Magazyn kulturalny “Kikimora” – Wydanie poświęcone Grecji (lato 2012)

Kwartalny magazyn kulturalny “Kikimora” (wydanie lato 2012, numer 11, s. 200, http://www.kiki-mora.pl), który kierowany jest do rodziców i trendsetterów, specjalizujący się w sztuce, stylu życia, edukacji, projektowaniu itd. opublikował pod tytułem “Hellada” wydanie poświęcone Grecji.
Przed wydaniem publikacji, wydawca Jacek Rekuc oraz redaktor naczelna Agnieszka Marszałek współpracowali z Biurem Prasowym i Komunikacji oraz z Biurem ds. Handlowych i Ekonomicznych Ambasady Grecji w Warszawie.

Magazyn zawiera obszerne artykuły poświęcone modzie dla dzieci i trendom w Grecji (np. fotograficzny reportaż mody inspirowany starożytnymi igrzyskami olimpijskimi, starożytną grecką filozofią oraz mitologią  – patrz «Olympic Games», «Philosophy», “Καλημέρα”, «Σ», «Τhere is no place for Gods»), greckiej modzie oraz wpływami starożytnej Grecji, greckim kreatorom mody (np. Maria Katrantzou), greckim projektantom mody i kreatorom nowoczesnych form sztuki w Grecji  (kino, fotografia), młodym artystom greckim itp.

Równocześnie publikowane są rozmowy poświęcone mieszanym grecko – polskim rodzinom (wywiady zostały przeprowadzone z rodzinami Gmochów, Vasileiadis’ów i Vafidisów) i opisują życie rodzinne w Polsce (święta, zwyczaje, itp.) oraz podkreślają  znaczenie rodziny w Grecji i Polsce.
W słowie wstępnym redaktor naczelna magazynu Agnieszka Marszałek twierdzi, że “rodzina ma się dobrze, greckie kino i dizajn, literatura rozwija się – być może kryzys pozytywnie wpłynie na kulturę i sztukę Grecji. Być może wierność rodzinie, tradycji, ideałom uratuje Greków”.

W sekcji pt “Ateny” prezentowane są atrakcje idealne dla wizyt rodzinnych, propozycje wycieczek, festiwali, wystaw, rozrywki i zakupów w greckiej stolicy (Greckie Muzeum Dziecięce, Muzeum Benakisa, Muzeum Dotyku, Park Uwrażliwienia Środowiskowego im.  Antonis’a Tritsisa, Technopolis, Galeria Rzeźby, dzielnica Monastiraki, kina letnie, sklep muzyczne, galerie, sklepy mody, itp.).
W obszernych artykułach poświęconych greckiej sztuce prezentowane jest greckie kino, zwłaszcza twórczość reżyserki Athiny Rachel Tsangari, muzyka, w rozmowie z grecko-polskim muzykiem i wydawcą Costas’em Georgakopoulos’em, założycielem festiwalu “Art Avant”, fotografia poprzez wywiad z fotografem Christiną Dimitriadis (rozmowa zatytułowana “Wierzę w duchy pamięci”), literatura (publikacja poświęcona pisarzowi Christosowi Tsiolkas zatytułowana “Straszne dziecko starej Grecji”), komiksy i artykuł o  Apostolos’ie Doxiadis’ie.
Publikowane są również reportaże społeczne,  m.in. artykuł dziennikarza o greckich korzeniach Dionisios’a Stouris’a (zatytułowany „Młodzi grecy pakują walizki”) jak też artykuły poświecone greckiej rodzinie oraz skutkom kryzysu gospodarczego.
Pojawiają się także artykuły o słynnych Grekach, takich jak Maria Callas, Arystoteles Onassis i Telis Savalas.

National Elections 2012 – Press Center & Accreditation of Media Representatives

In view of the upcoming Parliamentary Elections of June the 17^th 2012, the Secretariat General of Information & Communication – Secretariat General of Mass Media is setting up a Press Center in Zappeion Hall for Media facilitation
– Friday, June the 15^th, 2012: from 14:00 to 22:00 hrs                            
– Saturday, June the 16^th, 2012: from 09:00 to 22:00 hrs
– Sunday, June the 17^th, 2012: from 09:00 until the end of the working day         

Press Center technical infrastructure and equipment includes:

• two working rooms fully equipped  with total capacity of 220 seats (telephones, PC’s, wi-fi internet access, printers, fax machines, photocopiers, two plasmawalls  with 9 tv screens, tv monitors, radio booths)
• a Press Conference room with interpretation booths, audio system and plasma  tv screens
• Accreditation and Information Desk

A special accreditation card is required to access the Press Center.

