Latest News and events

10/03/2010

PM Papandreou says talks with Obama successful
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou expressed his absolute satisfaction over the results of his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, since not only did he find understanding regarding proposals on the joint handling of profiteers, but secured the visa waiver for Greek citizens visiting the United States as well which, as the prime minister said, President Obama decided on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Papandreou termed the visa waiver "a vote of confidence" to Greece and noted that the Greek government is determined to respond to its obligations and cooperate closely at international level on the tackling of terrorism. "I briefed President Obama on the state of the economy in our country and on the determination that we showed in taking difficult measures," Papandreou said, underlining that with the institutional changes being promoted by his government not only in the economy but in other sectors also such as education, health and public administration the country is entering a course of sustainable growth and is becoming competitive and attractive. The Greek prime minister stressed that he briefed the US president on his and other European leaders's initiative such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarcozy and eurozone president Jean Claude Juncker that aims at confronting profiteers and restoring Greece's image in international markets.

08/03/2010

Sarkozy pledges to stand by Greece
A meeting in Paris between Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday ended with the French president's pledge for solidarity toward Greece and Sarkozy's call to Greece's European partners to show their support, stressing that this solidarity was precisely the reason why the Eurozone and the euro had been established in the first place. The French president stressed that France's support for Greece would not be political only and he agreed with the need to combat financial speculators, noting that they were now targeting Greece but could potentially target any other country in the future.

09/02/2010

Finance Minister on new measures
Evidence of income criteria for everyone and cash registers everywhere were just two of the upcoming tax measures unveiled by Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on Sunday, in an interview regarding the government's planned tax reforms that was published by the Sunday edition of the newspaper "Ethnos". The minister repeated earlier announcements regarding the abolition of separate tax rates for certain sources of income and said the government intended to abolish early pension privileges and unfair salaries in the public-sector. At the same time, he stressed the need for everyone to contribute according to their means and to provide protection for those that were weakest. "This is the direction in which the programme for cutting public sector spending is moving and this is also the direction of the tax bill," he said.

05/02/2010

PM Papandreou on tax measures
Prime minister George Papandreou on Thursday announced that measures will be taken for those "who are not paying today but should be paying", referring to the new tax bill to be tabled next week, while speaking to reporters in New Delhi on his official visit to India during which he will attend and address the 2010 Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS). In that context, Papandreou stressed that low-salary and small and medium size concerns need to be protected, adding that his government is determined to make the necessary changes because "if those changes are not made, thing will get worse". The premier noted that the government has sought the input of all sides with respect to the changes, and especially of those who have the biggest privileges and must contribute more to the effort. "None of us is happy with the difficulties the country is facing," Papandreou explained, adding though that "we must turn the crisis into an opportunity, and today is a historic opportunity that we must make use of". "The changes will be to the benefit of the citizens," he added.

01/02/2010

Crucial week for Greek economy
The week beginning on Monday will be crucial for the Greek economy, as the EU College of Commissioners (European Commission plenary) is due to release its recommendation on the new Greek Stability and Development program on Wednesday. Equally crucial is the anticipated release of the budget revenues for January, on which will depend whether the measures decided by the government will be accelerated or applied later. Prime minister George Papandreou and finance minister George Papaconstantinou waged a veritable communications 'battle' over the past week to restore the Greek economy's lost credibility and reverse the negative climate, in a flurry of interviews with the international media on the sidelines of the 40th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, and in the premier's address to the Forum

Other News and events

18/08/2009

Greek Music Concert at Savoy Theater
Lasse Liemola, is giving a Greek music concert at Savoy Theater (Kasarminkatu 46-48) on September 5th at 7 p.m. Lasse Liemola and his friends (Ossi Ahlapuro, Irma Tapio, Meri-Sofia Lakopoulos and Chryssa Skodra) will perform old time favorite songs by famous Greek composers accompanied by Jari Puhakka’s orchestra. Tickets can be purchased through Lippupalvelu, the Finnish-Greek Association of Helsinki and Mr Liemola.

22/07/2009

Suomen kuvalehti on the Parthenon Sculptures
Finnish magazine Suomen kuvalehti (circulation 100.000 coppies) published an opinion-article on the issue of the repatriation of cultural treasures worldwide. According to the writer, the most famous example of such treasure is the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from the Acropolis by lord Elgin in the beginning of the 19th century and today consist part of the collection of the British Museum in London, despite the repeated calls by the Greek authorities for their repatriation. “The British have claimed that the Greeks were not capable of preserving the Sculptures. The new Acropolis Museum discredits this claim”, underlines the writer.

