Συνέντευξη ακολούθου τύπου Μαρίας Μονδέλου στην έκδοση “Πολυπολιτισμικές συνομιλίες” του Δήμου Βαρσοβίας

Σε ειδική έκδοση του Δήμου Βαρσοβίας που τιτλοφορείται «Πολυπολιτισμικές συνομιλίες – Εκπαιδευτικός οδηγός», δημοσιεύεται σειρά συνεντεύξεων με εκπροσώπους χωρών και πολιτισμών που διαμένουν και δραστηριοποιούνται στη Βαρσοβία.
Η έκδοση πραγματοποιήθηκε με αφορμή το «Ευρωπαϊκό Έτος Διαπολιτισμικού Διαλόγου 2008» και εντάσσεται στις πρωτοβουλίες της Βαρσοβίας για την προώθηση της υποψηφιότητάς της ως Ευρωπαϊκής Πολιτιστικής Πρωτεύουσας το 2016.
Ο εκπαιδευτικός οδηγός προορίζεται κυρίως για τα σχολεία μέσης εκπαίδευσης της Βαρσοβίας και περιλαμβάνει συνεντεύξεις εκπροσώπων των χωρών της Γαλλίας, της Γερμανίας, της Ελλάδας, της Κίνας, της Ινδίας, της Ρωσίας, της Σλοβακίας, της Ουκρανίας, της Λιθουανίας, της Γεωργίας, της Αρμενίας, της Λευκορωσίας, της Τσετσενίας, του Βιετνάμ, καθώς και εκπροσώπων της Βαρσοβίας, των Αφρικανών, των Αράβων, των Αθίγγανων και των Εβραίων.
Στην έκδοση συμπεριλαμβάνεται συνέντευξη της προϊσταμένης του Γραφείου Τύπου Βαρσοβίας, Μαρίας Μονδέλου, στην κοινωνιολόγο Beata Kosakowska, με κυριότερα θέματα τη ζωή ενός ξένου στη Βαρσοβία, τις αντιλήψεις των Πολωνών για την Ελλάδα και τις ελληνο-πολωνικές πολιτιστικές σχέσεις. Τίτλος της συνέντευξης «Τόπος για ζωή, όπου τώρα εξελίσσεται ο πολιτισμός».
Στην εισαγωγή αναφέρεται ότι πρόκειται για «συνάντηση με τη Μαρία Μονδέλου, ακόλουθο τύπου στην Ελληνική Πρεσβεία Βαρσοβίας, υποψήφια διδάκτορα του Ιονίου Πανεπιστημίου» και σημειώνονται βιογραφικά στοιχεία, όπως η άφιξη στη Βαρσοβία στις αρχές φθινοπώρου του 2009 και η παραμονή για πολλά χρόνια στην Ιταλία, αρχικά για σπουδές στη Βενετία και στη συνέχεια, για εργασία ως ακόλουθος τύπου στη Ρώμη.
«Λόγω επαγγέλματος, έπρεπε να μετατεθώ σε άλλη διπλωματική Αρχή. Έκανα μια επιλογή δέκα χωρών, όπου επιθυμούσα να τοποθετηθώ, χωρίς όμως να αναφέρω την Πολωνία. Όταν λοιπόν αποδείχθηκε ότι θα εργάζομαι στη Βαρσοβία, ήταν για μένα μια  έκπληξη. Τώρα δεν μετανιώνω καθόλου που ήρθα εδώ, αλλά πριν από τον ερχομό μου στη Βαρσοβία, τίποτα δεν με συνέδεε με την Πολωνία, δεν είχα εδώ ούτε οικογένεια, ούτε γνωστούς, ελάχιστα γνώριζα για τους κατοίκους της. … Θα ήθελα, για παράδειγμα, να είχα γνωρίσει τον καθηγητή Bronisław Geremek, του οποίου τα εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέροντα βιβλία ιστορίας ήδη γνώριζα, καθώς ασχολούμαι με την ιστορική έρευνα.Κρίμα που δεν πρόλαβα.
Οι γνώσεις μου για την Πολωνία δεν ήταν ιδιαίτερες. Γνώριζα ορισμένες πτυχές της ιστορίας της, όπως για παράδειγμα ότι τον 16ο και τον 17ο αιώνα η Πολωνία και η  Ελλάδα συνδέονταν με εμπορικές σχέσεις, στη χώρα σας εισάγονταν από την Κρήτη  μεγάλες ποσότητες κρασιού, καθώς εδώ υπήρχε μεγάλη ζήτηση. Γνώριζα, επίσης, για την περίοδο του κομμουνισμού, για το κίνημα Αλληλεγγύη, τον Λεχ Βαλέσα…Και φυσικά την φήμη σας στον κινηματογράφο, που θεωρείται ιδιαίτερα πρωτοποριακός, με εκπροσώπους όπως ο Kieślowski και ο Wajda. Θυμάμαι ότι όταν ο αδελφός μου έμαθε για την μετάθεσή μου στην Πολωνία, είπε με ενθουσιασμό ότι είναι πραγματικά ένας τόπος για να ζήσει  κανείς, καθώς η Πολωνία βρίσκεται στην πολιτιστική πρωτοπορία». 
Σε ερώτημα για τις προσδοκίες πριν από την άφιξη στη Βαρσοβία, αναφέρονται μεταξύ άλλων τα εξής : «Μπορώ να πω τι ήταν αυτό που σίγουρα δεν περίμενα!. Δεν περίμενα μια τόσο τεράστια ποσότητα χιονιού!… Διαβάζοντας για την Βαρσοβία πριν από τον ερχομό μου, έμαθα ότι είναι μια όμορφη πόλη με πλούσια ιστορία. Και πράγματι, η παλιά πόλη της Βαρσοβίας, Starόwka, είναι πολύ όμορφη. Το γεγονός ότι οι Πολωνοί κατόρθωσαν να ανοικοδομήσουν τόσο το παλαιό ιστορικό κέντρο όσο και την υπόλοιπη πόλη εκ νέου μετά τις  καταστροφές του Β΄ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου προκαλεί πάντοτε τον θαυμασμό μου.  […] Όσο για τις  προσδοκίες μου ως προς τη πολιτιστική ζωή, υπό την ευρεία της έννοια, αντικατοπτρίστηκαν στην πραγματικότητα. …Στη Βαρσοβία εδρεύουν πολλά ινστιτούτα και κέντρα πολιτισμού ξένων χωρών. Το Γραφείο Τύπου  συνεργάζεται με πολλούς οργανισμούς και μπορώ να υποστηρίξω ότι πολλά πραγματοποιούνται σε αυτόν τον τομέα: πολλές συναντήσεις, εκδηλώσεις, διασκέψεις, φεστιβάλ, όλα αυτά χάρη στη συνεργασία μας με άλλες χώρες.
Σε ερώτημα για την εργασία ενός ακολούθου τύπου, σημειώνεται ότι: «Η εργασία αυτή μού επιτρέπει την επαφή με τους ανθρώπους, τον πολιτισμό που δημιουργούν και επιχειρούν να προβάλουν στον κόσμο. Γι` αυτό την αγαπώ τόσο, προσπαθώντας  παράλληλα να την συνδυάσω με άλλες ασχολίες. Στο πλαίσιο της ερευνητικής μου δραστηριότητας στον τομέα της ιστορίας, συνεργάζομαι με το Πανεπιστήμιο Βαρσοβίας και το Τμήμα Ανατολικών Σπουδών, συχνά προσκαλούμαι να δώσω διαλέξεις στους φοιτητές».

