Greece at UEFA EURO 2012

Greece’s EURO 2012 final stage course has begun on Friday 08.06.2012 at 18:00, with the opening match against host country Poland (result 1:1), in Warsaw.
The second match of Greece was against the Czech Republic (1:2) on June 12 and the next one will be with Russia on June 16 in Group A of the Euro 2012 tournament held inPoland and Ukraine, between June 8 and July 1. The top two of each group will qualify for the knock out phase.

Greece, EURO’s surprise trophy holder in 2004, qualified to the tournament having topped its qualifying group with seven wins and three draws. This time, under a new coach, Fernando Santos, they hope to repeat past good performances.

The first football match of the Greek team, on the 8th of June, was attended by the Secretary General of Sports, Panos Bitsaxis.

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Foreign Media and Greece`s Country Image in the Economic Crisis

On May 31, the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) together with the Association of Greek Press Attaches is hosting a conference on Foreign Media and Greece’s country image in the economic crisis.
The event will be held at the premises of the Secretariat General of Information in Athens. The conference will be addressed by the General Director of the Greek Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) Yannis Stournaras, the General Director of the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Martin Knapp, journalist Maria Houkli, French media correspondent, Alexia Kefalas and Bodossakis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, George Tzogopoulos.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Ομιλία του πρωθυπουργού Γιώργου Παπανδρέου στην συνάντηση των προϊσταμένων Γραφείων Τύπου Εξωτερικού

Την Δευτέρα, 17 Ιανουαρίου 2011, πραγματοποιήθηκε στην αίθουσα Εκδηλώσεων (Κέντρου Τύπου) της Γενικής Γραμματείας Επικοινωνίας – Γενικής Γραμματείας Ενημέρωσης η συνάντηση των προϊσταμένων ΓΤΕ και Γραφείων ΕΟΤ, στις εργασίες της οποίας παρέστη ο Πρωθυπουργός, κ. Γιώργος Παπανδρέου. Η ομιλία του Πρωθυπουργού επικεντρώθηκε στην Ελλάδα που αλλάζει και στην ανάδειξη της κρίσης – και της αρνητικής για την χώρα μας δημοσιότητας που την συνόδεψε – ως μιας ευκαιρίας για την οικοδόμηση μιας νέας ταυτότητας που θα επιανατοποθετεί την Ελλάδα στον κόσμο. Προσδιόρισε επίσης τον ρόλο που θα έχουν τα Γραφεία Τύπου και Επικονωνίας στο πλαίσιο της σημερινής συγκυρίας.
Παρατίθεται ολόκληρο το κείμενο της ομιλίας.
(Πηγή: Forum Διεθνούς Επικοινωνιακής Πολιτικής icp-forum.gr)

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:

Tourism campaign “You in Greece”

Greek tourism is about to be given an image boost – through the launch of the latest advertising campaign “You in Greece.”
The campaign aims to promote the country as an attractive tourist destination, but also provide the media with useful statistics on tourism, while shedding light on little known information regarding this year’s tourism prospects.
Visit Greece at: www.visitgreece.gr

This Summer, We Travel to Greece
Another goal is to appeal to the Greek Diaspora to visit and promote Greece abroad.

A two-month campaign has been launched under the motto “This Summer We Travel to Greece” by the bilingual Greek-American newspaper “Greek News” addressed to the Diaspora Greeks, and philhellenes.

2010 Reasons to Visit Greece

The exhibition titled “2010 reasons to visit Greece” is taking place once again at London’s Harrods department store. The Secretary – General of the World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, called Greece “one of the most important destinations in the world and a point of reference for us all.”

So Far Yet So Close

Boundaries in the Chinese market seem to be lifted one by one as increasingly more Chinese explore Greece every year.

Last year, 48 million Chinese travelled abroad but only one million visited Europe.
Chinese tour operators expect this number to increase in the future, stressing that Greece should consider capitalizing on educational tourism.
Visit Greece: “Kalimera” (Good morning)
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Greece in mourning

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Political leaders expressed their shock and grief on Wednesday in the wake of a bank torching in central Athens that left three bank employees dead.

News of the abhorrent attack found Parliament in session to debate the latest round of government-announced austerity measures – the reason unions were holding protests outside the House.

