Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-05-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Belgrade's landmark Nebojsa Tower restored

[02] Á Czech 'pirate ship' in Flisvos

[03] Rallies for May Day 

[01] Belgrade's landmark Nebojsa Tower restored

Recently renovated with funds partially provided by the Greek state, the tower was the prison in which pre-independence struggle theorist Rigas Velestinlis (also known as Ferraios) was put to death by Ottoman authorities in 1798.

Papoulias arrived at Nebojsa Tower accompanied by his wife, where he was received by Tadic and his spouse.

Following the official inauguration, the two presidential couples toured all four levels of the new museum that is dedicated to the struggles of the Greek and Serbian nations to shake off dour Ottoman yoke. The second level of the tower contains exhibits on the life and work of Rigas Ferraios.

In speeches at the inauguration, Papoulias stressed Ferraios' role as a 'forerunner of the idea of European unification' and said its roots lay in ideas of freedom based on education, equality before the law and state, justice and peace, friendship and cooperation between countries of the Balkans and Mediterranean.

Tadic highlighted the Greek state's financial contribution toward the project, noting that the money given by Athens to restore the tower was the largest sum ever received by Serbia from abroad for a cultural project.

The two presidents then had a private meeting at the Serb presidential palace, during which Papoulias assured Tadic that Greece will not abandon efforts for Serbia's accession to the European Union, after which there was a reception in honour of the Greek delegation that included Culture & Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis. Wrapping up his visit to Belgrade, the president was also received by Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

The renovation of Nebojsa Tower was funded by Greece and the municipality of Belgrade and carried out over two years, at a cost 1.8 million euros. The Greek state, via the Greek foreign ministry international developmental aid service 'Hellenic Aid' contributed 1.38 million euro toward the project.

Nebojsa Tower is a medieval structure built by Hungarians on the ruins of an older Roman tower dating from the 1st century A.D. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times in its history. (ANA-MPA)

Caption: An ANA-MPA file photo dated Feb. 17, 2011 shows the Nebojsa Tower on the banks of the Danube in Belgrade. ANA-MPA / STR

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[02] Á Czech 'pirate ship' in Flisvos

The vessel, which will offer cruises in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, is an authentic replica of a brig from the second half of the 18th century. Her construction is based on the plans published in Architectura navalis mercatoria from 1768 by a Swedish admiral Fredrik Henrik af Chapman.

The name "La Grace" was also used a century earlier for the corsair vessel commanded by noted Czech emigrant, entrepreneur and politician Augustin HeÅman during the latter's raids in the Caribbean and Central America. The replica was built in Suez, Egypt throughout 2010 by Czech and Slovak volunteers using traditional techniques. (ANA-MPA)

ANA-MPA photo / A. KONSTANTINIDIS

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[03] Rallies for May Day

There had earlier been another rally organised by the Communist-affiliated PAME trade union faction, which had begun at Syntagma Square at 10 a.m.

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