17/07/2009

The museum longs for its marbles
On her Sunday edition, Satakunnan kansa Newspaper hosted an article on the new Acropolis Museum. The completion of the new Museum brings the Melina Mercouri’s dream one step closer to its fulfillment; nevertheless it still has a long way to go. Although the new Museum offers ideal conditions for the preservation of the Acropolis collection, the British Museum still refuses to return the sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon and transferred to London in the beginning of the 19th century, stresses the author. Britain’s proposal to loan the Parthenon sculptures to the new Acropolis Museum for the period of 3 months was not accepted by Greece. The president of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, Australian Mr. David Hill justified Greece’s reaction wondering “what would be your reaction if somebody kidnaps your children and he gives them back to you back for only three months?.” Mr. Rissanen at his article defines the area of the Acropolis Museum and its surrounding buildings as harmonious. He also underlines the omnipresence of natural light and space in the Museum’s interior. According to the head of the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum, professor D. Pantermalis, the Acropolis sculptures are supposed to be viewed in natural light and this was one of the parameters taken into consideration in designing the new Museum. “They need light and space”, says the professor. The article refers also to statements made by the Greek Minister of Culture Antonis Samaras: “We cannot full heartedly rejoice for the completion of the new Museum, while half of its collection is still somewhere else. Acropolis and the temple of Parthenon is a symbol of western democracy and the cultural legacy democratic Athens gave to the rest of the world during the period Parthenon was created”. Finally Mr Rissanen refers to the rising international pressure towards British Museum to return the sculptures. “Greeks are not alone in the struggle” he stresses.

15/07/2009

The world’s biggest underwater museum
The biggest newspaper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat, hosted an article on Greek marine archeology written by the writer and secretary general of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, Mr. Mika Rissanen. Thousands kilometers of shoreline and 3.000 years of maritime history combined with the crystal clear and warm surrounding waters make Greece a true “marine archaeology treasury”, says Mr. Rissanen. There are thousands of ship wrecks lying on the Greek seabed and almost everyday new discoveries are made. Responsible for the protection of the marine cultural heritage of Greece is the Ephorate of Marine Archeology, which was found in 1976. According to the head of the Ephorate, Ms Aggeliki Simosi, a decisive point in forming the Ephorate was a documentary filmed by world famous marine researcher, Mr. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, on the underwater treasures of Greece. One of the ongoing projects of the Ephorate is the mapping of the ancient Kyllini harbor in Peloponnesus, which is carried out in cooperation with Finnish archeologists and the Finnish Institute of Athens. The article stresses out the perplexity of a marine archeology excavation and the extremely difficult task of protecting the marine cultural heritage of Greece from treasure hunters and smugglers, taking into consideration that there are thousands of uninhabited islands and islets in Greece. Last but not least, Mr. Rissanen makes a special mention to “Mentor”, one of the ships that carried the sculptures, lord Elgin, removed from the Parthenon in the beginning of the 19th century. “Mentor” sunk on its way to Britain, offshore Peloponnesus and according to Ms. Simosi, it might be that not all of the sculptures were recovered by Elgin.

06/07/2009

2012 London Olympic Games: the appropriate time to return the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece
The well known Greek newspaper “ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ” on Sunday June 28th published an interesting article on the issue of Parthenon Sculptures’ return to their birthplace and the activities of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. The Associatiοn consists of seventeen Country Committees, amοng them the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of Parthenon Sculptures. The newspaper hosts a short interview with Mika Rissanen, Secretary General of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of Parthenon Sculptures. Mr. Rissanen, strongly believes that the consent of British public opinion on the return of Parthenon Sculptures from British Museum to Acropolis Museum is of crusial importance and that the international cultural organisations should contribute to the effort of the Scultures’ return to Athens. He also considers the 2012 London Olympic Games as “the appropriate time to return the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece. The return of the Parthenon Sculptures would be an extraordinary public relations act for the London Olympics, as this would promote the idea of fair play in the best possible way”. Finally Mr. Rissanen expressed his admiration for the New Acropolis Museum and wished that “the long missing parts of Parthenon’s freeze puzzle would be shortly returned back”.

01/07/2009

New Acropolis Museum visitors
The New Acropolis Museum received 90,000 visitors in the first seven days since its official inauguration on June 20, Culture Minister Antonis Samaras disclosed on Monday. Speaking during a press conference, the minister said that the cost of the inauguration events, which were attended by several foreign heads of state and government, did not exceed the anticipated sum of 3 million euros, adding that the targets his ministry had set regarding the ceremony were met, especially the coverage from international mass media. Four hundred and forty journalists representing 167 international mass media organisations were hosted for the three-day inauguration events, while the cost of the ceremony itself amounted to 1,860,090 euros plus VAT, Samaras explained.

01/07/2009

New 'tourist ticket' for Athens
The Athens public transport organisation OASA on Monday unveiled a new three-day ticket costing 15 euros that will be valid for travel on all means of public transport in and around the city, that will begin to be offered from Wednesday. The new "tourist ticket" has been designed to act as a travel card for those visiting Athens for short stays. It gives unlimited travel for three full days after it is first used, including journeys to and from the airport and the 400 OASA Athens sight-seeing bus. The new ticket will be on sale at the ETHEL buses at the airport, the Proastiakos suburban railway stations at the airport, Larissis and Piraeus, Syntagma metro station and the ISAP electric railway stations at Piraeus and Omonia.