Media directors are kindly requested to confirm the names of their respective media representatives, mobile phone numbers and e-mails to the Secretariat General of Information & Communication – Secretariat General of Mass Media (fax no: 210 9098313 and 210 9098344, e-mail: publicrelations2@minpress.gr) until  Monday, June the 11^th, 2012 and 14:00 hrs at the latest, by filling in the above application form: http://www.minpress.gr/minpress/en/senforma_diapisteusis_17_june_.pdf

 The above mentioned procedure applies also for technical/tv crew accreditations.
We would like to point out that the media representatives who were accredited for the elections of May the 6^th do not need to fill in an application form again. They can use the same accreditation card and they are just asked to send an e-mail confirming that they are going to cover the elections of June the 17^th.   

Accreditation cards (for those applying for the first time) can be collected as follows:

• From Tuesday,  June the 12^th, 2012 until Thursday,  June the 14^th, 2012 from 09:00 to 19:00 hrs  from the Secretariat General of Information & Communication- Secretariat General of Mass Media (11 Fragoudi Str. & Al. Pantou,  Kallithea, office 405, 4^th floor).
• Friday, June the 15^th, 2012 from 08:30 to 12:00 hrs from the Secretariat General of Information & Communication- Secretariat General of Mass Media and from 14:00 to 22:00 hrs from the Accreditation  and Information Desk of the Press Center at Zappeion Hall.
• Saturday, June the 16^th and Sunday June the 17^th, 2012 from the Accreditation Secretariat and Information Desk at Zappeion Hall during the above working hours.

A last minute accreditation procedure for media representatives is possible only by presenting ID Card and Press Card along with a letter signed by the director of the Media.

National Elections 2012 – Press Center & Accreditation of Media Representatives

In view of the upcoming Parliamentary Elections of May the 6^th, 2012, the Secretariat General of Information & Communication – Secretariat General of Mass Media is setting up a Press Center in Zappeion Hall for Media facilitation
– Friday, May the 4^th, 2012: from 14:00 to 22:00 hrs                                        
– Saturday, May the 5^th, 2012: from 09:00 to 22:00 hrs
– Sunday, May the 6^th, 2012: from 09:00 until the end of the working day       

  

Press Center technical infrastructure and equipment includes:
* two working rooms fully equipped  with total capacity of 220 seats (telephones, PC’s, wi-fi internet access, printers, fax machines, photocopiers, two plasmawalls  with 9 tv screens, tv monitors, radio booths)
* a Press Conference room with interpretation booths, audio system and plasma  tv screens
* Accreditation and Information Desk

A special accreditation card is required to access the Press Center.
Media directors are kindly requested to confirm the names of their respective media representatives, mobile phone numbers and e-mails to the Secretariat General of Information & Communication – Secretariat General of Mass Media (fax no: 210 9098313 and 210 9098344, e-mail: publicrelations2@minpress.gr) until  Monday, April the 30^th, 2012 and 18:00 hrs at the latest, by filling in the above application form:
http://www.minpress.gr/minpress/en/media_accreditation_form_elections_2012_en-2.doc

The above mentioned procedure applies also for technical/tv crew accreditations.

Grecja: Spadek importu oraz wzrost eksportu

W styczniu b.r. został odnotowany spadek łącznej wartości eksportu o 14,8%. Dane dotyczące eksportu nie uwzględniają olei mineralnych. Łączna wartość eksportu wyniosła 2.263,4 mln. Euro wobec 2.655,1 mln Euro w porównaniu ze styczniem 2011.
Łączna wartość importu wyniosła 2.625,7 mln Euro wobec 3.916,4 mln Euro w styczniu 2011.
Łączna wartość eksportu w styczniu 2012 osiągnęła kwotę 1.580,2 mln Euro wobec 1.437,3, w zestawieniu ze styczniem 2011.
Łączna wartość eksportu, nie uwzględniająca olei mineralnych w miesiącu styczniu 2012 osiągnęła kwotę 1.226,4 wobec stycznia 2011, odnotowując wzrost o 3,2%.
W okresie dwunastu miesięcy od lutego 2011 do stycznia 2012, łączna wartość eksportu, nie uwzględniająca olei mineralnych wykazała wzrost o 8,0% w porównaniu z analogicznym dwunastomiesięcznym okresem 2010 – 2011.
Łączna wartość importu, nie uwzględniająca olei mineralnych, spadła o 13,2% w porównaniu z analogicznym dwunastomiesięcznym okresem 2010 – 2011.

