EU summit in Chalkidiki

MPA

The works of the 2003 European Union Summit Meeting will be held in Chalkidiki, and the Foreign Ministry is studying which hotel complexes will host the Summit, since the hotel must accommodate 5,000 people.

Chalkidiki was chosen for security reasons, when it was decided that the city of Thessaloniki, and especially the facilities of the TIF, does not offer complete security conditions, due to the proximity of the TIF to the Aristotle University and the Macedonia University. At the same time the government does not wish for conditions which would result in ?deadening? the city of Thessaloniki.

Relevant services of the Foreign Ministry are in constant communication with the Chalkidiki Hotel Owner's Association and according to information, the European People's Party has decided to hold its Summit Meeting at ?Sani Beach?, in Sani, Chalkidiki.

The June 2003 Summit is still the Thessaloniki Summit, this is not revoked by the fact that the works will take place in Chalkidiki, stressed Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis. Summit events will take place in Thessaloniki, the leaders of the EU countries will arrive there, he explained. The reformation works on the TIF kiosks will continue and beautification works will be performed on the city to welcome the EU leaders and other visitors. Specifically concerning the visitors, the Minister is interested in the keeping of the hospitality rules, and called them to show Thessaloniki and the environment the necessary respect.

Within the Foreign Ministry, alternate Minister Tassos Giannitsis is responsible for issues concerning the organizing of the Summit, while as far as final decisions to be taken by the Prime Minister are concerned, they will be greatly affected by the proposals of the Minister of Public Order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, regarding security measures.

Movements and organizations preparing for rallies during the Summit, estimate that more than 50,000 protestors (from Greece and abroad) will attend. The estimations of the police bring them closer to 80,000, but the number will depend on the climate of the period and the size of the European Social Forum's mobilization.

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