22/06/2009

New Acropolis Museum officially inaugurated
The New Acropolis Museum was officially inaugurated on Saturday evening during a nationally televised and web-broadcast ceremony that brought together Greece's political leadership and scores of international dignitaries, boosting hopes that the purpose-built museum's opening will mark the "reverse countdown" for the long-sought return of the Parthenon Marbles. In one of the most poignant moments of the evening, Prof. Dimitris Pantermalis, the director of the new state-of-the-art facility, pointed to numerous mutilated sculptures on display in the third-storey Parthenon Hall, sculptures whose other half is found at the British Museum in London. Instead white-coloured plaster replicas depict the missing friezes in the New Acropolis Museum. Pantermalis personally gave a guided tour of the museum to international dignitaries, including EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, who addressed the ceremony, as well as to Greece's leadership. "Today, the whole world can see, all together, the most significant sculptures of the Parthenon. Some are missing. Now is the time to heal the monument's wounds with the return of the marbles to where they belong ... their natural setting," Greek President Karolos Papoulias said addressing the international audience and television viewers across the country.

18/06/2009

The Greek News Agenda on the New Acropolis Museum
The Greek News Agenda, an English online bulletin issued daily by the Secretariat General of Information, published yesterday a special issue on the New Acropolis Museum, which is going to be inaugurated on Saturday, June 20th. The Greek News Agenda offers a daily view of Greece at a glance, informing its readers on developments in current affairs, domestic politics, international relations, economy, business, energy, culture, tourism and travel.

15/06/2009

Matkalehti on Ithaca
The well-known finnish travel magazine Matkalehti (circulation 28.000 copies) hosted a five-page article on the Greek island of Ithaca, entitled Ithaca-Odysseus' homeland, signed by Teresa Haukkala. The article focuses especially on the breathtaking beauty of the island’s capital, Vathy, which constitutes the administrative, commercial and cultural center of the island. Moreover, it is mentioned that due to an earthquake in 1953 the town underwent serious damages, but later it was reconstructed following the norms of the traditional architecture, assimilating the British and Venetian influences. In addition, the article underlines that Lord Byron had lived for a while in the island during the decade of the 1820s and concludes by describing the famous Monastery of Panagia ton Katharon, encouraging travelers to visit the North part of the island, in order to “taste’ the real Greek life.

15/06/2009

On Saturday 20th the Grand Opening of New Acropolis Museum
After 188 years of independent life of Greece and 27 years since Melina Merkouri took the historic initiative to build it, the New Acropolis Museum is ready. For Greeks a dream becomes reality and a duty to their own cultural heritage is accomplished. The new Acropolis Museum was designed with two objectives: the first to offer the best conditions for the exhibition of its exhibits and secondly to be a Museum that welcomes and befriends its visitors. A walk through its galleries is a walk through history – between the masterpieces of the Archaic and Classical periods, but also in the ancient neighbourhoods of Athens. The Museum offers many opportunities for rest and recreation, as well as a visitor friendly environment for some of the most emblematic works of antiquity. And as Minister of Culture Antonis Samaras says “There are strong, sacred bonds, connecting us with every single item, from the humblest archaeological fragment to the most ornate figure. All of the artefacts are parts of our soul… Mostly the ones missing! With the anticipation that eventually – better sooner than later – they will be re-united in their birth place and integral form they were meant to be.”

12/06/2009

The Acropolis Rally started
The Acropolis Rally - one of the most historic and demanding races in the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar - opened yesterday (June 11) with a ceremony on the bridge of the Corinth Isthmus. The 56th edition of the Acropolis Rally will be based in Loutraki this year. New tracks have been added to the rally, such as Kefalari, Gymno, Drosohori or Evangelistria, creating a route that covers the prefectures of Corinth, Attica, Viotia, Fokida and Argolis. Moreover, a new dimension will be the live, televised coverage of the final stage of the race, which will take place on June 14 at Aghioi Theodori. The Greek rally is the seventh race on the WRC calendar for 2009 and it is expected to be challenging.

12/06/2009

Gloria Magazine on Amorgos
The well-known monthly magazine Gloria (circulation 61.000 copies) hosted a four-page article on the greek island of Amorgos, signed by the journalist Irene Telaranta. The article focuses especially on the “authentic” and “unique” character of the island, which is characterized as “Greece at its best”. The article reminds that Amorgos came in the light of publicity years ago, as being one of the filming spots of the successful movie "The Big Blue" by Luc Besson. Regardless its fame, it doesn’t attract the masses of tourists the neighboring islands of Naxos and Paros do, thus continuing to remain serene and tidy. The island has picturesque villages, breathtaking landscapes and beautiful beaches, ideal for swimming and snorkeling, while the famous Byzantine monastery of “Panagia Chozoviotissa” constitutes one of the top attractions of Amorgos. In addition, the article makes a special mention on the delicious local cuisine and the traditional local drink, a kind of “roasted arack”. The article concludes underlining that the island offers an almost “healing experience”, while Ms. Telaranta wishes to return to Amorgos as soon as possible.