Zgodnie z Greckim Urzędem Statystycznym (ELSTAT) dane statystyczne dotyczące importu i eksportu olei mineralnych obliczane są zgodnie z danymi pochodzącymi z urzędów celnych. „Niekompletne deklaracje celne”  dotyczące olei mineralnych, po przeprowadzonej kontroli za miesiąc styczeń 2011 zostały uwzględnione w statystykach handlu zagranicznego. Dla tej kategorii produktów odpowiednie przetwarzanie deklaracji za miesiąc 2012 nie zostało zakończone  i nie zostały uwzględnione one w całości, co w konsekwencji przyczynia się do nieporównywalności danych odnoszących się do miesięcy styczeń 2012 i styczeń 2011. W przypadku importu olei mineralnych nieporównywalność danych dotyczy również miesięcy od października do grudnia 2011.

Pod linkiem strony internetowej „Greece is changing”, dostępne są informacje na temat poprawy deficytu transakcji bieżących w okresie 2010-2011: http://cdn.greeceischanging.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/COMPETITIVENESS_RECOVERING.pdf

Πτώση εισαγωγών και αύξηση εξαγωγών

Μείωση 14,8% κατέγραψε η συνολική αξία των εισαγωγών – αφίξεων, χωρίς τα πετρελαιοειδή τον Ιανουάριο, στα 2.263,4 εκατ. ευρώ έναντι 2.655,1 εκατ. ευρώ τον αντίστοιχο μήνα του 2011.
Η συνολική αξία των εισαγωγών ανήλθε σε 2.625,7 εκατ. ευρώ έναντι 3.916,4 εκατ. ευρώ σε σύγκριση με τον Ιανουάριο του 2011.
Η συνολική αξία των εξαγωγών – αποστολών κατά τον μήνα Ιανουάριο 2012 ανήλθε στο ποσό των 1.580,2 εκατ. ευρώ έναντι 1.437,3 εκατ. ευρώ σε σύγκριση με τον αντίστοιχο μήνα του έτους 2011.

Greek Exports Rise to Over 10% of GDP

Exports account for more than 10% of Greece’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or more than €20 billion on an annual basis, recording a 13% growth rate, according to the Panhellenic Exporters Association.
In a report over export trends in the January-August period, the Association estimates that Greek exports grew by 11% (€18 billion) last year, while the Organisation for Economic Cο-Operation and Development (OECD) has revised upwards its projections for a 9.4% growth rate, from an initial 6%.
Presenting the report, the Association Chairwoman Christina Sakellaridi said the figures “confirm the importance of exporting business activity in the effort towards the recovery of the Greek economy.”

 Greek exports -excluding oil products- surpassed €20.5 billion in the September 2010-August 2011 period, an increase by 13.3% compared to the previous 12-month period. The August export figures represent a 32% rise in fuels and oil products, a 42.5% increase in confidential products, a 15% rise in machinery/transport, a 13% increase in industrial products.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Informal meeting of ECOFIN Council (Wrocław, 16-17/9/2011) – Participation of Greek Finance Minister, E. Venizelos

Government Vice-President and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos attended informal Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings in Wroclaw, Poland, on September 16-17. Speaking to reporters following the meetings, Venizelos said he briefed the Council over decisions taken by the Greek government to achieve fiscal targets for 2011 and 2012, and towards reaching primary budget surplus the soonest possible.

Venizelos said that it is a common position within the Eurozone that all decisions taken during the July 21 EU Summit must be fully implemented and stressed that “an international environment has been fuelling uncertainty, which affects the implementation of Eurozone decisions and our policies’ performance, ones aimed at dealing with the debt crisis. This vicious circle must end.” 

