“Europejski Dzień Języków” (Warszawa, 24-29/9/2012) – Udział Biura Prasowego

Biuro Prasowe Ambasady Grecji w Warszawie kolejny raz uczestniczyło w „Europejskim Dniu Języków 2012” – serii wydarzeń kulturalnych, które miały miejsce w Warszawie w dniach 24-29 września i miały za cel popularyzację wiedzy na temat kulturowego i językowego dziedzictwa Europy.
Organizacją zajęło się 18 państw – członków EUNIC Cluster Warszawa (European Union National Institutes of Culture). Wśród nich znalazło się Biuro Prasowe Ambasady Grecji, instytucje kulturalne i ambasady krajów europejskich jak również inne instytucje m.in. Przedstawicielstwo Komisji Europejskiej w Polsce, Biuro Informacyjne Parlamentu Europejskiego w Polsce, Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji, Uniwersytet Warszawski.
Program (www.edj.waw.pl) składał się z konferencji, lekcji pokazowych, seminariów, festiwalu filmów europejskich, warsztatów teatralnych, gier miejskich, pikniku językowego i innych.
Program greckich wydarzeń zawierał:

• Lekcję pokazową języka nowogreckiego, która odbyła się 25 września w Instytucie Kultury Polskiej Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.
• Greckie stoisko informacyjne, które 25 września w godzinach 9-15 znajdowało się na Kampusie Głównym Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, gdzie udzielano informacji o Grecji i języku nowogreckim.
• Pokaz filmu „Diolkos 1500 lat” 24 września podczas festiwalu filmowego zorganizowanego przez Rosyjski Ośrodek Nauki i Kultury w Warszawie w dniach 24-27 września.
• Zabawę z językiem nowogreckim w ramach gry miejskiej, która miała miejsce 29 września.

Inne wydarzenia, które zorganizowano w tygodniu 24-29 września to: dwudniowa konferencja „ICT and Social Media in Language Education”, warsztaty teatralne, gry miejskie oraz konkursy internetowe. W tym roku projekt przyciągnął wielu uczniów i innych odwiedzających i z całą pewnością był idealną okazją do poznania języka i kultury greckiej.

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“European Day of Languages” (24-29/9/2011) – Greek events organized by the Press Office

The Press Office of the Greek Embassy in Warsaw once again participated in “European Day of Languages 2011” events, that took place in Warsaw from 24 till 29 September and aimed to inform Poles about the cultural and linguistic heritage of European countries.

Organizers were over eighteen countries, members of EUNIC Cluster Warsaw (European Union National Institutes of Culture), among them the Press Office of the Greek Embassy, cultural institutes and embassies of European countries, as well as  other institutions such as the European Commission Representation in Poland, the European Parliament Communication Office in Poland, the Polish Foundation for the Development of the Educational System, the University of Warsaw etc.
The program (www.edj.waw.pl) consisted of demo language lessons, seminars, European film festival, theatre workshops, city game, language picnic etc.
The Greek program of the events included:
Demo lesson of Greek language, that took place in the Institute of Foreign Languages of the University of Warsaw on the 27^th of September, as part of the demo-lessons of  languages and cultures of the participating countries.
Greek info stand, which was set in the University Campus of the Old Library of the University of Warsaw and provided touristic information on the 27^th September from 9 am until 3 pm.
The film “The Trojan Women” directed by Michael Cacoyannis (1971) was shown at the Russian Cultural Institute on the 29^th September, during the film festival organized in the Russian Cultural Institute (26-29 September) and the cinema Alchemia (25^th September):
A wide range of other events were organized during the week (24-29 September): a two-day conference “Language Competences for Professional and Personal Success inEurope”, entertainment activities, theatre workshops, city games, competitions on a special website. This year`s project attracted many students and other visitors and it can be considered as a perfect opportunity to experience the Greek language and culture.

World Poetry Day – 2011 Elytis Year

Odysseas Elytis and his work will be the focus of this year’s World Poetry Day, which is celebrated each year on March 21.
The National Book Centre of Greece (EKEBI) launches a poetry campaign including several events.
One of the day’s highlights is an event jointly organized by EKEBI and the Hellenic Authors’ Society which brings together well-known poets and writers such as Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke, Vassilis Vasilikos, Kiki Dimoula and Evgenia Fakinou to recite poems by Odysseas Elytis.
Athenians and citizens of Thessaloniki, Mytillini, Rhodes and Zakynthos will have the opportunity to come across illustrated verses by Elytis as public transport means will feature some of the Nobel laureate’s most beloved and renowned poems. Poetry reading nights, with young poets will also be held in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Moreover in Athens, poet Nanos Valaoritis will present a new theory regarding Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey at the Hellenic American Union, while at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, World Poetry Day will be celebrated through poetry, music and stand-up poetry.
The year 2011 has been designated as an Elytis Year by Culture and Tourism Ministry, in order to mark the 100th anniversary since the birth of the Nobel laureate poet.
Nobel Prize Organisation: Excerpt from Worthy It Is, Poetry International Web- Odysseas Elytis: I Lived the Beloved Name, Drinking the Sun of Corinth, Marina of the Rocks, The Wind That Loiters.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Holocaust Memorial Day

