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| Dear Colleagues, On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 7th BANTAO Congress, we have the pleasure to invite you to Ohrid, from 8th to 11th September, 2005. The idea of establishing the Balkan Cities Asociation for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was born in Ohrid in 1993. It was decided that the first BANTAO Congress was to be held in 1995 in Varna. The successful Congresses in Varna (1995), Struga (1997), Belgrade (1998), Izmir (1999), Thessaloniki (2001) and Varna (2003) followed, and established BANTAO as the major forum of Balkan nephrologists, indicating our will to communicate, to collaborate, to get to know each other and to share our difficulties. More than a professional event, the BANTAO Congress became a cultural phenomenon, through which we discovered that we have many more things in common than we previously thought, and that we must take every advantage now of being able freely to communicate in a world without political boundaries. The BANTAO Council has managed, in a spirit of peace, friendship and collaboration, to continuously strengthen this association and, moreover, to make it known and reputable in Europe, as well as on an international level. It has been decided that the BANTAO Congress would be held every two years in a different Balkan country and in a different city. In appreciation of the honour, made by the BANTAO Council to choose Ohrid as the hosting city of the 7th BANTAO Congress, the Organizing Committee and the Macedonian colleagues will make every effort towards a most successful and memorable event. Lake Ohrid is known as a “museum of living fossils” because it preserves relict fauna dating millions of years. The city of Ohrid on Lake Ohrid is the main tourist resort of the Republic of Macedonia, situated 172 km from Skopje (two and a half hours easy drive). It represents a pearl of an old architecture, and treasures valuable cultural and historical monuments. The beginnings of the city date from the second century AD, with its first recorded name Lychnidos. Its Slavic name Ahrida appeared six centuries later. In the ninth century, Ohrid was a cradle of Slavic literacy: Clement and Nahum, disciples of the first Slav educators Cyril and Methodius, founded in Ohrid the first Slav school for higher learning. The centuries of tradition and culture have left Ohrid with many sites, such as the old fortress, the old part of the city, and numerous mediaeval churches with outstanding frescoes and icons. Ohrid is the site of the first University on the Balkan peninsula. Along the crystal-clear waters of the lake and endless sandy beaches, modern hotels rise like a string of pearls. In the Old Bazaar district craftsmen still ply ancient trades. The narrow streets are enriched with-world famous churches, beautifully painted world famous frescoes and icons. Ohrid hosts many international festivals, meetings and conferences and is host to the Balkan Festival of Original Folk Songs and Dances. Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are protected under the United Nations Register of World Values as an outstanding environment. Looking forward to welcoming you all in Ohrid, the city of UNESCO, for knowledge and friendship. With best regards, |
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