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

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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.”

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 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. 

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 Ideas in Action…in China

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)              General Secretary for Information Panos Livadas was in Beijing last week at the invitation of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu. Livadas was the media director of the Press Centre for non-accredited to the Games journalists during the ATHENS 2004 Olympics (www.mediainfo2004.gr). BOCOG adopted his idea and publicly paid tribute to his advice and contribution in setting up and operating the Beijing International Media Center for non-accredited journalists opened on July 8. More than 5,000 reporters, including 2,700 from abroad, have been registered so far. “I am very happy to see that BOCOG has set up a media center for non-accredited journalists” Livadas said, adding that “such reporters like to focus on the social and cultural aspects of the host nation.” He further pointed out that the legacy of holding the Athens Olympics was positive, and Greece used the event to re-brand itself. “I am sure the Beijing Olympics will be truly wonderful,” he underscored.  China Daily: Greek official hails media facilities