The opening of the exhibition The Memorial: 16 Artists Propose, featuring projects that were submitted last year by 16 artists, as part of an international competition for the construction of a Holocaust Memorial of Greek Jews, took place at the Jewish Museum of Greece.
The competition was conducted by the Jewish Community of Athens and resulted in the selection of the work of artist DeAnna Maganias which was unveiled at a special event in May 2010. The museum is also organising a week-long programme of educational activities and memorial events, lasting until February 4.

The exhibition –which will remain open until August 2011- is part of events that have been planned for the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day, co-organized by the Attica region and the Jewish community of Athens for January 26 and 27. A memorial service was held on the 27th of January, at the Athens Synagogue in Thisseio, to be followed by a speech by University of Athens History Professor, Hagen Fleischer.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Droutsas issued a statement on the occasion of the Holocaust Memorial Day, in which he referred to Greece’s continuing efforts to preseve historical memory and educate younger generations. He further added that preparations are underway for a permanent Greek exhibition at the Auschwitz Museum.  

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Εκδηλώσεις “Ευρωπαϊκής Ημέρας Γλωσσών” (Βαρσοβία, 20-27/9/2010)- Συμμετοχή Γραφείου Τύπου Βαρσοβίας

Οι φετινές εκδηλώσεις της «Ευρωπαϊκής Ημέρας Γλωσσών 2010» πραγματοποιήθηκαν στη Βαρσοβία από τις 20 έως τις 27 Σεπτεμβρίου.
Το Γραφείο Τύπου, για μία ακόμη χρονιά, συμμετείχε στη διοργάνωση των εκδηλώσεων προβολής των ευρωπαϊκών γλωσσών, εκδηλώσεις που στοχεύουν στην ενημέρωση του πολωνικού κοινού για τον γλωσσικό και πολιτιστικό πλούτο των χωρών της Ευρώπης. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ημέρα Γλωσσών θεσπίστηκε από το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης το 2001.
Διοργανωτές των εκδηλώσεων ήταν δεκατρείς χώρες, μέλη του EUNIC Cluster Βαρσοβίας (European Union National Institutes for Culture): Ελλάδα (Γραφείο Τύπου Ελληνικής Πρεσβείας), Εσθονία (Πρεσβεία Εσθονίας), Ιρλανδία (Πρεσβεία Ιρλανδίας), Μεγ. Βρετανία (British Council), Βέλγιο (Πρεσβεία Βελγίου), Δανία (Πολιτιστικό Ινστιτούτο Δανίας), Γερμανία (Goethe-Institut), Πορτογαλία (Ινστιτούτο Camoes), Γαλλία (Γαλλικό Ινστιτούτο), Ιταλία (Ιταλικό Ινστιτούτο), Αυστρία (Αυστριακό Ινστιτούτο), Ρουμανία (Ρουμανικό Ινστιτούτο), Ρωσία (Ρωσικό Κέντρο Επιστήμης και Πολιτισμού).
Στη διοργάνωση συμμετείχαν, επίσης, το EUNIC Cluster Βαρσοβίας, η Αντιπροσωπεία της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής στην Πολωνία, το πολωνικό Ίδρυμα για την Ανάπτυξη του Εκπαιδευτικού Συστήματος, το Πανεπιστήμιο Βαρσοβίας, το Εκπαιδευτικό Τμήμα του Δήμου Βαρσοβίας, το Κρατικό Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο στη Βαρσοβία, η Δημόσια Βιβλιοθήκη της συνοικίας Praga (Δήμος Βαρσοβίας), το πολωνικό Κέντρο για την Ανάπτυξη της Εκπαίδευσης, η πολωνική Κρατική Επιτροπή για την Πιστοποίηση της Επάρκειας της Πολωνικής ως Ξένης Γλώσσας. Οι εκδηλώσεις τελούσαν υπό την αιγίδα του πολωνικού Υπουργείου Εθνικής Παιδείας, του πολωνικού Υπουργείου Επιστήμης και Ανώτερης Εκπαίδευσης, της Δημάρχου Βαρσοβίας και της Πρυτάνεως του Πανεπιστημίου Βαρσοβίας.
Η απήχηση των εκδηλώσεων τις προηγούμενες χρονιές οδήγησε τους διοργανωτές στην απόφαση για την φετινή διοργάνωση πολυήμερων εκδηλώσεων, με ποικίλο περιεχόμενο.  
Το πλήρες πρόγραμμα, που περιελάμβανε, μεταξύ άλλων, ημερίδα, μαθήματα γλωσσών, σεμινάρια, φεστιβάλ ταινιών, street game, κ.ά., μπορεί να αναζητηθεί στην ηλεκτρονική σελίδα των εκδηλώσεων www.edj.waw.pl

