This Week
Monday European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is due in Athens. At 6.30 p.m. he will speak on «The Odyssey of Europe: The Quest of Reform and the Role of Greece,» in Parliament. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, European Commission President Barroso and PASOK leader George Papandreou will be among the speakers at The Economist Conference on «The Vision of a Stronger Europe Through Its Leaders,» at the Athenaeum Inter-Continental Hotel. To Wednesday. Tel. 210.940.8750. Shop employees and shopkeepers to stage countrywide demonstrations against proposed changes to working hours. In Athens they will gather at Kaningos Square at 6 p.m. before marching through central Athens. In Thessaloniki they will gather at the Venizelos statue at 7.30 p.m. Plumbers and boiler technicians stage a protest outside Development Ministry on Mesogeion Ave at 9 a.m., demanding training for installing natural gas systems. Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos visits the Czech Republic. To Wednesday. International congress on «Nation, Orthodoxy and the New European Standards,» organized by the Greek Parliament in cooperation with the European Parliament and the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy, at the National Bank of Greece amphitheater. Government and Church officials will attend. To tomorrow. Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino visits Athens. He and his Greek counterpart are to sign a cooperation agreement on strategic sea transportation within the framework of NATO, the European Union and the United Nations. Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas to attend EU development ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg. Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos to speak at a conference on «From Euro 2004 and the Athens Olympics to the World Cup in Germany,» at noon at the Thessaloniki German School. Tuesday Federation of Civil Aviation Unions (OSPA) stages a three-hour work stoppage from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. opposing Olympic Airlines’ proposed privatization. Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) conference on «Major Public Works,» at 10 a.m. at the Divani Caravel Hotel. Economy and Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias will speak. To Thursday. For details, log on to www.tee.gr. Accountants to stage march from their federation’s offices on Kaningos Square at 6.30 p.m. before going through central Athens to the Federation of Greek Industries, near Syntagma Square. They are demanding retirement at 60 for men and 55 for women, higher wages and bonuses for preparing balance sheets. University of Ioannina in cooperation with the National Documentation Center is holding a conference on «Marie Curie Actions – Human Resources and Mobility,» at the university’s premises. Tel. 26510.97245. Eighth international meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Directors of National Olympic Academies, to be held at the Greek Olympic Committee’s premises in Ancient Olympia. To Sunday. Wednesday Union of Judges and Prosecutors stages a two-hour work stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. in protest at the planned mass transfers of judicial officials. Civil servants’ federation (ADEDY) stages a work stoppage over social security demands. Athens Bar Association (ABA) in cooperation with the Center of European Constitutional Law holds a conference on «The Protection of Fundamental Rights in the European Constitution» at 7 p.m. at the ABA premises, 60 Academias. Former Supreme Court prosecutor Evangelos Kroustallakis will speak. Tel. 210.362.3506. The 4th Historic Acropolis Rally begins at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens. To Sunday. Music teachers stage a protest outside the Culture Ministry at 11 a.m. on a range of demands, including better working conditions. Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage hosts a seminar on «The Environment and Public Health,» at its premises, 28 Tripodon, Plaka, at 7 p.m. Tel. 210.322.5245 or log on to www.ellinikietairia.gr. Chamber of Aitoloacarnania prefecture organizes a conference on «The European Constitution,» at 8 p.m. at the Papastrateio hall in Agrinio. Tel. 26410.581.77 Heliotopos conferences hold the second international conference on «Traditional Mediterranean Diet: Past, Present and Future,» at the National Research Foundation. To Friday. Tel. 210.973.0697 or log on to www.heliotopos.conferences.gr. National Confederation of Greek Commerce meets to discuss strike action against government’s plan to extend working hours. Thursday Easter shopping hours come into effect. Stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m daily. Transport Minister Michalis Liapis to attend EU transport ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg. Friday National Council for Education convenes. Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis to chair a meeting of foreign ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council in Komotini. To Saturday. Agricultural Bank employees stage a 24-hour strike.
