Vladimir Putin Leaves Salonika For Vergina

The schedule of Vladimir Putin's tour of Greece has changed -- the president departed from Salonika and headed for the nearby Vergina, a town famous for its monuments and for the burial place of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Macedonian. According to the president's press secretary Alexei Gromov, the trip to Vergina was not included on the schedule. However, the rapidly worsening weather in the area of Mount Athos, where a storm warning was issued today, has forced the Greek side to postpone the president's helicopter journey to Athos. Further informations about changes in the schedule will be reported when available, said the secretary. Accompanied by Greek President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos, Putin left for Vergina in his personal limousine. Earlier, the two presidents had had a brief conversation in the airport of Salonika, in which they summed up the results of yesterday's bilateral fuel and energy talks. Stephanopoulos had inquired about the outcome of yesterday's meeting with Greek businessmen, who are the major partners of Russia's Gazprom and LUKOIL companies.