Przemek Kordos, Maria Mondelou, Pantelis Gianoulis at the Greek stand

Η ελληνική συμμετοχή στις εκδηλώσεις, η οποία περιελάμβανε μεταξύ άλλων φεστιβάλ ταινιών, μάθημα ελληνικής γλώσσας, σεμινάριο για το ζεϊμπέκικο, ελληνικό περίπτερο κ.ά., διοργανώθηκε από τη Γραμματέα Επικοινωνίας, Μαρία Μονδέλου.
Αναλυτικότερα, η ελληνική συμμετοχή είχε ως εξής:

Melina Mercouri: A tribute to the “last Greek Goddess”

Sixteen years have passed since Melina Mercouri, one of the great women of Greece, died on March 6, 1994. On the 16^th anniversary of her death, as well as of International Women’s Day (March 8), the Eugenides Foundation is hosting an exhibition-tribute to the late, multifaceted actress and politician, emphasizing her relationship to education and culture. 
Internationally acclaimed actress, singer and politician, Melina was characterized by many as the epitome of womanhood, as well as the “last Greek Goddess.”
An ardent supporter of the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, Melina, as minister of Culture, openly claimed them and devoted herself to this goal.
The exhibition titled “Melina-Education-Culture” will run from March 9 to April 8. 
Melina Mercouri Foundation: www.melinamercourifoundation.org.gr
Greek News Agenda: Melina Mercouri: “Culture is Greece’s heavy industry”

PM George Papandreou at the White House

Meeting with Obama

Prime Minister George Papandreou met with US President Barack Obama in Washington yesterday.
After the meeting Papandreou said that the US is willing to work with the European Union to regulate the international financial system so speculators cannot target countries with troubled economies.
The premier said  that the issue of speculation will be discussed at the G20 summit in Canada, in June. The two leaders also discussed foreign policy issues such as the Cyprus issue, the integration of Western Balkans into Euro-Atlantic institutions, as well as Greece’s relations with Turkey.

Visa Waiver

Furthermore, the US side announced that Greece will be included in the ‘visa waiver’ programme, thus enabling Greek citizens to travel to the US without a visa.
Papandreou termed the visa waiver “a vote of confidence” to Greece and noted that the Greek government is determined to respond to its obligations and cooperate closely at international level on the tackling of terrorism.

Kathimerini daily: US joins fight against speculators
The White House: Honouring Greek Independence Day (21.35mins)

Papandreou’s Op-ed

In an op-ed published in the International Herald Tribune (IHT), Papandreou notes that the Greek case is not an outlier, but one more flare-up in a broken system of financial regulation and predatory behaviour.
“If global economic growth is to be sustainable, we need better coordination and greater solidarity between nations… We must now establish and enforce clear rules to contain the inordinate power of markets over our national economies and our common currency – not for Greece’s sake, but for Europe’s,” he stresses.
Prime Minister’s website: Meeting with President Barack Obama: Prime Minister’s statement ; Brookings Institution: Prime Minister’s speech & YouTube: PM’s speech at Brookings Institution  
New York Times & International Herald Tribune: Prime Minister’s article “Greece is not an island“; Hellenic Finance Ministry: Newsletter Updating Greek Fiscal Measures  
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Holocaust Remembrance Day

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Liberation of Auschwitz Anniversary

“Auschwitz took the lives of many; Greek Jews were dispro­portio­na­tely numerous among them. Greeks of other faiths also paid a heavy price, often in defence of their Jewish brethren.

Many have been declared Righteous among the Nations and their names are engraved at the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem,” Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said in a statement, issued on January 27, on the 65^th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp.
This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration which launched a fertile rethinking of the Holocaust in Europe and Greece is proud to be among the original signatories of this epochal document, said Droutsas.