12/06/2009

Hufvudstadsbladet on Mykonos
The well known Swedish-speaking newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet hosted a two-page article on the greek island of Mykonos, signed by the journalist Camilla Ahlbom. At the beginning, the article makes a special reference to the well known swedish-speaking writer and philhellene Göran Schildt, who travelled to Mykonos with his sail boat “Daphne” six decades ago, when the distinct beauty of the island was still unknown. Later, the island became the favorite destination for many celebrities thus acquiring the cosmopolitan reputation which still retains nowadays. The article underlines that the island has a very intense night life, while Ms, Ahlbom was impressed by the vast number of churches. A special reference is made also to the archaeological site of Dilos, to the famous little Venice and the mascot of the island, the pelican Petros.

09/06/2009

European Parliament election results
The final results of the European Parliament elections held on Sunday (7.6) in Greece are as follows: Main opposition PASOK, 36.65%; ruling New Democracy (ND) 32.29%; Communist Party (KKE) 8.35%; Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) 7.15%; Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) 4.70%; Ecologists - Greens 3.49% (178,952 votes). The remaining 21 parties received a total of 7.37% of votes. The level of abstention reached 47.37%. According to the results, PASOK and ND elect 8 members of European Parliament (MEPs) each, KKE and LA.OS 2 MEP's each and SYRIZA and Ecologists - Greens 1 MEP each. Commenting on election results, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said that the poor showing by ND voters will only increase his resolve to push forwards "on the path towards responsibility." Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou said that there were no winners or defeated citizens, emphasising that what was defeated in Euro-elections were "policies that must be overturned."

29/05/2009

The Greek News Agenda on European Parliament’s elections
The Greek News Agenda an English online bulletin issued daily by the Secretariat General of Information, published today a special issue on elections for European Parliament. The Greek News Agenda offers a daily view of Greece at a glance, informing its readers on developments in current affairs, domestic politics, international relations, economy, business, energy, culture, tourism and travel. It is also a point of reference for issues of general as well as particular interest and provides useful online sources for additional information and documentation. Special editions on specific topics are published periodically.

27/05/2009

Lapin Kansa on the Parthenon Sculptures
The well known finnish newspaper Lapin Kansa (circulation 35.000) hosted an article by the Honorary Consul of Greece in Lapland, Mr. Markku Salomaa, on the request for the Restitution of the Parthenon sculptures. The article entitled “Greece wishes the return of the ancient sculptures” presents briefly the history of the Parthenon sculptures, revealing the brutal way in which many sculptures were removed from the temple and transported to England. Although the British Museum claims it has bought the Marbles and thus it has the right of possession, Mr. Salomaa reminds that Lord Elgin exerted briberies and extortions in order to achieve his goal. The article emphasizes that nowadays there are numerous requests from all over the world on the return of the sculptures in their homeland, while underlines that the first request was already submitted in 1833. The article makes also a special mention to the seminar on the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum, recently organized by the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures -president of which is the minister and former ambassador in Athens Mr. Ole Norrback- at the University of Helsinki-, and its interesting proposal-declaration for the return of the sculptures in the context of the Olympic Games of London in 2012. The article is referring also to the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles -member of which is also the Finnish Committee- underlining that, according to the various committees, it is irrational the fact that the Parthenon Sculptures are scattered and fragmented between Britain and Greece. Mr. Salomaa concludes reminding that at the end of June the New Acropolis Museum opens its doors to the public, offering the best conditions for the conservation of these magnificent masterpieces.

27/05/2009

Matkaopas magazine on Peloponnesus
The well known finnish monthly magazine Matkaopas (circulation 39.341 copies) hosted a four-page article on Peloponnesus. The article, signed by Terhi Kivikoski-Hannula and entitled “Road journey through antiquity”, is actually a peregrination to Peloponnesus, covering a vast area beginning from Korinthos and moving towards Nafplio, Argos, Ancient Olympia, Gialova, Pylos, Kalamata and the fortified town of Mystras near Sparta. The article provides useful information on the afore-mentioned places, focusing on the unique character and the particularities of every region. Ms. Hannula reminds the readers that Nafplio, the important seaport town of Peloponnesus was the first capital of modern Greece, from 1829 to 1834, underlining that Palamidi fortress is very well preserved and worth visiting. Ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games, the Gialova Lagoon, Kalamata and the historic city of Sparta, all have a very authentic and distinct beauty and along with the abundance of archaeological sites fascinated Ms. Hannula who encourages the readers to visit Peloponnisos, especially during spring time, when the nature is at its best.

22/05/2009

International Society can not survive when history is ignored or fabricated
Macedonia Evidence is an interesting site publishing information about ancient Macedonia and its history. Academics, Scholars and Historians exchange views about the history of Macedonia and its king Alexander. The site hosts also a letter of 200 Classical Scholars from around the world-among them Paavo Castrén, Professor of Classical Philology Emeritus, University of Helsinki-sent to the President of US, Barack Obama, asking him to help the government in Skopje to understand that it cannot build a national identity at the expense of historic truth, as our common international society cannot survive when history is ignored, much less when history is fabricated.

