Prespes Lake Preservation Agreement

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The prime ministers of Greece, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania, on November 27, sent a joint letter to the UN Secretary General, the European Union and the Danish prime minister regarding the environmental protection of the Prespes Lake region shared by all three countries.
After the tripartite informal meeting in a lake-side village on the Greek side, Greek premier George Papandreou told reporters that the three leaders agreed to sign an agreement – in early February 2010 – to enhance the environmental protection of the Prespes Lake region.
They also promised to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation in water management and take measures to tackle pollution and soil erosion. 
Papandreou also discussed with his FYROM counterpart, Nikola Gruevski, investment projects, the possibility of abolishing visas for FYROM nationals, as well as the “name issue,” for which the Greek premier said that new impetus should be given to the ongoing talks for its resolution.
With his Albanian counterpart, Sali Berisha, the Greek premier discussed economic relations, and minority and immigration issues. 
UNESCO World Heritage: The area of the Prespes Lakes 
Greek News Agenda: Meeting @ Prespes

Prespa Lake Conservation Project Gets EU Award

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Conservation of priority bird species in Lake Mikri Prespa in northern Greece – a project developed by the Society for the Protection of Prespa and WWF Hellas has been named one of the top five environmental projects carried out in the EU during 2007-2008, winning a  ‘Best LIFE-Nature’ Projects award.  The Best LIFE-Nature Projects is a new award that aims to identify some of the best LIFE Nature projects that were completed during the reference period 2007-2008. All projects completed within the reference period were initially technically assessed by the LIFE Unit’s External Assistance Team to produce a first list of Best Projects.   The principal aim of the ‘Prespa Lake project’ was to improve the conservation status of the Dalmatian Pelican and the Pygmy Cormorant, but activities have also benefited directly at least 18 other species covered by the Birds Directive.   Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- Greek Environmental Strategic Policies & Hellenic Ornithological Society: www.ornithologiki.gr

Replenishing Lake Karla in Central Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  An elaborate project to replenish Lake Karla in central Greece, which was drained in the 1960s, is set to be completed next March, when it will be used to irrigate the agriculture-dependent area.   Some 135 million cubic metres of water will be transferred from a reservoir containing flood runoff waters, reserves considered more than adequate for the irrigation of the Thessaly Plain. Already some 20 million cubic metres of water has been moved to the lake site.   According to local residents, birds have started returning to the lake. Conservationists hope that the refilling of Lake Karla will restrain widespread illegal boring for water by farmers.    Kathimerini daily: Restored Lake Karla to irrigate Thessaly Plain

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

Greek Lake Districts

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Whilst Greece is mostly known for its wonderful seaside, it also has remarkable places near lakes. Start off in one of the most beautiful wetland areas in Europe: Prespes. Two lakes covering thousands of hectares and situated high up at an altitude of over 800 meters are a paradise for nature-lovers. Next stop Kastoria: a historic town, built on a peninsula in the beautiful lake Orestiada, surrounded by mountains, a different experience altogether! Further east stop in Edessa, to see the waterfall park in the middle of the town. Final destination: the Lake Kerkini, nestled between two separate mountain ranges, one of the few examples of a man-made intervention that has become a great ecological success. It now serves as a safe haven for 227 species of birds and is a paradise for bird-watchers.  Places to Stay: www.yourgreece.gr; More info on Greek lakes: www.visitgreece.gr