2010: 34.000 Foreign Media News Items on Greek Crisis

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) together with the Association of Greek Press Attaches hosted a conference on Foreign Media and Greece’s country image in the economic crisis on May 31. 
According to statistical figures presented, in 2010 only, foreign media from 28 countries reported on the Greek economic crisis publishing 34,000 news items, which represents 60% of the total amount of news items on Greece altogether for the year.
Britain was the country with the most copious reports on Greece in general and the London Financial Times was the newspaper, which covered the economic crisis more frequently and extensively, at a global level.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

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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)

PM George Papandreou interviews at “El Pais” & “Al Jazeera”

Prime Minister Georges Papandreou was interviewed by the Spanish daily “El Pais” (May 23).

In a three page interview, the premier answered questions regarding the economic situation in Greece noting that the euro-zone has reached a tipping point which will bring it before an “historic reflection period.”
In the case of Greece, the international community did not react in a timely manner, it did not admit that the currency was under attack, and “there was the same fear as when a buffalo leaves the herd.”
Today, the country’s austerity plan is on the right track, but it is not enough if it is to be left without European support. For Papandreou, the support is necessary for all members so to act as deterrent of speculation. “Spain and Portugal were not in a bad situation yet they fell victims of the ambient hysteria.”
In related news, in an interview with Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips  on May 20 in Athens, Papandreou said that Greece will eventually emerge from the crisis with a more viable economy, determined to say “never again.”   
(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.

Ελένη Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ “Γιατί το Βυζάντιο”

Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ Ελένη

Γιατί το Βυζάντιο

Το «Γιατί το Βυζάντιο», το καινούργιο βιβλίο της Ελένης Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ, γραμμένο απευθείας στα ελληνικά, αποτελεί ένα απόσταγμα σχεδόν βιωματικό, από την πολύχρονη διδασκαλία της διαπρεπούς βυζαντινολόγου στη Σορβόννη. Απευθύνεται στο ευρύ κοινό και ειδικά σε εκείνους που τους απασχολεί το ζήτημα της ελληνικής ιστορικής συνέχειας.
«Το πόνημα αυτό», αναφέρει η ίδια, «απευθύνεται σε όσους από τους Νεοέλληνες ταλανίζονται με το πρόβλημα της ελληνικής ιστορικής συνέχειας και στους ξένους (κυρίως τους Δυτικοευρωπαίους και τους Αμερικανούς βλαστούς τους) που αρκούνται στην επιλεκτική γνώση του παρελθόντος τους, άσχετα από κάθε ιστορική πραγματικότητα και με μόνο μέλημα τη δικαίωση μιας σύγχρονης πολιτικής προσέγγισης, που υπαγορεύουν συμφέροντα και ενδιαφέροντα, ξένα συχνά από την ιστορία και το αντικείμενό της».
Η συγγραφέας επιχειρεί να αποσαφηνίσει το Βυζάντιο δια του Βυζαντίου, με πολλαπλές αναφορές σε κείμενα – κλειδιά (Τριακονταετηρικός του Ευσεβίου, Κοσμογραφία του Κοσμά Ινδικοπλεύστη, Τακτικά του Λέοντος ΣΤ’ τυο Σοφού, Βίος Ιακώβου του Νεοφωτίστου, Σχόλια του Τζέτζη, Επαναγωγή κ.ά.), τα οποία, κατά τη γνώμη της, εκφράζουν συνοπτικά τα χαρακτηριστικά της βυζαντινής ψυχοσύνθεσης ή σημαδεύουν παραστατικά τομές και στροφές της ιστορίας του Βυζαντίου.
Ο στόχος της Ελένης Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ είναι ο εξής, όπως τον διατυπώνει στον Πρόλογό της: «Να βάλω, κατά το δυνατόν, έστω εκ του πλαγίου και λάθρα σχεδόν, το Βυζάντιο στη θέση που τα επιτεύγματά του μας υπαγορεύουν: να πω συνοπτικά, εννοώ, αυτά που το αναδεικνύουν ως την πρώτη ευρωπαϊκή αυτοκρατορία και που εξηγούν, όχι μόνο το πολιτιστικό μεγαλείο του (και αυτό ανεπαρκώς ακόμη γνωστό), αλλά και την ασυνήθη για παγκόσμια δύναμη (όπως ήταν κάποτε το Βυζάντιο) μακροβιότητά του».
Η επιλογή των θεμάτων που αναπτύσσονται σχετίζεται κυρίως με φαινόμενα μακράς διαρκείας και μπορούν να ερμηνεύσουν το «Γιατί» της βυζαντινής πολιτικής εμβέλειας (εξ ου και ο τίτλος «Γιατί το Βυζάντιο»).
Αναλύονται οι σχέσεις της πολιτείας με την εκκλησία (αυτοκράτορα και πατριάρχη), του κέντρου με την περιφέρεια (Κωνσταντινούπολης και επαρχιών), του Βυζαντίου με τους πολυποίκιλους γείτονές του, φίλους, συμμάχους ή εχθρούς. Οι συνοριακές συρρικνώσεις, οι δογματικές διαμάχες, οι στρατιωτικοπολιτικές αντιπαλότητες και οι άνισες κοινωνικές διαβαθμίσεις που ρύθμιζαν την καθεστηκυία τάξη εξηγούν τη δυσκολία της βυζαντινής κοινωνίας αλλά και της πολιτικής να ανταποκριθεί στις απαιτήσεις των καιρών. Η πτώση της αυτοκρατορίας πρώτα στα χέρια των Σταυροφόρων (1204) και τελικά στους Οθωμανούς (1453) προλογίζουν την χαλεπότητα της μετέπειτα εποχής που θεμέλιό της ωστόσο μένει η πολύχρονη βυζαντινή εμπειρία: θρησκευτική, ιδεολογική και βιωματική. Απόηχός της ως τις μέρες μας μπορεί να θεωρηθεί η αμφίσημη σχέση των Νεοελλήνων με τη Δύση και με την Ανατολή, πρόβλημα της νεοελληνικής ταυτότητας.
Εκδόσεις: Ελληνικά Γράμματα