12/05/2009

Greek President Interviewed by Suomen Kuvalehti
The well known finnish weekly magazine Suomen Kuvalehti, published an interview of the President of the Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias, who concluded last week his four-day official visit to Finland. During the interview, the President comments a large spectrum of issues such as the Cyprus issue, the FYROM name issue, the integration of Turkey in the E.U and the rise of nationalism in that country. Mr. K. Papoulias would like to see a “European and Democratic Turkey in the E.U, respecting and behaving according to the values of the European civilization”. As far as the Cyprus issue is concerned, the President argues that the Turkish military establishment prevents any possible solution. As far as the FYROM name issue is concerned he believes that no progress has been made after the Greek veto at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, underlining that in FYROM “a hysterical nationalism has prevailed”.

11/05/2009

Suomen Kuvalehti on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
The well known finnish weekly magazine Suomen Kuvalehti, published an article on the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures and the New Acropolis Museum, entitled “Whose Marbles”. At the beginning, the journalist wonders which is the most suitable place to host the Marbles, the British Museum in London where the Marbles are kept during the last 200 years or the New Acropolis Museum in Athens… Ms. Jäämeri underlines that Greeks strongly believe that the most suitable place for the Marbles is the New Acropolis Museum, constructed under the Acropolis Hill. Although the British Museum claims it has bought the Marbles and thus it has the possession rights, Lord Elgin used illicit means -briberies and extortions- in order to take and export the Marbles from Greece that at that time was occupied by Ottoman Empire. The completion of the New Acropolis Museum eliminates for good any hesitation concerning the secure keeping of the Marbles and moreover, the Duveen Gallery of the British Museum, where the Parthenon Marbles are kept, accepts far less visitors per year in comparison with Acropolis. There for, the majority of Parthenon Marbles (51%) that constitutes the Parthenon Freeze is in Greece and the rest that British Museums hosts (46%) should return to there birthplace in order to complete the puzzle. Ole Norrback, the President of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles argues that “the British Museum is a remnant of the imperialistic times and could be satisfied just with the copies of the Marbles”. In addition, Mika Rissanen, history professor, writer and Secretary of the Finnish Committee argues that the Parthenon Marbles is a very special case, since Acropolis is the universal symbol of democracy, philosophy and general values inherited by Ancient Greece. The article concludes mentioning that Greeks avidly want the return of the Parthenon Marbles and they make serious efforts towards this direction. New Committees establish every year aiming to promote the return of the Sculptures from London to Athens and the Finnish Committee made an interesting proposal-declaration asking for the return of the Marbles in the context of the London Olympic Games in 2012

07/05/2009

President Papoulias concluded his official visit to Finland
The President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias concluded his four-day official visit to Finland (May 4-7). During his visit, Papoulias hold talks with his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen, the Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and the Parliament Speaker Sauli Niinisto. President Papoulias and his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen discussed the global economic crisis, bilateral, international and European issues and according to Papoulias they "shared the same positions." The Finnish President backed the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and the return of all antiquities that are being kept in third countries to their country of origin. On his part, Papoulias invited his Finnish counterpart to formally visit Greece and thanked Finland and the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles for their support. The President of the Hellenic Republic was also awarded Helsinki’s Medal of Honour, while on Wednesday he attended a conference for Greek and Finnish business people addressed by Varvitsiotis. During his visit, the Greek president also attended a mass at Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki, led by the head of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Karelia and all Finland Leo and the head of its most populous Helsinki diocese, Metropolitan Ambrosius. Early on Wednesday afternoon, Papoulias addressed a seminar concerning the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, hosted by the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles at the University of Helsinki and then he visited the Helsinki City Hall for the opening of a photography exhibition on the restoration of the Athens Acropolis and the construction of the new Acropolis Museum.

04/05/2009

Official Visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias in Finland
The President of the Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias and his wife are coming to Finland for a state visit on 4-7 May 2009. President Papoulias is arriving today, Monday May 4th. Reception ceremonies and official talks with President of the Republic Tarja Halonen will take place at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, May 5th. The program on Tuesday will include the laying of a wreath in Hietaniemi Cemetery and a banquet at the Presidential Palace. On Wednesday, May 6th President Papoulias will visit Parliament and meet with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. Also on the program are visits to Uspenski Cathedral and the University of Helsinki and the opening of a photo exhibition at Helsinki City Hall. President and Mrs Papoulias will return to Greece on May 7th.

04/05/2009

Seminar on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum at the University of Helsinki
The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, in cooperation with the Embassy of Greece in Finland and the University of Helsinki warmly welcomes you to the seminar on the “Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum”. The Seminar will take place at the University of Helsinki (Great Hall) on Wednesday, May 6th at 17:15. Key-speakers of the seminar will be Dimitris Pantermalis, Professor of Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki and Director of the Organisation for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum and Anthony Snodgrass, Emeritus Professor in Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialist in Archaic Greece and Chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. H.E the President of the Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias and Mrs. May Papoulia will honour the event with their presence.