“Greeks in Auschwitz-Birkenau” 

At a press conference at Greece’s Press and Communication Office in New York, on January 26, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic and Historical Archives, Fotini Tomai presented a series of evidence, documents and testimonies that reveal and highlight the extent of human tragedy as recorded in the book “Greeks in Auschwitz-Birkenau.”
This publication of the Foreign Ministry (in Greek and English) will be presented today at a special event at the Greek Consulate General in New York. 
See also: UN, International Holocaust Remembrance Day;
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: International Holocaust Remembrance Day;  Greek News Agenda: Special Issue – The Jews of Greece

Global Wind Day – Invest in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  June 15^th is Global Wind Day. Invest in Greece Agency gives a detailed presentation of Greece’s potential in wind power investments.  Wind, or aeolic, power is driving growth in the renewables sector. The superb wind resources in Greece are among the most attractive in Europe.  Capacity increased by an average of 30% annually between 1990 and 2003 and almost 30% of total capacity was installed in the period of 2003-2004.  In terms of advantages of investing in wind energy, Greece offers high feed-in tariffs locked for 20 years, incentives up to as much as 60% of total investment cost, cash grants, leasing subsidies, wage subsidies or tax benefits. The government has also committed to attracting €6 billion by 2020 for energy production, achieving a target for wind park development at 2,600 MW by 2010 and 6,000 by 2020.

European Maritime Day in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   May 20 was European Maritime Day. The sea has always played a key role in Europe’s history and its prosperity. The European continent has some 70,000 km of coastline and 22 of the EU’s 27 Member States are coastal or island countries. EU’s maritime regions are home to 40% of the population, and generate 40% of the economy. Being both a popular tourist destination and an archipelagic nation with extensive coastlines, and long tradition in shipping and maritime activities, Greece attributes special importance to this day and celebrated it with a number of events. Vice-President of the European Parliament and one of the inspirers of the institution, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, addressed the European Maritime Day Stakeholders Conference (May 19-20) in Rome yesterday.

International Museum Day in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  May 18 has been designated as International Museum Day. This year’s theme is museums and tourism in the form of sustainable cultural activity.  The ICOM Hellenic National Committee is participating in the celebration, organising a series of events at museums around the country (from May 15 to 25).  The main event is taking place in Athens, at the building of the Athens Conservatory which currently houses the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST). On this day, entrance to museums is free.  Hellenic Ministry of Culture:Programme of events (in Greek)

9 May: Europe Day

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Europe Day is celebrated annually on May 9, and this year’s events will take place in Thessaloniki, beginning today until May 10. The theme is “A Social Europe at its Citizens’ Service.” European Parliament – Office for Greece: www.europarl.gr (in Greek)

 

EU – Greece: Fund Influx for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)        The European Commission has a set of measures to help finance innovative and growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  On January 20, the European Commission and the Greek Foreign Ministry’s Special Secretariat for the Development of International Programmes held the “EU Finance Day for SMEs” in Athens on January 20. Addressing the event attended by more than 500 participants, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stressed that “Access to finance is a crucial issue for Greek SMEs. In times of recession, we see new opportunities and are obliged to back innovation and entrepreneurship.” 
INFORMATION ON THE CONFERENCE
Speakers’ powerpoint presentations can be found at the Special Secretariat’s website; European Commission-Entreprise & Industry: About EU Finance Day for SMEs 
INFORMATION ON FUNDING
Ministry of Economy and Finance: SMEs NSRF funding & SMEs funding through the Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Very Small Enterprises (TEMPME SA); Greek News Agenda: Stimulus for SMEs  European Commission- Enterprise & Industry: European Portal for SMEs; Europe’s Information Society: Competitiveness & Innovation Framework Programme; European Investment Bank: European Investment Fund

Children’s Rights in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     On the occasion of the celebration of Universal Children’s Day (November 20) to commemorate the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the National Children’s Rights Observatory of the Secretariat General for Youth and the Children’s Rights Ombudsman in Greece are jointly organising the conference “Children’s Rights in Greece of 21st century.” The conference will be held in Athens on November 22 – 23, 2008, as part of the campaign for the protection and reinforcement of children’s rights and for the promotion of the UN Convention. Secretariat General of Information: About Greece-Youth

Warsaw / Celebrating European Day of Languages (26 & 27/9)

Celebrating “European Day of Languages”, a project that promotes linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe, ten Cultural Institutes and Embassies – members of EUNIC Warsaw Cluster (EU National Institutes for Culture) – including the Greek Embassy in Warsaw, organized a two days cultural event at Zloty Tarasy , a multifunctional complex in the center of Warsaw (26 & 27/9).

The participation of Greece was coordinated by the Greek Press and Communication Office in Warsaw in collaboration with the Center for Hellenic Studies in Warsaw University.

The program included public lessons and story telling, educational competitions

(such as “treasure hunt”), and music events, while participating institutions provided promotional material for the languages involved.

The Greek participation featured soprano Katarzyna Gojny, performing songs of Theodorakis, Loizos and Kougioumtzis, rearranged by Odysseas Konstantinopoulos.   PHOTOS :