President of the Hellenic Republic

Referring to the current financial situation and the frustration many people are feeling with the political system, President Karolos Papoulias stated the following:
“Our country has reached the edge of the abyss. It is everybody’s responsibility that we do not take the fatal step. Responsibility is proven through action, not in words. History will judge us all.”

Prime Minister

Prime Minister George Papandreou rebuked a murderous attack, while promising that “the perpetrators will be located and will stand trial.” Moreover, the premier called on all Parliament-represented parties to unequivocally condemn the violence.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are a free and democratic country. We fight, and have fought, for the right to live in a democratic Greece. And each citizen has a right to demonstrate.
But no one has the right to resort to violence, especially violence leading to the murder of fellow citizens. And we know that violence breeds violence. Protest is different from murder.”

Opposition Leaders

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras stressed that the country is going through “critical moments,” while expressing his grief for the innocent victims of fanaticism, and random violence.
The leaders of the remaining opposition parties – the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary group Chief Alexis Tsipras and Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) leader George Karatzaferis – each condemned the violence and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families.

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

Greece: Snap Elections for October 4

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Wednesday called an early general election. In a televised address Karamanlis underlined the need for immediate structural reforms and measures to deal with the repercussions of the international economic crisis and what he called decades-old problems of the domestic economy and public sector. He said that strict fiscal discipline, a “war” on tax evasion and long-due structural reforms are imperative. However, as he pointed out, reforms necessitate a fresh mandate which will secure a stable political environment. Leader of the main opposition party, George Papandreou greeted the PM’s decision, calling for a “new beginning” and pointing out that the country’s economic problems where the fault of the government and could not be attributed to the global financial crisis. Secretariat General of Information – About Greece: Political System and Elections in Greece

New Acropolis Museum Welcomed Internationally

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The New Acropolis Museum received more than 90,000 visitors during the first seven days since its official inauguration on June 20, while visits to the new museum’s website exceeded 260,000 from 169 countries, from the Americas to Nepal and Mongolia, Culture Minister Antonis Samaras announced during a press conference, a week after the celebrations.  The cost of the inauguration events, which were attended by several foreign heads of state and government, was far less than the anticipated sum of €3 million. The minister emphasised that the authorities’ target to attract attention through the international media was successfully met. According to Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas, 440 journalists representing 167 media organisations from 36 countries covered the event, producing over 760 news pieces.  Greek News Agenda: Special Issue- The New Acropolis Museum

Greece on Illegal Migration

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Greece received support from many countries, both from the Mediterranean region and from central and northern Europe, for its position that the issue of illegal migration and its handling requires European solidarity that must be shown in practice.  This is what Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said following an EU General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg yesterday, ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on June 18-19.  According to the minister, this display of European solidarity could be shown through upgrading Frontex to manage the external borders of the EU – which in the case of Greece would mean greater presence of patrol boats in the Aegean – and the financial support to deal with the plight of illegal migrants.  Bakoyannis stressed  that immigrants are people with rights, desperate and lacking financially, who place all their hopes on a boat.  Bakoyannis also stressed that Greece’s intention is for specific references to be made in the final communiqué of the EU summit regarding the repatriation conditions, with the agreements that the EU must sign with the countries of origin. 

Greek Expatriate Press Exhibition

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The 6th Exhibition of Expatriate Press will soon be open. The event is organised by the Secretariat General of Communication / Information in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the World Council for Hellenes Abroad and the Cyprian Foundation “Aristotelion” for the Study and Promotion of the Expatriate Press. More than 350 expatriate newspapers and magazines dating back to1900 till today, as well as 250 cover pages from the Cyprus Press will be presented. Moreover, the visitors will be given the opportunity to obtain information online about the history and the activities of the Greek expatriate media.

