The Opportunity and the Great Benefits for the City and the People

	The Great Opportunity

The year 1997 is the great opportunity for Thessaloniki and its inhabitants. The opportunity to be placed,through time,at the position they deserve, at the apex of European life and culture.

The year 1997 is the great opportunity for Thessaloniki and its inhabitants. The opportunity to make the peoples of Europe realize the Greek truth. The truth of the origin of European culture.

	The Great Benefits come from:

*The public projects which will remain and mark the development of all the municipalities of Thessaloniki.
*The improvement of the quality of life.
*The new cultural,artistic and social institutions.
*The hospitality offered to thousands of visitors.
*The increase of business activity for professional people.
*The opportunity to show that Thessaloniki is the crossroads for the arts,the economy,conferences,education and entertainment.

In 1997,the exhibition of the sacred treasures of the Holy Mountain, shown for the first time outside the Holy Community of Athos,will be a blessing for Thessaloniki and its inhabitants and will raise them to the position of ambassadors of the Faith and the Orthodox Church.

	The life of the inhabitants will improve by:

*A series of 100 important public projects designed for and executed in the greater Thessaloniki area.
*The creation of new cultural centres and the upgrading of the existing ones.This will provide Thessaloniki with the means of cultural and artistic expression it deserves.
*The restoration and care of the historical monuments,the maintainance and promotion of the unique architectural wealth of Thessaloniki,which create an environment of protection and promotion of the assets and values of the city.
*The construction of public projects for the improvement and better functioning of the city.This will create conditions for a better and more comfortable life.Thessaloniki will not only appear to be but will truly be a modern city.

Never before in the history of Thessaloniki,and in such a short time,have so many projects of public benefit been designed and realised and for such a great cause,as the highlighting of the past,the upgrading of the present,and making provisions for the future of Thessaloniki.

	The Economy grows by:

*Investments in public projects for cultural purposes and infrastructue projects of more than 100 billion drs.
*Supporting local commerce and increasing business activity.
*Providing work for about 5,000 professional people in the Organization.
*Providing work for all technical firms in the city.
*Providing creative occupation for the whole artistic community.
*Providing work for printshops,graphics artists,and others.
*Providing work,for 52 weeks,for travel agencies and keeping hotels filled to capacity.
*Substantial financial assistance to the media with the promotional programme of cultural/artistic events.

According to the Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Europe (OCCE), Thessaloniki must become the Economic Centre of Southeastern Europe and the crossroads for commerce between East and West,North and South.

	The young people experience the future

Through the preparations,the events,the institutions and the European Communication of Thessaloniki 1997,young people get to:
*Know the true face of the city and its great historical and cultural course through time.
*Participate voluntarily in the organisation and realisation of the programmes of the Cultural Capital,contributing to the creation of the Thessaloniki of tomorrow which they deserve.
*Express their cultural,artistic and spiritual concerns through the special programmes.
*Receive training and knowledge through specialised conferences and educational activities.
*Communicate with young people from all over Europe and share with them the Greek Experience of the European Civilisation.
*Recreate themselves by attending significant theatrical performances, concerts,dances,films,folklore and other unique artistic events.
*Be optimistic about their future in a humane city,with a continuous technological and economic growth.

As far as the OCCE is concerned,the efforts will continue even after 1997 and will lead to a Thessaloniki which will be the capital of hope, life,development and European civilisation,for ever.

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