PM Papandreou interview on BBC

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) “Greece is not looking for an EU bailout but for political support from its European counterparts” said Prime Minister George Papandreou in an interview yesterday on BBC One, on the sidelines of his visit to London.
“Give us the time, give us the support – and I’m not talking about financial but political support – in order to show you that what we’re saying is being implemented and we are credible again,” stressed Papandreou, emphasizing on the fact that Greece needs to borrow at the same rate as other countries.
Meanwhile, speaking to “Der Spiegel,” Papandreou expressed confidence that Greece can achieve its target to reduce its budget deficit by implementing serious economic reforms.
BBC News: Greece ‘not looking for bailout,’ Papandreou tells BBC  

PM George Papandreou in Moscow

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Prime Minister George Papandreou arrived in Moscow yesterday for a two-day working visit during which he will be holding meetings with President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss economic, commercial, military and political issues. Speaking to the Itar-Tass news agency, ahead of the visit, George Papandreou said that the level of Greek-Russian relations is excellent while he described relations between the European Union and Russia as having strategic importance. In another interview with the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti, the premier stressed that Greece is expecting political support and not economic aid from the European Union.  “Greece did not appeal for economic aid to the international community or to the European Union. Greece intends and is capable of solving its problems alone,” the prime minister said. Referring to the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline, Papandreou said that its construction can begin in six months.

