This Week
Tuesday Public services, markets and the Athens bourse will be closed, as the May Day holiday has been officially transferred to today. – Chinese Deputy Tourism Minister Yu Guangzhou arrives in Athens. – National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis attends Brussels meeting of EU economy and finance ministers (ECOFIN). – Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash open the fourth round of reunification talks. Wednesday Bank Employees’ Federation (OTOE) begins a 48-hour strike, following the failure of wage negotiation talks with bank representatives. – Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos to meet with the Chinese Deputy Tourism Minister Yu Guangzhou. Greek-Chinese cooperation in tourism will top the agenda. – Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou visits London for talks on arms procurements and the EU rapid reaction force. To May 9. – Prime Minister Costas Simitis to meet separately with Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos. – British Embassy, in cooperation with Kathimerini, to hold a lecture by the author David Brewer on «Britain and the Greek War of Independence,» at the Athens Plaza Hotel. For further information, tel 010.7272600. Thursday Prime Minister Costas Simitis, accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, begins a two-day official visit to Belgrade. – General Secretariat of National Statistics Service (NSS) to announce the wholesale price index of finished goods. – American Agriculture School, in cooperation with the European Center for Communication, Information and Culture, is holding an event to celebrate European Day. In Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki. Friday Social Security Foundation (IKA) doctors stage work stoppages today and on May 15, demanding permanent contracts for 5,300 colleagues on short-term contracts, a ranking system and more bonuses. – NSS to announce the national Consumer Price Index for April.