On the occasion of the exhibition’s inauguration, honourable prizes were given to expatriate journalists for their major contribution to the promotion of the ‘Greek voice’ abroad. The exhibition was held from March 14 until April 6 at the Municipality Cultural Centre in Thessaloniki. Secretariat General for Information:  www.minpress.gr & About Greece- Greeks Abroad; Secretariat General for Greeks Abroad: www.ggae.gr

Fairs – Exhibitions – Conferences in Greece

Athens
ATHENS INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR (21 – 24 May 2009) http://www.art-athina.gr/
ATHENS EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL( GENERALLY FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER BUT DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.greekfestival.gr/ 
ROCKWAVE FESTIVAL ATTIKI – TERRA VIBE (ALREADY PROGRAMMED FOR 27 – 28 – 29 June 2009) http://www.rockwavefestival.gr/home/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDIA AND DISABILITIES ATHENS (22-23 June 2009) http://www.ameamedia.gr/en/conference 
THE ATHENS SUMMIT ENERGY SECURITY & CLIMATE CHANGE (12 – 13 June 2009) http://www.ftglobalevents.com/athenssummit/overview.asp  
RALLY ACROPOLIS LOUTRAKI (11 – 14 June 2009) http://www.acropolisrally.gr/pre/ 
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FILM FESTIVAL ATHENS (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.caid.gr/isffa/about.html 
EUROPEAN MUSIC DAY MAINLY HELD IN ATHENS (18 – 23 June 2009) http://www.musicday.gr/home.php?lang=2
CLASSIC MARATHON ATHENS (8 November 2009 – not in summer time but is worth to participate or visit) http://www.athensclassicmarathon.gr/default.2.asp

Northern Greece  
INTERNATIONAL FUR FAIR OF KASTORIA (7 – 10 May 2009) http://www.furfair.gr/index.php 
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OF THESSALONIKI (28 – 31 May 2009) http://www.thessalonikibookfair.com/?menu=920 
OLYMPUS MARATHON (28 June 2009) http://www.olympus-marathon.com/index.php?newlang=english
SANI FESTIVAL – HALKIDIKI (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.saniresort.gr/page/default.asp?id=3905
EARTH FESTIVAL VLASTI KOZANI (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.oikotopia.gr/EarthFestival-en.htm
COSMOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL KAVALA (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.kavala-cosmopolis.com/en/index.html
Islands 
HALKI INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS (17 – 21 June 2009) http://www.eliamep.gr/en/frontpage/top-story-2/halki-international-seminars-2009-call-for-applications/ 
NAXOS FESTIVAL (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.bazeostower.gr/eng/index.html 
ECOFILM RHODES (23 – 28 June 2009) http://www.ecofilms.gr/ 
GUITAR FESTIVAL HERMOUPOLIS SYROS (12 – 16 July 2009) http://www.guitarfestival.gr/index.php?lang=en 
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE AEGEAN SYROS (1 – 11 July 2009) http://www.festivaloftheaegean.com/schedule.html 
SANTORINI SUMMER CONFERENCES (24 June – 1 July 2009) http://www.ecsa-greece.gr/esa/
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL RETHYMNO (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.rfr.gr/index.html 
ICARUS FESTIVAL IKARIA (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://icarus-festival.ikaria.gr/index.php?mylang=english IONIAN CONCERTS CORFU (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) http://www.corfufestival.gr/index_en.html 
General Info about events in Greece is available at: 
AGROTRAVEL http://en.agrotravel.gr/agro/site/Home/t_section 
MINISTRY OF CULTURE http://www.culture.gr/war/cult_fnews_en.jsp 
MINISTRY OF TOURISM http://www.gnto.gr/pages.php?pageID=851&langID=2 
UPCOMING CONFERENCES IN GREECE http://www.conferences.gr/upcoming-conferences.html 
FESTIVALS IN GREECE BY MATT BARRETT http://www.greecetravel.com/holidays/

Bill for Expatriate Greeks Vote to be Tabled

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The inner cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, approved yesterday a bill that would give Greek citizens living abroad the right to vote in general elections in Greece from their place of residence. Greeks abroad will be included in special electoral rolls to be compiled and regularly updated by the Greek consulates abroad. Each party will be allowed to name maximum three candidates on the party’s state list, said Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. He also clarified that the proposed bill will be transitional.  Once it has been tested in practice, the government would then examine the possibility of representation for specific regions abroad and possible ways to implement the constitutional provision for postal voting.

Opportunities for Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas  visited the USA (Chicago, Atlanta, Washington) last  week (February 2-6). During his visit, Livadas holded a series of meetings with government officials, representatives of Greek diaspora organizations and the media. In Chicago, the Secretary General  met with the state of Illinois Finance minister, Alexi Giannoulias and the city’s mayor, Richard Daley. In Atlanta, Livadas spoke at the Southern Center for International Studies, on “New Opportunities in Southeastern Europe – The Role of Greecewhile in Washington he will give a lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center on “Global crisis: Greek resilience in turbulent times.”

