Areos park protesting against unemployment and price rises. Thessaloniki Labor Center stages a 24-hour strike in solidarity. Protesters will march to the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry. Federation of Bank Employees’ Unions (OTOE) stages a two-hour work stoppage from 12.15 p.m. to the end of the shift in protest at proposed changes to their social insurance system. Institute for International and Economic Relations (IDOS) holds a conference on «Afghanistan Today: From Bullets to Ballots,» at IDOS premises, 16 Panepistimiou St. Tel. 210.362.0274. National Monitoring Committee of the Third Community Support Framework convenes. Union of American Universities’ Graduates holds a round-table discussion on the «Macedonian Question,» at the Hellenic American Union, 22 Massalias, Kolonaki. Tel. 210.368.0042. Thursday Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to attend EU Summit meeting in Brussels. To Friday. Date for start of Turkey’s accession talks is on the agenda. Taxi drivers stage a 24-hour strike demanding higher fares and access to bus lanes. City of Athens switches on the lights of the Syntagma Square Christmas tree. At 7.30 p.m. Aegean islands’ unions and citizens stage a demonstration at 4.30 p.m. in Piraeus protesting against insufficient ferry links. Federation of High School Teachers (OLME) conference on «Globalization and Educational Policy» opens at the Helexpo fairground in Thessaloniki. To Saturday. Friday Doctors at state hospitals in Athens and Piraeus hold 24-hour strike in protest at new roster system, demanding more hirings and higher pay.