Ο “Χορός θανάτου” του Στρίντμπεργκ σε θέατρο της Αθήνας

 

Ένας αινιγματικός χορός για τρεις από την ομάδα “Υστερόγραφο”
Στις 14 Ιανουαρίου ξεκίνησε παραστάσεις ο «Χορός Θανάτου» του Αυγούστου Στρίντμπεργκ από τη θεατρική ομάδα Υστερόγραφο στο Studio Μαυρομιχαλή.
Ο Έντγκαρ και η Άλις ζουν σε ένα απομονωμένο νησί του Σουηδικού αρχιπελάγους.  Εκείνος είναι λοχαγός, εκείνη ήταν ηθοποιός αλλά τα έχει παρατήσει.  Πλησιάζει η 25η επέτειος των γάμων τους και εκείνοι ασφυκτιούν μέσα στο μικρόκοσμό τους.  Δεν κάνουν παρέα με άλλους ανθρώπους στο νησί, έχουν στείλει τα παιδιά τους στην πόλη για να σπουδάσουν και με κάθε τρόπο πληγώνουν ο ένας τον άλλο, κάτι που δεν εμπεριέχει απαραίτητα κακία, είναι στοιχείο της σχέσης τους.
Η έλευση του Κουρτ, εξαδέλφου της Άλις, στο νησί θα περιπλέξει την κατάσταση.  Ο Κουρτ έχει έρθει να αναλάβει προϊστάμενος του λοιμοκαθαρτηρίου.  Τους τρεις τους, τους δένει ένα κοινό παρελθόν και πιθανότατα διάφορα μυστικά, λιγότερο ή περισσότερο ένοχα. Ο Κουρτ θα ενταχθεί για στο μικρόκοσμο του ζευγαριού.  Οι καταστάσεις θα οδηγήσουν και τους τρεις σε ακραίες επιλογές.  Η αλήθεια και το ψέμα, ο θάνατος και η ζωή, αρχίζουν να μπερδεύονται.  Οι ισορροπίες θα ανατραπούν, ωστόσο λίγα πράγματα θα αλλάξουν. Σημείωμα σκηνοθέτη
Ο Έντγκαρ και η Άλις.  Ένα ζευγάρι σε ένα απομονωμένο νησί, χωρίς φίλους και κοινωνικές επαφές.  Μοιάζουν να αλληλοσπαράσσονται μέρα-νύχτα.
Ο Κουρτ. Ο ξάδελφος, και αργότερα –ή μήπως και παλαιότερα;– ο εραστής της Άλις.  Μοιάζει άλλοτε για θύμα τους και άλλοτε για εισβολέας στη ζωή τους.
Διαβάζοντας το έργο του Στρίντμπεργκ η αίσθηση που είχα είναι ότι ο συγγραφέας δε θέλει λύσεις.  Αν τις ήθελε θα τις έδινε.
Ένας χορός για τρεις, αινιγματικός, σε μια παράσταση που επίσης δε θέλει να λύσει τα αινίγματα, αλλά να τα προβάλλει.  Η προσπάθειά μας ήταν να βρούμε τους τρόπους με τους οποίους ο συγγραφέας προβάλλει αυτά ακριβώς τα αινίγματα και να τους αναδείξουμε.
Μετάφραση: Μίνως Βολανάκης
Σκηνοθεσία: Γιώργος Γιανναράκος
Σκηνικά – Κοστούμια: Νίκη Πέρδικα
Μουσική: Κώστας Μαντζώρος
Χορογραφία: Στέλλα Κρούσκα
Φωτισμοί-φωτογραφίες: Αντώνης Συμεωνάκης
Βοηθός σκηνοθέτη: Στέφανος Μονδέλος
Παίζουν οι ηθοποιοί:  Κωνσταντίνος Χατζούδης , Αγγελική Λεμονή,  Σπύρος Ζουπάνος
(Πηγή: ElCulture.gr)

Greece: Essential Info

Visit the “Greece-Essential Info” link, on the Secretariat General of Information website (www.minpress.gr), to find numerous interesting links covering almost every aspect of contemporary Greek reality. Also visit the “Greece in the World,” “World Media articles on Greece,” as well as the “About Greece” + “About Brand Greece” relevant sections. Apart from its frequently updated english website, the Secretariat General of Information issues three specialised bulletins: the english online daily bulletin Greek News Agenda (www.greeknewsagenda.gr) and the weeklies GrèceHebdo (in French), Griechenland Aktuell (in German) and Boletín Griego de Noticias (in Spanish). A German weekly edition is also forthcoming.