04/05/2009

Press Conference on the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum at the University of Helsinki
The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures organizes a Press Conference on the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum, at the University of Helsinki (Lehtisali) on Wednesday, May 6th at 16:30. The Press Conference will take place before the opening of the seminar on the “Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum”. It is worth mentioning that at the Press Conference will also participate the key- speakers of the seminar, Mr. Dimitris Pantermalis, Professor of Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki and Director of the Organisation for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum and Mr. Anthony Snodgrass, Emeritus Professor in Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialist in Archaic Greece and Chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. You are warmly welcome!

24/04/2009

Official visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias in Finland
The President of Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias and his wife are coming to Finland for a state visit on 4-7 May 2009. President Papoulias will arrive on Monday May 4th. Reception ceremonies and official talks with President of the Republic Tarja Halonen will take place at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, May 5th. The program on Tuesday will include the laying of a wreath in Hietaniemi Cemetery and a banquet at the Presidential Palace. On Wednesday, May 6th President Papoulias will visit Parliament and meet with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. Also on the program are visits to Uspenski Cathedral and the University of Helsinki and the opening of a photo exhibition at Helsinki City Hall. President and Mrs Papoulias will return to Greece on May 7th.

24/04/2009

Seminar on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum
The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, in cooperation with the Embassy of Greece in Finland and the University of Helsinki organizes a seminar on the “Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum”. The Seminar will take place at the University of Helsinki (Great Hall) on Wednesday, May 6th at 17:15. Key-speakers of the seminar will be Dimitris Pantermalis, Professor of Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki and Director of the Organisation for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum and Anthony Snodgrass, Emeritus Professor in Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialist in Archaic Greece and Chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. H.E the President of the Hellenic Republic Dr. Karolos Papoulias and Mrs. May Papoulia will honour the event with their presence.

24/04/2009

Hufvudstadsbladet on the seminar on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum
The well known Swedish-speaking newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet (51.251) hosted a short article on the abovementioned seminar on the “Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the New Acropolis Museum”, underlining that Greece has demanded the return of the Marbles, which have been removed and transferred to London by Lord Elgin. In addition, the article mentions that the New Acropolis Museum has a special gallery waiting to accommodate the Marbles of Parthenon.

24/04/2009

Greece – Finland Business Forum, May 6
The Embassy of Greece in Helsinki and Finpro have the great pleasure in inviting you to attend The Greece – Finland Business Forum, which will be held on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 10:00 at Finpro premises, (Porkkalankatu 1, Ruoholahti, Helsinki). The Business Forum is organized on the occasion of the Official Visit to Finland by His Excellency Dr. Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic (May 4.-7, 2009). The President of the Hellenic Republic is accompanied by Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and a high-level 20 member Business Delegation representing a large spectrum of industry sectors (ICT, Fashion Clothing, Food & Beverage, Fishing Industry, Jewelry, Travel & Tourism, Chemicals – Detergents and Financing) The speakers will provide an update of the economic situation in Greece and outline the business opportunities in the country. Participating at the seminar you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss investment and business collaboration possibilities with the delegates, who could be your potential business partners in Greece.

13/04/2009

34th International Fur Fair of Kastoria
The Kastorian Fur Association organizes the 34th International Fur Fair of Kastoria which will take place at the Exhibition and Auction Fur center of the city, May 7-10, 2009. The Kastorian Fur Association is the official union of furring entrepreneurs of Kastoria with 362 registered members, founded in 1915. From 1976 onwards, every spring, the Kastorian Fur Association organizes the Annual International Fur Exhibition, always held in the city, which has become one of the most important centers for fur processing internationally, complying with the specific regulations of the sector and with respect to the ecosystem. The annual exhibition is deservedly considered the biggest trade event in Western Macedonia and one of the most important exhibitions taking place in Greece. This year, 128 exhibitors from many countries –and Finland- will participate at the fur fair of Kastoria, which cordially invites the professionals of the sector, hoping to attract once again the international interest and attention.

09/04/2009

4th Meeting of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of Parthenon Marbles
The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens" had its fourth meeting on Tuesday, April 7th. Various issues were discussed, among which, the prevailing one was the organisation of a seminar on the Parthenon Marbles at the University of Helsinki on Wednesday, May 6th. Key-speakers of the seminar will be the Professor of Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki and Director of the Organisation for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum, Dimitris Pantermalis and Anthony Snodgrass, Emeritus Professor in Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialist in Archaic Greece and Chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. In addition, the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures officially proposed the return of the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum back to Athens, to the New Acropolis Museum, in the special occasion of the 2012 Olympic Games that will take place in London. The Finnish Committee argues that the Olympic Games would provide the British Museum with a special occasion for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens and the return of the Parthenon Marbles would be great public relations for London and Great Britain, brilliantly showcasing the idea of sportsmanship and fair play.

08/04/2009

Matkalehti magazine on Athens
The well known Finnish travel magazine Matkalehti (circulation 27.870 copies) dedicates six pages on Athens. The article entitled “Life elixir from Athens” and signed by Ms. Sara Saure, finnish journalist and resident of Athens, presents very interesting aspects of the city for the visitors of the Greek capital. The article argues that, although the modern city has little in common with the city described by Plato and Aristotle, however there are still oases of calmness and tranquility in the center of the city. Moreover, the article presents monuments and archaeological sites of major importance near the Acropolis hill, while in addition, Ms. Sara Saure compliments the Greek cuisine -very delicious and one of the healthiest of the world- encouraging at the same time travelers to visit the New Acropolis Museum.

