This Week
MONDAY Prime Minister Costas Simitis is on a six-day visit to Japan that began on Sunday. In the first official visit by a Greek PM, he will hold a series of talks with top government officials on bilateral and regional affairs. – Foreign Minister George Papandreou meets with Vladimir Chizhov, special envoy of the Russian Federation for Southeastern Europe, at the Foreign Ministry. – National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis attends meeting of eurozone economy and finance ministers in Brussels.. – Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios begins US visit. – Environment Minister Vasso Papandreou attends EU meeting of environment ministers in Brussels. – Development Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos, on a visit to the United States, meets with his US counterpart, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. – Deputy Environment Minister Rodoula Zisi travels to Brussels for a meeting of the European Socialist Party on development issues. – Central Union of Greek Chambers in cooperation with the EU General Directorate for Employment and Social Affairs hold a conference on «European Social Dialogue and New Technology: Prospects and Problems.» EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou to attend. At the War Museum amphitheater. Tel. 010.823.1009. To March 5. – The Greek Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage organizes a conference on «Plaka: 20 Years Later.» At the Society’s offices, 25 Tripodon Str., Plaka. Tel. 010.3215218. – Athens 2004 head Gianna Angelopoulos-Dasklaki to show the news media the Olympic Games organizing committee’s new headquarters in the suburb of Nea Ionia. – Registration for 10,000 commemorative gold one-drachma coins begins at Bank of Greece branches. Each coin will weigh 8.5 grams and cost 230 euros. TUESDAY Farmers from northern Greece hold a protest rally in Athens, demanding compensation for weather-damaged crops and higher subsidies. They will assemble at the Panathenaic Stadium and march to the prime minister’s office. – Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios meets with President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. – EU ministers of economy and finance meet in Brussels. Among the subjects they are expected to discuss is a successor for European Central Bank vice president Christian Noyer, who leaves in May. Bank of Greece governor Lucas Papademos has been cited as a leading contender. – The federation of Olympic Airways employees (OSPA) holds two three-hour work stoppages, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., demanding that the government withdraw the company’s restructuring plan. – Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Georgios Theodoroulakis, who resigned on Friday, hands over to Vice Admiral K. Antoniades at a ceremony at the Naval Cadet School. – University professors call a 48-hour strike demanding an increase in salaries and pensions. – The Economist Conferences and Hazlis & Rivas holds two-day conference on Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Intercontinental Hotel. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the head of Athens 2004, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, are among the speakers. WEDNESDAY Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds general meeting. German Finance Minister Hans Eichel to speak on reforms for further development and employment. Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis to speak on the course of Europe after the euro. Divani Caravel, 8.30 p.m. – The European Commission to decide whether to open an inquiry into an allegation of fiscal impropriety by Greece with regard to Olympic Airways. – Greece’s journalists stage a 24-hour strike, starting at 6 a.m. for a number of financial and institutional demands. – Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis chairs an interministerial meeting on Gypsy communities in Greece. – The Macedonia – Thrace Ministry holds the third forum on «Social Convergence and Cohesion» in Thessaloniki. – The Federation of Secondary School Teachers (OLME) holds a protest rally in Thessaloniki. THURSDAY Labor and Social Security Minister Dimitris Reppas attends meeting of EU employment and social policy ministers in Brussels. – President Costis Stephanopoulos visits Rhodes to attend the 55th-anniversary celebration of the Dodecanese islands union with Greece. – The fourth International Fair on Education and Career gets underway at the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP). To Sunday. FRIDAY Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios pays an official visit to the Vatican where he is to meet with John Paul II. – National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis to meet with pensioners’ representatives to discuss their demand for a minimum pension of 240,000 drachmas and other benefits. – Opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis begins a three-day visit to Thessaloniki. To March 10. – Municipal authorities from all of Southeastern Europe hold a two-day meeting in Thessaloniki to discuss common problems.