Meanwhile, following a meeting of the governmental committee in Athens, yesterday, chaired by Prime Minister George Papandreou , Venizelos said that the Government takes full responsibility for the implementation of the agreed programme, but this responsibility must be also taken by all European institutions, all member-states, because the July decisions, the decisions of the European Council have an existential significance for the Euro Area.

Polish EU Presidency: Presidency Communique on the informal meeting of the ECOFIN Council
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

EU Foreign Ministers meet in Poland (Sopot, 2-3/9/2011)

Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis was in Sopot, Poland (September 2-3), to participate in the Polish Presidency’s informal (Gymnich) meeting of EU foreign ministers. 
During the meeting, Lambrinidis, together with his Cyprus counterpart Erato Markoullis, briefed their EU counterparts on the recent threats voiced by Turkey regarding the planned start of hydrocarbons exploration in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Topping the agenda was the Middle East peace process in light of the Palestinian side’s plan to bring the state recognition issue to the United Nations summit (New York, September, 19). Lambrinidis highlighted the need for the EU to maintain its unity within the UN, as well as to undertake a leading role in the process. 
The Palestinian issue was inevitably linked to Israel’s relations with neighbouring Arab countries, in the wake of the Arab ‘spring’ and days after the Paris international conference on the future of Libya.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Ομιλία ΥΠΕΞ Σταύρου Λαμπρινίδη στο Πολωνικό Ινστιτούτο Διεθνών Σχέσεων “PISM” (Βαρσοβία, 19/7/2011)

Ο υπουργός Εξωτερικών Σταύρος Λαμπρινίδης εκφώνησε χθες στη Βαρσοβία ομιλία με θέμα “Responsibility and Solidarity: the building blocks of our Union”, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Πολωνικό Ινστιτούτο Διεθνών Σχέσεων (PISM).
Ακολούθησε συζήτηση του υπουργού Εξωτερικών με τον διευθυντή του Ινστιτούτου PISM, Marcin Zaborowski, καθώς και ερωτήσεις του κοινού.
Την ομιλία παρακολούθησαν περισσότερα από 120 άτομα, μεταξύ των οποίων πολλοί διπλωμάτες, ερευνητές και δημοσιογράφοι, όπως εκπρόσωποι των πρακτορείων Bloomberg και Reuters, του Πολωνικού Πρακτορείου Ειδήσεων PAP, των τηλεοπτικών σταθμών TVP, TVN, TVN24 και Polsat, των ραδιοφωνικών σταθμών Polish Radio και TOKFM.
Τα κυριότερα σημεία της ομιλίας έχουν ως εξής:
«Πιστεύω ότι δύο από  τις πιο σημαντικές θεμελιώδεις αξίες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης δέχονται επίθεση τα τελευταία χρόνια. Μια εξ αυτών είναι η υπευθυνότητα, η υπευθυνότητα που το κάθε μέλος της ίδιας οικογένειας οφείλει να επιδείξει απέναντι στους εταίρους του.  Η δεύτερη αξία, η οποία κατά τη γνώμη μου δέχεται επίθεση, είναι η αλληλεγγύη, η αλληλεγγύη που οφείλει να επιδείξει η Ένωση συνολικά απέναντι σε κάθε μέλος της ξεχωριστά. Χωρίς αυτές τις αξίες, δεν θα είχαμε την ΕΕ.
Η αξία της υπευθυνότητας, αναμφίβολα, παραβιάστηκε από έναν αριθμό χωρών στην Ευρώπη και, ως γνωστόν, και από την ίδια μου τη χώρα επίσης, κατά τα τελευταία χρόνια. Υπάρχουν κάποια κριτήρια της Συνθήκης του Μάαστριχτ που όλοι μας στην Ευρώπη συμφωνήσαμε να ακολουθήσουμε. Ως εκ τούτου, όταν δεν τηρούμε αυτά τα κριτήρια, παραβιάζουμε ξεκάθαρα την ευθύνη που έχουμε να εργαστούμε ως εταίροι. Αυτό είναι αλήθεια και αυτή η ιστορία αποκαλύφθηκε στα τέλη του 2009.
Δυστυχώς όμως, με αυτή την διαπίστωση, η συζήτηση πάγωσε τότε σαν να είχε παγώσει ο χρόνος. Αλλά ο χρόνος δεν παγώνει. Κατά τον τελευταίο ενάμιση χρόνο, η Ελλάδα έχει καταβάλλει μια υπεράνθρωπη και πρωτοφανή σε όλη την ΕΕ προσπάθεια να επιστρέψει στην αξία της υπευθυνότητας, τόσο προς δικό της όφελος, όσο και προς όφελος των εταίρων της.