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The Stability Programme was submitted

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The cabinet met yesterday  to approve the updated Stability and Growth Programme (SGP) 2008-2011, which was submitted today (15.1) to the European Commission in Brussels.

“We will achieve fiscal consolidation within three years. […] We can do it; this target is feasible,” said Prime Minister George Papandreou.
The premier added that the Stability and Growth Programme does not contain immediate fiscal adjustment measures only, but also a substantial part of the plan for the restructuring of the country.
On his part, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou stressed that the deficit would definitely be cut, as Greece’s economy is expected to expand in the coming next years.
“The Programme was prepared with the decisive involvement of all ministries and it will be implemented through team-work,” said Papaconstantinou.
Kathimerini Daily: Cabinet stands by recovery plan; Ministry of Economy and Finance: Update of the Hellenic Stability and Growth Programme 2008-2011

Greek Economy Grew in 2008

(THE GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Greek economy grew by 3.0% in 2008, down from 4.0% in 2007, according to provisional figures published by the National Statistics Service on Friday (13.2.2009). In its report, the statistics service said that the economic growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 was 2.6%, down from 2.9% in the previous quarter, while on a quarterly base, the economic growth rate in the October-December period was 0.3%, slightly lower than 0.5% in the third quarter. The statistical service attributed the slowdown in the growth rate to a significant decline in investments, mainly because of a major decrease in building activity in the country, while consumption fell strongly as a result of limited credit expansion to households. The finance ministry, in an updated Stability and Growth programme [PDF] submitted to the European Union, envisages a growth rate of National Statistics Service1.1% this year. Furthermore, the European agency Eurostat also said on Friday that the Greek economy grew by 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008. It reported that Greece, Slovakia (2.7 pct), Czech Republic (1.0 pct) and Austria (0.5 pct) were the only EU member-states with positive growth rates.  Eurostat: News Release – Euroindicators  (13.2.2009)