Greek Prime Minister: “There are no Easy Solutions to the Crisis”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Tuesday reiterated his unwavering devotion to the duty mandated by the international financial crisis, warning that there were no easy solutions or recipes. Addressing a meeting of his party’s parliamentary group, the premier said that uncertainty and intense worry over the explosion in unemployment, as well as a fear of recession, prevail throughout Europe. He added that the repercussions inevitably affect Greece as well. “Greece is not outside or beyond the world,” he said, adding that the times beckon a responsible position. “We can convert the international financial crisis into a national opportunity. I am here, and I will fight with all my strength. The Greek people, with unity and unanimity, can win the challenges at this international conjuncture,” the prime minister stressed. On the Vatopedi Monastery-State land transactions affair, the premier said: “I assume our share of the responsibility.” He further added “I underestimated the issue, I did not see its dimensions early on, I did not have the full picture,” Karamanlis conceded, stressing that “the mistake is mine, and I am not passing it on to anyone.”  Athens News Agency: PM Karamanlis: There are no easy solutions 

Celebrating Greece’s entry into World War II

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Greece celebrated the 68th anniversary of the country’s entry into World War II on Tuesday, which marks with a traditional military parade in Thessaloniki, in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and the country’s political and military leadership. The parade wound up the annual three-day series of events held in Thessaloniki. In his statements, President Papoulias stated that “when the people and military, united, confronted the enemy, today we are also ready not only to confront any threats but to work and cooperate in order for the Balkans to be a place of peace, cooperation and cordial understanding.” Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis stressed that “… Greece is now building the future with an integrated European awareness of understanding and cooperation, and always undertakes initiatives so that all the countries of the wider region may accede to Euroatlantic institutions, providing that they fulfil the criteria and rules of good neighbourliness.” In Athens and in the rest of the country, the holiday was celebrated with the customary student parades. Athens News Agency: Greece celebrates anniversary of WWII entry

Greek Finance Minister at IMF: Restoring Trust

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Thanks to its relatively solid banking system, Greece is ‘insulated’ enough against the clogged financial system that has been inflicting the global economy; however, the necessity to fortify financial policy and cohere with fiscal principles is urgent. The remarks belong to Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis speaking to the press in Washington on the occasion of his address at the International Monetary Fund annual meeting’s plenary session. Alogoskoufis noted that IMF has projected a prolonged crisis which will last through 2009. The conclusions drawn at IMF coincide with the ones of G7 and Ecofin and call for action to assure liquidity, remove toxic assets from banks’ balance-sheets, consolidate capitals and provide guarantees to rebuild credit trust. As for Greece’s stance on the matter, the minister reiterated that bank deposits are now guaranteed by law and that the comparatively high growth rates and the ongoing decrease in unemployment signal a lighter disturbance by the latest financial turbulence. Ministry of Economy and Finance: Speech by Giorgos Alogoskoufis & The Greek economy at a glance (October 2008); Greek News Agenda: PM: Growth Secured & Special Issue-The Greek Economy  International Monetary Fund: IMF Welcomes Euro Zone Plan to Combat Crisis & World Economic Outlook, (October 2008)

Greece: A Pioneering experiment in Pylos

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Neutrinos are elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light, lack an electric charge, are able to pass through ordinary matter almost undisturbed and are thus extremely difficult to detect. Neutrino detectors are often built underground in order to isolate the detector from cosmic rays and other background radiation. The coast of Pylos, in the south western part of the Peloponnese, an ideal location for pioneer Neutrino experiments, since it’s geographical position is close to the greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea (5200 m. at the area of the Hellenic Trench). Pylos is also home to the NESTOR Institute for Deep Sea Research, Technology and Neutrino Astroparticle Physics. The Institute is staffed by a scientific team from the Physics Department of the University of Athens, specialising in research and deployment of phenomena in deep water. A large underwater telescope, 10 times higher than the Eiffel Tower, is being constructed, and its purpose is to monitor and track neutrinos from outer space. It is one of four similar projects in the world. The sea water is important because it absorbs most of the light as well as other electromagnetic radiation, allowing only the ever elusive neutrinos to pass through. It is the great depth, combined with the close proximity to the shore that Pylos offers as its comparative advantages in competing with the two other European observatories – Antares, in France, and Nemo, in Italy. The prize will be the selected site for KM3Net, the future European infrastructure for neutrino telescopy. The 24th International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics (NEUTRINO 2010) is scheduled to take place in Athens in January 2010. Secretariat General of Information: About Greece – Scientific & Technological Research; Ministry of Development- Secretariat General of Research & Technology: Supervised Bodies; National Observatory of Athens: www.noa.gr; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research: Institute of Oceanography