Lecture of Greek MFA Stavros Lambrinidis (Warsaw, 19/7/2011)

PISM – POLSKI INSTYTUT SPRAW MIĘDZYNARODOWYCH
THE POLISH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

 is pleased to invite you to a lecture by

Stavros Lambrinidis

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic   

titled

Responsibility and Solidarity:
the building blocks of our Union

_________________

19 July 2011 (Tuesday) 19:00

Polish Institute of International Affairs

1A Warecka Street, Warsaw
Conference room, 1^st floor

_________________

The meeting will be held in English

Early registration is recommended due to the limited number of seats
The organiser reserves the right to close registration before the deadline

Those wishing to attend are kindly requested to confirm by 18 July 2011

via phone: (22) 556 80 71, or e-mail: kulikowska-kasper@pism.pl

Interview of Greece’s Ambassador Gabriel Coptsidis at “The Warsaw Voice”

As Appealing as Always

Greece’s Ambassador to Poland, Gabriel Coptsidis, talks to Ewa Hancock. (magazine April 2011)

What steps has Greece taken to extricate itself from the financial crisis?
The Greek government has so far managed to successfully complete a series of reforms in crucial sectors. It has radically limited the operational costs of the public sector and fully reformed the pension and labor market systems as well as the local government structure. Greece continues to press ahead with the necessary structural reforms aimed at promoting growth. In this area, steps have been taken to further reduce counterproductive public expenditure, increase competitiveness, remove bureaucratic obstacles from the investment procedure, introduce a new institutional framework for the promotion of exports, and make an organized effort to evaluate public property.
Let me please underline at this point that the European Council of euro-area member states on March 11—which the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, also attended—decided to reduce the interest rate on the loan for Greece by 1 percent and to prolong the loan repayment. These two factors are strong and vivid proof that our partners in the EU recognize the huge effort, the significant progress and sacrifices made so far by the Greek people.
Will the situation in Greece affect Greek investors in Poland?
We don’t expect that the current situation will negatively affect economic relations between the two countries. On the contrary, we believe that new opportunities have been created. Besides, Poland’s sustainable development, with its solid economic foundations, favorable location in the center of Europe, 38-million-strong consumer market and well-educated work force, makes the country an attractive place for investment and business expansion. On the other hand, Greek companies that are active in the countries of Southeast Europe in almost every sector of the economy—including information technology and telecommunications, the finance sector, the food and beverage sector, the energy and petroleum sector, building and packaging materials, construction and real estate—are also active on the Polish market.
When it comes to Greek investment in Poland, about 40 companies with Greek capital are currently active on the Polish market. Greek-owned companies have invested more than 1.4 billion euros and created a total of 11,000 jobs in Poland. Greek-owned companies have developed their business in various sectors of the economy. For instance, Germanos/Play is active in telecommunications, Polbank in the banking sector, Coca Cola/Hellenic Bottling Company in beverages, J&P Avax and Alfa Grisin in construction, Terna Energy in renewable energy, Chipita in food, and Totolotek in gaming.

Συνέντευξη ΥΠΕΞ Δ. Δρούτσα στην πολωνική εφημερίδα Rzeczpospolita (22.1.2011)