06/04/2009

Viva magazine on Peloponnisos
The finnish monthly magazine Viva (circulation 42.006 copies) hosted a six-page article on Peloponnisos. The article signed by Arja Talonen and entitled “Craggy and authentic” focuses especially on the “unique” and “authentic” character of the region, the simplicity of which fascinates even the most demanding visitor, while also underlines the cordial and hearty nature of the people. The article encourages travelers to visit Peloponnisos as soon as possible, before the tourist development alienates its character. Ms. Talonen describes the city of Kalamata with laudatory comments, posing the emphasis on the beautiful beaches, the monuments, the voluminous history of the city and its delicious cuisine. The picturesque fishing village of Finikounta, Koroni, Methoni, Pylos and Gialova lagoon were the next stops during Ms. Talonen’s tour in the region, who was surprised by the abundance of archaeological sites, castles and churches.

06/03/2009

European Parliament Elections 2009-Greek citizens living in Finland can vote
European Parliament Elections 2009 will be held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009, the actual polling days varying from country to country. More than 700 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected to represent EU citizens, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history. The Greek citizens living in one of the 26 EU countries –including those living in Finland- will have the possibility to participate in the forthcoming European Parliament elections, following a specific procedure. The voting for the Greek citizens will take place on Saturday, June 6th, 2009, but the voters must have previously filled in the special application form that can be found on the relevant website of the Greek Ministry of Interior (www.ypes.gr). The submission of the application form (together with a two-faced copy of the ID card or the last page of the passport) at the Embassy of Greece in Finland is possible during the period December 15th 2008 – March 31st 2009

06/03/2009

Ευρωεκλογές 2009
« Οι Έλληνες που διαμένουν σε Κράτη-Μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης ψηφίζουμε για εκλογή Ελλήνων Ευρωβουλευτών το Σάββατο 6 Ιουνίου 2009. Δηλώστε συμμετοχή μέχρι 31 Μαρτίου 2009 στις κατά τόπους διπλωματικές αρχές, αυτοπροσώπως ή με απλή εξουσιοδότηση. Πληροφορίες στις διπλωματικές αρχές ή στην ιστοσελίδα www.ypes.gr »

05/03/2009

Aamulehti on the 100 best tourist destinations
The well known finnish newspaper Aamulehti hosted an article on the 100 best tourist destinations worldwide. The list was decided by a team of finnish tourist experts. Santorini is placed at the 4th position, immediately after Rome, the finnish archipelago of Turku and Tokyo. Santorini is considered as the most beautiful island of Greece, characterized as the “unrefined pearl of Cyclades”. A special mention is also made to the famous sunset of Oia, as well as to the sweet wines of high quality produced in the island. In addition, the old town of Corfu and the island of Crete are placed at the 71st and 74th position respectively. The article argues that Corfu has a very distinct beauty, due to its architectural amalgam of Italian and French influences and that Crete constitutes an interesting combination of fascinating landscapes, underlining that Cretan cuisine is very delicious and one of the healthiest of the world.

24/02/2009

Pavlos Matesis’ lecture in Helsinki
One of the most important contemporary Greek authors, Mr Pavlos Matesis, will give a lecture on modern Greek literature at the New Wing of the Main Building of the University of Helsinki (Fabianinkatu 33, 3rd floor, Sali 6) on March 12, 2009 at 6 p.m. The lecture, entitled “Καινούρια ρεύματα στη νεοελληνική λογοτεχνία” (Kreikan kirjallisuuden uusia virtauksia), will be in Greek with a simultaneous slide Finnish translation. The entrance is free. The lecture is organized by the Department of Modern Greek Language of the University of Helsinki.

05/02/2009

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis - A Greek ”superwoman”
Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, hosted yesterday an article on the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis under the title “The Greek superwoman: Europe needs to be further politicized”. The article refers to the Minister’s speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels last week, where among other things Mrs. Bakoyannis stressed the importance of the OSCE, especially on the aftermath of the crisis in Georgia, and the devotion Finland showed during its presidency of the Organisation in 2008. Greece holds the presidency of the OSCE this year. It is also mentioned that Mrs Bakoyiannis is a real “superwoman”, not only of Greece but of the whole of Europe. The Greek FM devoted herself to politics 20 years ago, when her husband fell victim of a terrorist attack.