Vote for Greek Natural Wonders

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The Petrified Forest of Lesvos, the Meteora Rocks, Mount Olympus, and Santorini, Archipelago are candidates for the list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, to be compiled next summer in an online poll. The voting procedure of all candidates will be completed on July 7, 2009, when the 77 partaking sites will be chosen. Afterwards, 21 of them will be elected and the vote will be repeated. The final declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature will be in 2010. The New Seven Wonders of Nature: Vote for your nominee; Live Ranking: see the Top 77 of today; New7Wonders of Nature Nominees Europe

The Greek Idea

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Maria Koundoura: The Greek Idea: The Formation of National and Transnational Identities, I. B. Tauris, 2007  How do those living in diaspora form their own national and transnational identity? The Greek Idea offers a new critical paradigm from which to explore these identities. Drawing upon postcolonial theory, Maria Koundoura addresses and analyzes the cultural material that produced Greece’s representation as both Europe’s origin and “other”.  The long association of Greece and English Literature began with English travellers’ “discovery” of Greece in the late-eighteenth century and the reinforcement of the myth which placed Greece as the location of Western culture. Koundoura maps what this representation signifies for Greeks, both national and diasporic. In doing so she touches on England, Greece, the United States, Australia and twentieth century diaspora cultures.  Reading Greece: A Comprehensive Guide & Hellenic Authors’ Society & National Book Centre; Modern Greek Studies Association, US 

Doing Business in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   According to the Doing Business 2009 Report, Greece has improved its overall Ease of Business index, moving up to rank 96 (from 106 in 2008). Greece cut the minimum capital requirement to start a business by 80%, reduced capital tax and made publication of company statutes quicker. It also introduced electronic payment of social security tax, and passed a new bankruptcy law that is expected to allow more companies in distress to emerge as going concerns. Finally, Greece strengthened director accountability by making it easier for shareholders to sue directors for damages caused by related-party transactions.  The Doing Business Report, published by the World Bank Group, is tracking reforms in 181 economies. Greece’s areas of reform were: Starting a Business, Protecting Investors, Paying Taxes, Closing a Business  InvestInGreece Agency: www.investingreece.gov.gr; Competitive Greece: Surveys on Competitiveness;  Ministry of Economy &  Finance: Tax Reform & Investment Incentives Law  Greek News Agenda: The Greek Economy-Pointers; Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- A New Economic Policy: creating a favorable environment for investment  Secretariat General of Information: World Media on Greece – Special Reports

Greece – Essential Info

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Visit the “Greece-Essential Info” link, on the Secretariat General of Information website (www.minpress.gr), to find numerous interesting links covering almost every aspect of contemporary Greek reality. Also visit the “Greece in the World,” “World Media articles on Greece,” as well as the “About Greece” + “About Brand Greece” relevant sections. Apart from its frequently updated english website, the Secretariat General of Information issues three specialised bulletins: the english online daily bulletin Greek News Agenda (www.greeknewsagenda.gr) and the weeklies GrèceHebdo (in French) and Boletín Griego de Noticias (in Spanish). A German weekly edition is also forthcoming. Greek News Agenda recent Special Issues: Greek News Sources Online; 2008 Events in Greece, A Mini Guide; Thessaloniki – City of Culture; Learning Greek among Greeks; Studying in Greece; The Greek Economy: Pointers; Summer Festive Times; Thessaloniki International Film Festival; The Jews of Greece