Thessaloniki,the city of one million inhabitants,which holds the unique privilege in the world,to maintain a continuous,primary presence in the Balkan area for 2,310 years,is,for 1997,the Cultural Capital of Europe.

Thirteen years after Athens,which was the first Cultural Capital of Europe in 1986,thanks to the inspiration of Melina Merkouri,who had proposed the establishment of this institution,the cycle of Cultural Capitals opens again from Greece,with its second largest city.

Thessaloniki,which was built by Cassander in 315 BC and was named after his wife,the sister of Alexander the Great,has never ceased in all these centuries to be the gateway to the Balkan mainland,either as the centre of the Eastern Roman Empire or as the joint-reigning capital of Byzantium.

At the same time,it has always been a refuge for the oppressed,a city of tolerance,with the result that other communities,like the Jewish,the Armenian,the Latin,the Turkish,and others,have flourished side by side with the Greeks,and have greatly contributed to the development of its multi-cultural character.

In our days,Thessaloniki,as a modern European city,is once again the central point of reference in southeastern Europe and the Balkans,with its ever-expanding commercial port,with the expansion of business acti- vities to the neighbouring countries,with the cultivation of relations between its cultural centres and those of neighbouring countries.

In 1997,Thessaloniki aspires to project to Europe and to the other continents,not only the Greek but also the European spirit,,with faith in the vision for a unified Europe and the maintenance of the national traditions of each country.

With a budget of 75 billion drs ($ 310 million) for public projects for cultural purposes and 15 billion drs ($ 64 million) for a programme of cultural/artistic events,the Thessaloniki of 1997 will pave the road for its further cultural development and the closer co-operation among the peoples of Europe.

The Thessaloniki of 1997 welcomes all visitors,of every race and nationality,eager to offer them its scent and open its soul.