Η εφημερίδα Rzeczpospolita δημοσίευσε στην έκδοση του Σαββατοκύριακου (22-23/1/2011) συνέντευξη του Υπουργού Εξωτερικών Δημήτρη Δρούτσα, η οποία παραχωρήθηκε στη δημοσιογράφο Katarzyna Zuchowicz κατά τη διάρκεια της επίσημης επίσκεψης του υπουργού στη Βαρσοβία στις 19 Ιανουαρίου και διευθετήθηκε κατόπιν ενεργειών του Γραφείου Τύπου.
Πληρέστερη μορφή της συνέντευξης έχει αναρτηθεί στην ηλεκτρονική σελίδα της εφημερίδας (http://www.rp.pl/artykul/598043.html). 
Με τίτλο «Οι Έλληνες έχουν δικαίωμα να διαμαρτύρονται» και υπότιτλο «Συνομιλία / “Αποφύγαμε το χείριστο, δηλαδή την πτώχευση»” διαβεβαιώνει ο επικεφαλής του Ελληνικού Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Δημήτρης Δρούτσας», η δημοσιογράφος αναφέρει εισαγωγικά τα εξής:
«Νέες διαδηλώσεις κατά των κυβερνητικών σχεδίων εξοικονόμησης συγκλονίζουν την Ελλάδα. Τις τελευταίες ημέρες απεργούσαν γιατροί, φαρμακοποιοί, δικηγόροι, υπάλληλοι των σιδηροδρόμων, οδηγοί λεωφορείων στην Αθήνα, υπάλληλοι αρμόδιοι για την καθαριότητα του δήμου στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Την Πέμπτη στους δρόμους ξεχύθηκαν μερικές χιλιάδες άτομα. Στις αρχές Φεβρουαρίου θα πραγματοποιηθεί απεργία στον δημόσιο τομέα».
Ακολουθεί το πλήρες κείμενο της συνέντευξης:

 ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΓΡΑΦΟΣ: Μέχρι πρότινος η Ελλάδα φαινόταν σαν είναι στο χείλος της χρεωκοπίας. Ορισμένοι άφηναν να εννοηθεί ότι προκειμένου να σωθεί, θα πρέπει να πουλήσει τα νησιά της ή ακόμη και την Ακρόπολη. Πως παρουσιάζεται η κατάσταση σήμερα;

ΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΣ: Η Ελλάδα έπρεπε να αντιμετωπίσει μια μεγάλη οικονομική πρόκληση. Και εξακολουθεί να την αντιμετωπίζει, δεν υπάρχει γι` αυτό καμία αμφιβολία. Η παρούσα κυβέρνηση, η οποία ανέλαβε την ευθύνη της χώρας πριν από 13 μήνες, από την αρχή ασχολήθηκε πολύ έντονα με την αναδιάρθρωση της οικονομίας. Και αμέσως προέβη σε οδυνηρές, αν και απαραίτητες ενέργειες. Μείωσε τους μισθούς, μεταρρύθμισε το σύστημα της κρατικής διοίκησης. Μείωσε τον αριθμό των περιφερειών από 50 σε 13. Μέχρι πρότινος είχαμε περισσότερους από 2.000 δήμους. Τώρα έχουμε 350. Χάρη σε αυτό ήμασταν σε θέση να περιορίσουμε τη γραφειοκρατία και κατά συνέπεια τις δαπάνες του κράτους. Δεν θα διστάσω να πω ότι χάρη σε αυτό μπορούμε να καταπολεμήσουμε και τη διαφθορά. Μετά από τόσο δύσκολους μήνες εργασίας έχουμε πλέον σημαντικά αποτελέσματα. Το 2010 μειώσαμε το έλλειμμα κατά 6%. Σε χρόνο ρεκόρ, σε διάστημα μόλις ενός έτους! Είναι άνευ προηγουμένου, όχι μόνο στην περίπτωση της Ελλάδας, αλλά και σε ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη.

ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΓΡΑΦΟΣ: Η Ακρόπολη είναι ασφαλής;

ΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΣ: Είναι μια ιδέα που είναι κάτι παραπάνω από παράλογη. Ποτέ δεν απαντούσαμε σε αυτές τις προτάσεις των ΜΜΕ, διότι δεν τις αντιμετωπίζουμε σοβαρά. Αλλά και διότι ο ελληνικός λαός πραγματικά περνά από μια πάρα πολύ δύσκολη περίοδο. Πρέπει να κάνουμε πάρα πολλές θυσίες. Όμως παρόλα αυτά ξεκίνησε τη μάχη για το μέλλον της Ελλάδας. Οι Έλληνες χρειάζονται σήμερα εκφράσεις αναγνώρισης γι` αυτό που κάνουν. Και αλληλεγγύη. Και σίγουρα όχι τόσο ανόητες προτάσεις, όπως η πώληση της Ακρόπολης.

ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΓΡΑΦΟΣ: Μπορούμε λοιπόν να πούμε ήδη ότι η Ελλάδα βγαίνει στην ευθεία και η κρίση οδεύει προς το τέλος;

ΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΣ: Πράξαμε πολλά, αλλά μας αναμένει ακόμη πολλή εργασία. Είμαστε έτοιμοι – και η κυβέρνηση και ο λαός, αν και η αποδοχή όλων των περικοπών και των αλλαγών δεν είναι εύκολη, διότι αυτές χωρίς εξαίρεση θίγουν τον κάθε πολίτη της Ελλάδας. Η πλειοψηφία των Ελλήνων γνωρίζει όμως ότι αυτές οι αλλαγές είναι αναγκαίες και τις στηρίζει. Πρέπει να θυμόμαστε ότι αποφύγαμε το χειρότερο σενάριο, δηλαδή την πτώχευση. Σήμερα είναι σημαντικό ότι οι Έλληνες βλέπουν φως στο τούνελ και αυτό το φως είναι ευδιάκριτο. Γνωρίζουμε ότι εάν συνεχίσουμε να ακολουθούμε αυτόν τον δρόμο μας αναμένει ένα φωτεινό μέλλον.

PM on Copenhagen Results

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Addressing a press conference on December 18, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed that the Copenhagen United Nations climate summit was an historic moment.

 Papandreou noted that he is pleased to have been committed to the ambitious goals set out by the European Union and added that he hoped that these same goals had been met by other developed countries by the end of the summit.

Regarding Greece’s contribution, he said that as a traditional naval force, Greece will undertake the responsibility of contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases by shipping.
Likewise, Greece will not forsake its commitments to forward initiatives in the Mediterranean, supported by the forthcoming Spanish Presidency. Deputy Foreign Minister for climate change issues, Spyros Kouvelis, on his part, underlined that the Greek delegation had been actively involved in all international meetings held at Copenhagen. “[Greece] is beginning to appear as a force that is pushing an agenda for a different model of growth,” he pointed out.

French Minister Visits Samos

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) During his visit to the Aegean island of Samos, on Friday Sept 18th, French Immigration Minister Eric Besson, accompanied by Greek Caretaker Interior Minister Spyros Flogaitis, visited the Italian vessel of Frontex and the immigrants’ reception centre, pointed out that Greece is confirming its good name regarding hospitality issues.  Besson was in Samos for a briefing on the situation prevailing in this eastern part of Europe, in light of the meeting today, among European Union Interior Ministers on justice and domestic issues, to discuss the increasing illegal entry of foreigners from the Turkish coast.

Greek FM: Relations with Turkey

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  “Bullying does not wash with Europe,” Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said over the weekend commenting on the latest Turkish over-flights in the Aegean, ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ summit, hosted by the new Swedish presidency of the Union. ” say this as an old friend of the Turkish people and a long-standing supporter of Turkey’s European course. Turkey is obliged to adhere to what it has agreed to. It doesn’t have a good record in doing so, but in Europe there is no other way,” Bakoyannis underlined. She also said that she has accepted, in principle, an invitation by her Turkish counterpart to visit Ankara, adding that she would do so at a suitable moment in order for the visit to be beneficial and effective.

EU Migration Agenda 2010 – 2014

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Informal Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs, which is taking place from July 15 until July 17 in Stockholm, discussed the guidelines of a 2010-2014 agenda on illegal migration, according to which, EU members agree to boost funding for Greece and other member states guarding the European Union’s external borders and call upon Turkey to cooperate on curbing illegal immigration.  In addition, EU ministers agreed to support efforts to strengthen the EU border-control agency Frontex and to create a Common European Asylum applying to all incoming migrants. Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos stressed that guarding the Union’s borders is not purely a Greek problem but an EU affair, which requires close cooperation among the member states.  Pavlopoulos said that he is pleased to see that the European Pact on Migration and Asylum signed in Paris becomes a solid base for further negotiations and stressed that there is a difference between addressing migrants’ reception upon arrival, asylum granting procedures and legal migrants’ integration in a society.

