This Week
TUESDAY Agriculture Minister Giorgos Drys is in Brussels for a meeting of EU agriculture ministers. – Employees at Olympic Airways stage a three-hour work stoppage from 12 noon to 3 p.m., protesting government plans to privatize the chronically ailing state carrier. For any changes to scheduled flights call 010.966.6666, or 0801.11.4444. – The Global Water Partnership (GWP-MED) in cooperation with the Mediterranean Office for the Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development holds a conference on «Effective Water Governance,» at the Divani Acropolis Palace. For further information, visit their website: www.mio-ecsde.org. To Wednesday. – The Foreign Press Association hosts a presentation by Cypriot journalist Mimis Constandinidis. Cypriot Minister of Education and Culture Ouranios Ioannidis will be the keynote speaker. – The Hellenic Banks’ Association holds a general meeting at the Divani Caravel Hotel. Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and the governor of the National Bank of Greece, Theodoros Karatzas, will attend. – Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis holds a visit to the uninhabited Cycladic island of Yaros, a place of exile for political prisoners for much of the 20th century. – The civil servants’ umbrella union (ADEDY) holds a meeting to discuss future strike action. – Agricultural employees, veterinary surgeons, ichthyologists and foresters at the Agriculture Ministry are still on strike, with financial and institutional demands. They are expected to meet tomorrow with the Minister of Finance and National Economy Nikos Christodoulakis, as well as holding a protest march in Vathis Sq in Athens. WEDNESDAY EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen arrives in Athens for talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and other top government officials. Cyprus’ EU accession process is expected to top the agenda. – Leaders of Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot political parties to hold a meeting at 10.30 a.m. at the former Ledra Pallas hotel in Nicosia. – Piraeus Mayor Christos Agrapidis to unveil a statue of Greek poet Nikiforos Vrettakos. THURSDAY Representatives of the bank workers’ union (OTOE) and the Hellenic Banks’ Association to meet again to negotiate a new collective labor agreement. – Edward W. Said, professor of English and Comparative Literature at New York’s Columbia University, is to be appointed an honorary professor at Athens University’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration. – World Poetry Day. The Culture Ministry, National Book Center and the the Greek Writers’ Society hold a press conference in the Arena Room of the National Book Center at 4, Athanasiou Diakou, Athens (Acropolis Metro station). FRIDAY Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou travels to Zaragoza, Spain for an informal meeting of EU defense ministers. Turkey’s role in the European rapid reaction force, as well as EU-NATO cooperation will top the agenda. To Saturday. – Anastasios Skopelitis, political director of the Greek Foreign Ministry is in Madrid for talks with his Spanish counterpart. The outcome of talks in Ankara and the latest developments in the Middle East will top the agenda. – Athens University in cooperation with the Romanian Embassy organizes a conference on «Transition from Authoritarian Rule to Democracy, a Comparative Process: The Cases of Chile, Spain, Portugal, Romania and FYROM,» at Athens University, 30 Panepistimiou. – Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos to inaugurate an exhibition of the Dimitris Tsamis collection, at the Tellogleio Foundation. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and other works of art. SATURDAY Farmers across Greece gather in Serres to decide on future action and protests. They are at odds with the government over cotton prices and long-awaited compensation for crop damage caused by heavy winter snowfall.