Energy in Greece 2008

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The 3^rd International “Energy 2008” fair on renewable energy sources and energy management and saving will take place in Athens from November 20 to 23. With 197 exhibitors, 35 international participants and 10,000 visitors for the year 2007, the fair is considered a leading event in the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) industry. In addition to the exhibition, visitors may access the 1^st International “Photovoltaic 2008” fair on Photovoltaic Systems Technologies which will run in tandem. The energy fair is under the aegis of the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies: www.helapco.gr  Centre for Renewable Energy Sources: Renewable Energy Sources;  European Commission: Energy- Renewable energies  The Regulatory Authority for Energy-Greece: www.rae.gr

Greek Participation at Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games take place from September 6 to 17. The 69 Greek Paralympic athletes left Athens on August 29 for the eleven-day sports event. The Greek team counts 53 men and 16 women, who will compete in power lifting, swimming, boccia, cycling, shooting, athletics, archery, judo, sailing, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair fencing. In total, 4,000 athletes from more than 150 countries are expected to participate in Beijing’s 13th Summer Paralympics.  Beijing 2008 Paralympics: en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/; Hellenic Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.gr; Secretariat General of Information: About Greece-Sports

Greece: Maria Callas Honored by the Prespes Festival

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The 2008 Prespes festival celebrated its 20 years of life on August 29-30. As is the case every year, events were held in the remains of the basilica on the island of Aghios Achilleios in the Mikri Prespa lake. This year’s festival was of special importance, given that guests included President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis – Bakoyannis sent a message of friendship and collaboration to neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  An exhibition of Maria Callas memorabilia opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the city of Florina. Showcasing Maria Callas memorabilia (previously on display at the Greek Parliament in Athens), the exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of choreographer Maria Hors and curated by acclaimed set designer Yiannis Metzikoff. During the opening ceremony, President Papoulias honoured filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos, whose work has often been set in the region’s remote landscapes. The programme featured tributes to Greek songwriters Vassilis Tsitsanis and Stelios Kazantzidis among other events, while participants included Dionysis Savvopoulos, Eleni Karaindrou and Goran Bregovic. Kathimerini daily: Art and Politics Come Together at Prespes Festival

Greeks Returning Home from Beijing 2008

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The 29^th Olympic Games ended on August 24 after 16 days and 17 nights of sporting celebration. Although not equivalent to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the Greek harvest of medals is considered well satisfying. Greek athletes won two silver medals, one in rowing (Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls) with Vassilis Polymeros and Dimitris Mougios and another one in taek won do with Alexandros Nikolaidis winning his second Olympic medal after Athens 2004. Another two bronze medals were won by Sofia Bekatorou, Sofia Papadopoulou and Virginia Kravarioti in sailing (Yngling class), while our 2004 gold medal winner Chrysopigi Devetzi reached the third place in triple jump. With regard to the doping incidents, the International Olympic Committee has commissioned a full investigation over the Greek athletes who were disqualified facing charges of illegal substances use. IOC will recourse to the Greek courts, while measures have been taken in order to enhance already existing legislation concerning doping,this time introducing harsher penalties.  Hellenic Olympic Committee: www.2hoc.gr

Greece – Essential Info

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Visit the “Greece-Essential Info” link, on the Secretariat General of Information website (www.minpress.gr), to find numerous interesting links covering almost every aspect of contemporary Greek reality. Also visit the “Greece in the World,” “World Media articles on Greece,” as well as the “About Greece” + “About Brand Greece” relevant sections. Apart from its frequently updated english website, the Secretariat General of Information issues three specialised bulletins: the english online daily bulletin Greek News Agenda (www.greeknewsagenda.gr) and the weeklies GrèceHebdo (in French) and Boletín Griego de Noticias (in Spanish). A German weekly edition is also forthcoming. Greek News Agenda recent Special Issues: Greek News Sources Online; 2008 Events in Greece, A Mini Guide; Thessaloniki – City of Culture; Learning Greek among Greeks; Studying in Greece; The Greek Economy: Pointers; Summer Festive Times; Thessaloniki International Film Festival; The Jews of Greece

The Greek Media Experience Transfered to Beijing

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    On the occasion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the Secretariat General of Information introduced its “mediainfo2004 – Media Services for the Olympic Games” website (www.mediainfo2004.gr). This website subscribed to the idea of a “one-stop-shop” service for media professionals, who wished to cover contemporary Greece before and during the Olympic Games 2004. The website was affiliated with the Zappeion Olympic Press Center, situated in central Athens in the grounds of the Zappeion Mansion. Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas, the Zappeion Olympic Press Center director, was in Beijing recently at the invitation of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). BOCOG publicly paid tribute to his advice and contribution in setting up and operating the Beijing International Media Center (www.2008bimc.cn).