Greek FINMIN in Brussels

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The explosion of the unemployment rate in the European Union is the biggest social problem facing EU member-states, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said on Tuesday, adding that employment in Greece remained at better levels compared with other EU states. Speaking an Economy and Financial Affairs Council meeting, the Greek minister said the government was determined to combating unemployment with specific measures, such as programs for the construction sector.  Papathanasiou said the Council meeting also discussed changes in the taxation of tobacco products. “Our interest is to support Greek production, the Greek tobacco industry and job positions,” he said, adding that the Council leaned towards a compromise proposal in favour of Greek interests, although it failed to reach a decision. An increasing number of EU member states entering into excessive deficit procedures facilitates Greece task in requesting a one year extension to 2011, if necessary, to bring the deficit down to 3%. Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Latvia and Rumania join the list of countries with excessive deficits (France, Greece, Spain, Ireland, UK) as of today, while another 9 countries including Italy and Germany are to join the list in November.  Greek News Agenda: Tax Package to Curb Budget Deficit

Lisbon Treaty: “Take the Example of Greece”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  An enthusiastic and hopeful message was conveyed wednesday, july 1st, during Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis’ meeting at Maximos Mansion (photo), with the European Parliament President Hans Gert Pöttering, who is visiting Greece, attending the works of the European Popular Party’s Study Days in Athens.  Karamanlis expressed his gratitude for the outgoing president’s contribution during his long tenure.”[Pottering’s] valuable experience has been the most powerful guarantee for a successful presidency,” Karamanlis said. On his part, Pöttering extended his thanks towards the Greek government and opposition for their support of the Lisbon Treaty. “I am probably the last one since 1979’s first elections. I witnessed Greece entering the European Union in 1981,” he said, adding “countries which have not yet ratified the Lisbon Treaty should look up to Greece and set it as an example.” Reciprocating, Karamanlis stressed that Greece will continue supporting the European Parliament’s initiatives and look forward to the enhancement of the institution’s role.

Baghdad-Athens Flight Take-0ff Soon

( www.minpress.gr )  Greek and Iraqi transport authorities signed a pact that could open the way for direct flights between Baghdad and the European Union.  The accord gives Iraqi Airways the option of opening a route between Baghdad and Athens, which would be the first European Union destination for flights from Iraq’s capital. 
No date was announced to begin the flights. Read more…

Greece: Fiscal Goals Will be Met

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   After assessing the national Stability and Convergence Programmes of France, Spain, Ireland, Latvia, Malta and Greece , the European Commission presented yesterday (18.2) its reports the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou said yesterday that Greece can return to sustainable public finances by 2011. He stated that the difference between the growth rate projections (EU estimates 0,2% growth rate and Greece 1,1%) affects forecasts for the budget deficit and public debt. He even added that EU’s projections between 2006 and 2008 were lower compared to those achieved. “Greece is one of the five countries in the eurozone expected to have positive growth. Unemployment falls below the eurozone average. Seven countries in the eurozone are projected to have a bloated deficit record this year, far higher that the Pact’s threshold of 3% (GDP). Ireland’s deficit is estimated to reach 11%, Spain’s 6,2%, France 5,4%, Portugal 4,6%, Italy 3,8%, Greece 3,7% and Slovenia 3,2%.” “In any case,” Papathanassiou concluded, “between 1980 and 2004, public debt has tripled. Reducing it is not only a matter of compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact, but also because it is in the country’s best interest.”

Cooperation Greece – Azerbaijan in Energy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The issue of cooperation between Greece and Azerbaijan in the energy sector was the focus of discussions held on Tuesday February 17, between Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and visiting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.  The aim of the Greek government was to expand the field of cooperation between the two countries, Karamanlis said. “Our country is the first European Union country to import natural gas from Azerbaijan,” the premier noted, pointing to the Interconnector Turkey – Greece – Italy pipeline carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey and Greece.  Greece has succeeded in becoming an energy hub for south-eastern Europe, a development that promotes the country’s interests and bilateral relations as well as the European strategy, Karamanlis said.  Later on Tuesday, at an event organised at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Karamanlis announced that “Greece is ready to sign agreements for natural gas supplies directly from Azerbaijan,” but also open to long-term cooperation and increased transactions between the two countries in other sectors besides energy.  ERT Online: Energy Cooperation; Greek News Agenda: Greece Turkey Interconnector; Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece – Energy Policy of Greece