On the evening of 28 March 2003, nearly 300 people gathered at the Thessaloniki Hyatt Regency Hotel to celebrate the joint launch of the South-East European Research Centre (SEERC) by the University of Sheffield and CITY College.
The event opened with short speeches welcoming SEERC to the region and outlining the needs and opportunities for such a Centre based in Thessaloniki. Kind words were offered by Sir David Madden, British Ambassador, Mr Daniel Bucan, Ambassador of Croatia, Dr. Zoran Jolevski, Secretary General of FYROM President Office, and representatives of the Mayor Mr Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, of the Prefect Mr Panayiotis Psomiadis, and of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yannis Magriotis. These remarks were followed by statements of SEERC vision and purpose from Professor Tony Crook, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Mr Yannis Ververidis, Principal of CITY College, Dr Panayiotis Ketikidis, Chairman of the SEERC Management Committee, and Dr. David Stone, SEERC Director.
Following these brief remarks, the standing-room only audience was escorted to a nearby ballroom for comestibles, libations, live music, and lively conversation. Meeting, greeting, and eating took turns with intense discussions of future projects, prospects, and proposed partnerships. We at SEERC were overwhelmed by both the sheer size of the attendance and the distances travelled and efforts made by researchers, academics, and government officials to come from a number of the countries in the region. We are grateful to all those who attended and especially to those who offered their words of support. We look forward to living up to the expectations created by such a grand first step.
