NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, presided the ceremony in which the Bancaja Saving Bank Foundation, and the Royal Valencian Agriculture and Sports Society, received the Gold Medal of the City of Valencia; medical researcher M. Luz Terrada was given the Freedom of the City of Valencia; and composer Matilde Salvador, educationalist Gonzalo Anaya, and Cardinal Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco, were named Special Citizens of Valencia.

The 9th October is the Feast of Saint Dionysious in Valencia. He is the Patron of sweethearts so women receive a plate of marzipan fruit and vegetables wrapped in a colourful scarf from their loved ones. Yesterday, Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, accompanied by Mayren Beneyto, Town Hall Counsellor of the Music Palace, opened an exhibition in which students from the School of Catering carry out demonstrations on how to make these delicacies till the 9th October, in the installations of the Colon Market in Valencia.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, and M. Teresa Fernandez, assistant Prime Minister of the Spanish Government, met yesterday to discuss important subjects related to the city of Valencia, such as the enlargement of Valencia Airport, the burial of the RENFE railway tracks in Serreria, and the programme contracts of the Municipal Transport Company - EMT, among others.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, presented the Valencian Flag or "Real Senyera" that was restored to its original state by technicians at the Valencian Government Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property IVACOR, directed by Carmen Perez. Restoration of the 18 kilos flag cost 25,000 Euro and it will head the traditional Solemn Civic Procession during the festivities of the 9th October to celebrate Valencia Day and the 800th anniversary of the birth of James I, founder of the Kingdom of Valencia.

Rafael Blasco, Valencian Government Councillor of Immigration and Citizenship, accompanied by Francisco Toledo, Chancellor of the James I University of Castellon, opened the International Master course in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies, in which 83 students from 42 countries participate, and of which 27 students from developing countries receive grants of 225,000 Euro.

Trinidad Miro, Valencian Government Councillor of Culture and Sports, presented a model of Medieval Albaida to celebrate the 800 anniversary of the birth of King James I. The model was designed by Luis Forner and Rafael Julia, and depicts Albaida as it was in the XIV and XV centuries.

Alejandro Font de Mora, Valencian Government Councillor of Education, laid the foundation stone of the Fernando Baixauli Chornet School in Sedavi that counts on a budget of 2,333,331 Euro, and also inaugurated the 9th October School in Alcasser that cost 2,848,999 Euro.

Mario Flores, Valencian Government Councillor of Infrastructures and Transport, rode the number 1 Underground train to inspect the work being carried out to eliminate six level crossings on the Valencia-Villanueva de Castellon stretch. The Valencian Government has invested 100 million Euro so far to eliminate 115 level crossings.

Trinidad Miro, Valencian Government Councillor of Culture and Sports, signed an agreement with Jordi Sedano, Mayor of Alcoy, to enlarge the Francisco Laporta municipal sports complex, that will enable the construction of two padel courts, a handball alley, and a football field with artificial grass, for a budget of 1,050,000 Euro till 2010.

The Children of Candeal, a group of students from the Practum Music School founded by the Brazilian artist Carlinhos Brown, visited the Oceanographic Park in the City of the Arts and Science in Valencia, where they saw sharks, walruses, sea lions, penguins and other marine fauna. They are in the Valencian Region to participate in various concerts organised by the Valencian Government Solidarity Programme.