From Athens 2004 to Beijing 2008

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In 2004, the Olympic Games returned to Greece, the country of their birthplace, and Athens, the city of their revival in modern times. In 2008, Beijing is hosting the Olympic Games for the first time in its pioneering history as a seat of authority and government as well as culture and learning. Greece and China have benefited from a favourable development of friendly cooperation cooperation in political, economic, and cultural affairs. On the political side, top government officials have paid many visits to China, the latest being the one of President Karolos Papoulias last June. Concerning economic prospects, Greece can constitute a potential base of operations, from where China could expand its business in the EU, the Balkans and the Mediterranean. Shipping leaves much room for economic cooperation and the latest Cosco Pacific Ltd’s deal over Piraeus port inaugurates a fruitful synergy in the broader field.   Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Greece’s relations with China; mediainfo2004.gr: From Athens 2004 to Beijing 2008; Press and Communication Office – Beijing: www.grpressbeijing.com  
                                                     Greece @ 2008 Olympics
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Culture Minister Michalis Liapis, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, and General Secretary of Information Panos Livadas are in Beijing for the Olympic Games. Greece will participate in the XXIX Olympic Games of Beijing with 156 athletes, 84 men and 72 women. 22-year-old gold medal winner in the 2004 Olympic Games judoka Ilias Iliadis will be the flag bearer of the Hellenic delegation during the Opening Ceremony, at the Olympic Stadium. Hellenic Olympic Committe: www.hoc.gr; SportInGreece.com: Olympics 2008

Greek Director won Best Documentary Award

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     Greek director Anneta Papathanassiou won the Best Documentary Award at the 2008 Roma Fiction Fest on July 12 in Rome, in the competitive section, for her documentary “Qadir, Enas Afghanos Odysseas” (Qadir, an Afghani Odysseus/Ulysses). The awarded documentary is a co-production with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), with the support of the, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the production company Orizontas Greek Film Centre and Al-Jazeera.  Express.gr: Greek director wins Best Documentary award at Roma Fiction Fest; Secretariat General of Information: World Media on Greece – Culture and Education

From Greece the Routes of the Olive Tree

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    On the occasion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, a “lame of Peace”will travel from the Mediterranean Sea into the depths of Asia, Beijing and Moscow. Motorcyclists participating in the “Routes of the Olive Tree” initiative, a programme of cultural journeys and activities inspired by the olive tree,  will ride on the “Routes of Silk” to transmit the messages symbolised by the olive tree, namely the need for peaceful coexistence. The journey will start from Messenia, Southern Greece, on the occasion of a big Mediterranean Feast, the 63rd Rally FIM of 2008 (7-14 July 2008 Pylos-Yalova), during which 2,000 motorcyclists from 44 countries will gather in order to bid travellers goodbye. The event is open only to motorcyclists who will “combine business with pleasure”; they will start their ride symbolically from ancient Messene and will cover 22,000 km with a view to carrying the “Flame of Peace” to 16 countries: Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, CHINA, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania, Bulgaria, FYROM and Greece. 

Greece: EURO 2008

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  June 18 was Greece’s last day at the UEFA EURO 2008. The Greek squad failed to qualify to the next round since it lost all three games against the Swedes (June 10), the Russians (June 14), and the Spaniards. Greek fans supported the nationals to the very end, despite the team’s fruitless endeavour to defend the title it won in the 2004 contest, one of the greatest landmarks in team sports’ history. 

Four Greek Firms Win Best Workplaces Awards

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Four companies based in Greece – Microsoft Hellas, Piscines Ideales, Genesis Pharma and Procter & Gamble Hellas – have been included in a list of 100 European companies with the best working environment for the year 2008. The four companies earned distinction in the European competition “Best Workplaces Europe 2008,” organized by the Great Place to Work Institute Europe. The winners of the Special Awards were announced at the annual European Gala Awards ceremony in London on May 27, where they received their awards. 

European Prize for Dora Bakoyannis

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Foreign Minister and former Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyannis, was awarded yesterday the European prize for regional and local politics- Emperor Maximilian Prize 2008. The Land of Tyrol and the city of Innsbruck award the prize to personalities and institutions for their achievements in the field of regional and local politics. Prize winner 2008 Dora Bakoyannis was unanimously elected by the jury for her work as Athens’ mayor.