World Media on Greece – 2008 Highlights

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Read a selection of last year’s international media articles about Greece at the Secretariat General of Information website (www.minpress.gr/minpress/en). Among the essential articles are features about the deal between Greece and Russia regarding the South Stream natural gas pipeline, the revival of Greek viticulture, the architecture of the New Acropolis Museum and the country’s good position in the global nation branding index, and the universal influence of Patriach Bartholomew’s spiritual vision. Articles are organised according to subject in the following categories: politics, economy, travel, food & wine, culture, science, sports and special reports. Secretariat General of Information: World Media on Greece – 2008 Archive; World Media on Greece – 2007 Archive; Read highlights of the latest world media reports on Greece

Greece: Public Diplomacy in the Information Age

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)                The International Communication Policy Forum (www.icp-forum.gr / www.publicdiplomacy.gr) is organising the “International Relations and Public Diplomacy” conference which will take place on January 16 on the premises of the Secretariat General for Information. Eytan Gilboa, professor of International Communication at Bar-Ilan University, Israel and visiting professor at the Center for Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California, will be the key-note speaker, addressing the topic “Public Diplomacy in the Information Age“.

Olympic Airlines: Last Boarding Call

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Greek government expects binding offers by investors interested in buying Olympic Airlines to be submitted by January 30, 2009. The privatisation procedure for the country’s national flag carrier is being continued with a total of 17 investors already participating in three tenders to sell Olympic Airlines, ground handling unit and aircraft maintenance services.  Olympic Airlines carried 6.2 million passengers in 2007 to 36 cities and islands in Greece and to 37 destinations in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. Athens News Agency: Binding offers for OA by end Jan.  Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece-Privatisation Policy and the Greek Economy; Ministry of Economy & Finance: Privatisations Agenda

Hijacking Democracy in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   An article by Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas titled “Hijacking Democracy” appears in Huffingtonpost.com (16.12.2008), where he addresses the recent incidents of violence that occurred in parallel with demonstrations in Athens and other cities in Greece, and what lies behind the unrest.

Greek Foreign Minister: Strengthen European Defence Policy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Speaking shortly after the European Union’s General Affairs and External Affairs Council (GAERC) (December 8-9) in Brussels on Monday, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stressed the need for strengthening the European Security and Defence Policy, as well as respect for the EU’s autonomy regarding the adoption of decisions. “The continuous strengthening of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), both political and operational, has always been Greece’s steadfast option and pursuit.” the minister said. She added that the fundamental principle of autonomy in the EU’s decision-making, on which it can and must boost its cooperation with the Atlantic Alliance, must be respected. Asked about Greece’s participation in operations against pirates in Somalia, Bakoyannis said that being a big maritime force it was impossible for Greece not to be a part of an effort by the international community to combat piracy. Topping the agenda of the meeting were the handling of the economic and monetary crisis and achieving an agreement on energy and climate, the main points of which were examined by the GAERC. Other issues included the EULEX in Kosovo, being launched today, developments on the interim agreement between the EU and Serbia as well as the situation in the Middle East and in Congo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: European Policies- ESPD; Council of the European Union: The European Security and Defence Policy (ESPD)

Greek Prime Minister Confers with State Leadership

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Following further acts of vandalism by small groups, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis met  with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias early morning yesterday, and briefed him on the latest upheaval triggered by the loss of the 15 year-old pupil. Following their meeting, the premier held  successive meetings with all leaders of the opposition parties who vehemently condemned the acts of violence perpetrated in the echo of the events. Yesterday, Minister of Interior Pavlopoulos clarified that there is no need for emergency measures to be taken and that law enforcement is being carried out through standard procedure. He further stressed that the government will not tolerate the manipulation of the lost adolescent’s memory and its use as an excuse for delinquency.  Secretary General of Information, Panos Livadas was invited yesterday to participate in BBC World Radio’s Newshour, during which, he reiterated the Prime Minister’s commitment on behalf of the government to indemnify the people whose property was destroyed or damaged. He further stressed that the government is determined to safeguard the right to freedom of expression in a peaceful way, without allowing minorities to infiltrate, creating violent unrest.