"The presence of the representatives of the national news agencies from all the countries of the Balkans and more broadly of SE Europe, in Thessaloniki, is a focal point for promoting the destination and I am sure that the delegates are returning to their countries with the best impressions," deputy regional governor of Thessaloniki and president of the Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, Voula Patoulidou, said in a statement on Thursday, regarding the conference organised by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, within the framework of its presidency in the Association of Balkan News Agencies - Southeastern Europe (ABNA-SE).

Patoulidou, who congratulated the Athens-Macedonian News Agency for its flawless organisation of the conference, hosted a dinner in a central restaurant of Thessaloniki in honour of the participants and discussed with the executives of the news agencies. She also met with the Secretary General of Communication and Information Dimitris Galamatis, the president and general manager of the Athens-Macedonian News Agency and president of ABNA-SE Aimilios Perdikaris as well as with the mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas.

The delegates had the opportunity to get to know the special culinary identity of Thessaloniki, which is also the only Greek city that has joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Gastronomy Sector.

It should be noted that 12 news agencies are now members of the ABNA-SE, since in addition of the Italian news agency ANSA to the 11 founder-members during the ABNA-SE General Assembly in Thessaloniki on Wednesday. The association's founder-members include the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (Greece), Anadolu Ajansi (Turkey), Agerpres (Romania), ATA (Albania), BTA (Bulgaria), FENA (Bosnia-Herzegovina), HINA (Croatia), CNA (Cyprus), KOSOVAPRESS (Kosovo), MIA (North Macedonia) and MINA (Montenegro).