Arriving at Thessaloniki's 'Macedonia' airport on Saturday, where he will attend a grand military parade and other festivities for the northern Greek city's triple anniversary from October 26-28, President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias referred to the global economic crisis and the difficult days that lay ahead.

   "What is emerging in recent times is the downfall of a specific cultural model, the ideological delegitimisation of a method of economic development and operation of society," Papoulias said.

   The world was approaching a difficult conjuncture when it would have to face the combined challenges of the international financial crisis, the food crisis, the energy crisis, the environmental crisis and geopolitical conflicts that threatened global peace and stability, the president added.

   He stressed the need for everyone to "seek the deeper meaning of these crises and empathise with the concerns of those affected by them" in order to protect the values that will build a democracy orientated toward social justice, solidarity and humanity.

   Papoulias went to Thessaloniki to take part in celebrations honouring the feast of Saint Demetrios, the northern Greek city's patron saint, Thessaloniki's liberation from Ottoman rule and the October 28 anniversary marking Greece's defiance of the Axis powers at the start of World War II. These will culminate with next Tuesday's military parade, which will also be attended for the first time by the defence ministers of Balkan countries, who have been invited by Greece' National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis.

   The president was met on his arrival by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Margaritis Tzimas, Deputy Development Minister Stavros Kalafatis and representatives of central Macedonia's and Thessaloniki's local government, church and military.

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph showing President Papoulias during a recent visit to Vietnam.