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International Court of Justice Ruling on Distomo Case

In an announcement, issued on February 3, concerning an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling upholding Germany’s position, that it enjoys state immunity from being sued in foreign courts by victims of Nazi atrocities during World War II, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the Greek government will study this Judgement closely, in the light of its firm and longstanding position that the matter of German compensations remains open.
The judgement affects the case of the south-central Greek village of Distomo, where Nazi troops killed 214 civilians on June 10, 1944, one of the numerous instances of WWII atrocities in occupied Greece. The court case concerned the confiscation of German property on Italian soil for reparations to be paid to victims of Distomo.

  • MPs Raise War Reparations Issue

Meanwhile, in Athens, 28 MPs from PASOK, New Democracy (ND), Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) as well as independent deputies tabled a motion in Parliament requesting a discussion on issues concerning the so-called German occupation loan from Greece during WWII, as well as the issue of war reparations to victims of Nazi atrocities and stolen treasures from the country.
In a letter addressed to the presidents of competent parliamentary committees, the MPs called on Parliament to adopt a clear stance on this “crucial national issue.”
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

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Touristic attractions of Naxos

 

 

"Portara", temple entrance-landmark of Naxos town

The island of Naxos is the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades.
Due to its important agricultural production, it was one of the latest to open itself to tourism. For that reason, it has kept its authentic beauty which attracts every year more and more visitors.
Naxos has a great variety of things to offer to the visitor: impressive mountainous landscapes with many isolated traditional villages, some of Europe’s most beautiful golden sandy beaches, a charming capital with its Venetian quarter, picturesque fishing villages, many Byzantine churches, ruins, active night life…
Naxos is world famous for its endless golden sandy beaches with crystal waters situated in the western coast.
Some of these beaches has kept their natural beauty and are considered as some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe: Agios Prokopios, Orkos or Plaka.

Ρέα Γαλανάκη “Φωτιές του Ιούδα, Στάχτες του Οιδίποδα”

      Μυθιστόρημα 
Η άφιξη μιας νεαρής Ελληνοεβραίας δασκάλας σε ορεινό χωριό της Κρήτης, το έτος 2000, όσο και το πασχαλινό έθιμο της καύσης του Ιούδα, δίνουν αφορμή για μια τομή στο “άβατον” των σύγχρονων ορεινών κοινωνιών της νήσου, αλλά και για το ξεδίπλωμα μιας παλιάς κρητικής παράδοσης, που αποδίδει στο πρόσωπο του βιβλικού Ιούδα τη μοίρα του μυθικού Οιδίποδα. Νόμος και παρανομία, έρωτες και τελετουργίες, φονικά και αποσιωπήσεις, ρηξικέλευθες αλλά και απαρχαιωμένες αντιλήψεις, συνθέτουν ένα σκηνικό γεμάτο συγκρούσεις και αντιφάσεις, μέσα στο οποίο η νεαρή γυναίκα αναζητεί τις ρίζες της ταραγμένης οικογενειακής της ιστορίας. Παράλληλα, ο περί τον Ιούδα και τον Οιδίποδα μύθος, ένας μύθος για το απόλυτο κακό, βαδίζει πάνω στα σκοτεινά δικά του μονοπάτια: ξεκινά από τα βάθη του χρόνου και φθάνει ως τις μέρες μας, για να υπηρετήσει αλλά και να ερμηνεύσει τις άκαμπτες δομές των ορεινών κλειστών κοινωνιών. Ένα “διπλό” βιβλίο, που αποκαλύπτει ότι μύθος και σύγχρονη ζωή συμπλέκονται σε ενιαίο σώμα, όπως άλλωστε και η λογοτεχνία με την πραγματικότητα.
Εκδόσεις Καστανιώτη
 

Crete: Labyrinth Musical Workshop

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The Musical Workshop “Labyrinth,” founded in 1982 by Ross Daly, started as a group of musicians dedicated to the preservation and promotion of musical traditions from all around the world and to the creative interaction between them. It is situated in a manor house in the village of Houdetsi (20 km south of Iraklion), where people can visit a permanent exhibition of rare musical instruments as well as exhibitions of the work of some of the best of contemporary instrument makers worldwide. Since its foundation, it has served as a meeting point for musicians and music lovers, and hosts special musical seminars, concerts, meetings of musicians and courses in the instrument making. This year workshops on musical instruments such as cello, Cretan lyra, mandolin etc plus Bulgarian, Turkish and Irish music and singing, take place from June 30 to September 6. (Photo: Ross Dali  teaching  a traditional music workshop in Warsaw  September 2006 )

The Greek Islands: Karpathos

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Karpathos (www.karpathos.gr) is the second largest island in the Dodecanese group. Spectacularly beautiful, with wild, rugged landscape, mountainous in the north and fertile in the south, with wildflowers, Karpathos is a paradise for naturalists. It has extensive beaches with white sands.  Traditions have been well kept in Karpathos. In Olympos village, women still wear their beautiful, colourful, traditional costumes every day, and bake bread in their outdoor ovens.