27/01/2009

Aamun Koitto on the New Acropolis Museum and the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures
Aamun Koitto, the most important and oldest magazine of the Christian Orthodox community of Finland hosted an article on the New Acropolis Museum and the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures, written by the Secretary for Press & Communication Affairs of the Embassy of Greece in Finland, Katerina Depasta. The article entitled “The Parthenon Marbles under the light of the Attic sky” presents briefly the history of the famous Sculptures and the way they ended up in London, after they have been removed by the notorious Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which was occupying Greece at the time. The article presents the New Acropolis Museum -which is expected to open its doors later this year- providing 14.000 square meters of exhibition space, describing the transparent, glass surfaces that result in a breathtaking view of the Acropolis and adding that the glass “windows” in the Museum’s ground floor allow the visitor to admire the findings of the archaeological excavation on the construction site. The article argues that scattered and fragmented between Britain and Greece, the Parthenon Sculptures can not be fully appreciated as a whole. Thus, they should be reunited in one location and this location cannot be other than their homeland, Athens and the New Acropolis Museum, which –undoubtly- offers the best conditions for the conservation of these magnificent masterpieces. The article makes also a special mention to The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures –President of which is the ex Ambassador of Finland in Greece Mr. Ole Norrback- that was established recently, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens".

19/01/2009

3rd Meeting of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures
The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens" had its third meeting last week. One of the main issues of discussion was the organisation of a seminar -at the beginning of coming may- regarding the return of the Parthenon Sculptures in Greece. Among the speakers, will be the director of the organisation for the construction of the New Acropolis Museum and Professor of Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Dimitris Pantermalis and Anthony Snodgrass, Emeritus Professor in Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge and a specialist in Archaic Greece. The seminar on the Parthenon Sculptures will coincide with the official visit in Finland of President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias and he is expected to be among the distinguished audience of the seminar.

19/01/2009

Oedipus Tyrannos in Tampere Theatre
The municipal Theatre of the city of Tampere stages “Oedipus Tyrannos” (also called “Oedipus the King” or “Oedipus Rex”), translated by Lauri Sipari and directed by Jotaarkka Pennanen. Oedipus Tyrannos is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles. It was the second of Sophocles' three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by “Oedipus at Colonus” and then “Antigone”. Sophocles (495 BC-405 BC) was a famous and successful Athenian writer of tragedies. Of his 120 plays, only 7 have survived. “Oedipus Tyrannos”, written around 420 BC, has long been regarded not only as his finest play, but also as the purest and most powerful expression of ancient Greek drama, thus it has come to be regarded by many as the Greek tragedy par excellence. Sophocles influenced the development of the drama, most importantly by adding a third actor and thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot. He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights such as Aeschylus. The premiere of the play took place in Tampere on January 13.

19/01/2009

Matkaopas on Amorgos
The well-known finnish travel magazine Matkaopas (circulation 39.341 copies) hosted a five-page article on the greek island of Amorgos. The article focuses especially on the “authentic” and “unique” character of the island, the simplicity of which fascinates even the most demanding visitor. Ms. Arvonen argues that the view of the sea in Amorgos brought back memories from the island of Thasos two decades ago, when “she fell in love with Greece for the very first time”. The article emphasizes the distinct beauty of the island, which is -apart from everything else- a hiking paradise, the breathtaking landscapes, the picturesque villages, the traditional architecture and of course the famous Byzantine monastery of “Panagia Chozoviotissa” that constitutes one of the top attractions of Amorgos. The article reminds us also that this greek island came in the light of publicity years ago, as being one of the places where the famous movie "The Big Blue" of Luc Besson was filmed. The article encourages travellers to discover the secrets of the landscape, underlining that the best periods for a trip to Amorgos is spring and autumn.

12/01/2009

European Parliament Elections 2009-Greek citizens living in Finland can vote
European Parliament Elections 2009 will be held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009, the actual polling days varying from country to country. More than 700 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected to represent EU citizens, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history. The Greek citizens living in one of the 26 EU countries –including those living in Finland- will have the possibility to participate in the forthcoming European Parliament elections, following a specific procedure. The voting for the Greek citizens will take place on Saturday, June 6th, 2009, but the voters must have previously filled in the special application form that can be found on the relevant website of the Greek Ministry of Interior (www.ypes.gr). The submission of the application form (together with a two-faced copy of the ID card or the last page of the passport) at the Embassy of Greece in Finland is possible during the period December 15th 2008 – March 31st 2009

08/01/2009

YLE webpage on the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures
The webpage of the finnish broadcasting company YLE hosted an article on the request for the restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures, entitled “The battle for the looted Acropolis treasures goes on”, signed by the journalist Jari Niemelä. The article underlines that the Parthenon Marbles, that they ended up at the British Museum in 1817, after being removed from Athens to England by the notorious Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire which was occupying Greece at the time, is a question that attracts the interest of various political and cultural circles. Greece wants avidly the return of the Parthenon sculptures, but until now, the British Museum refuses, presenting various objections and arguments. In addition, the British government argues that Lord Elgin acted in accordance with the law, although it is commonly known that he exerted briberies and extortions in order to achieve his goal. The article mentions that a Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles was recently established, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens". Mika Kajava, professor of greek language and literature at the University of Helsinki expresses the belief that “The return of the Marbles is always an actual issue and -above all- an issue of moral nature”. The article also emphasizes that Acropolis is one of the most famous archaeological sights in the world and the New Acropolis Museum constitutes the appropriate place for the Parthenon Sculptures to be kept and exposed after their return from London.

24/12/2008

Merry Christmas and a Peaceful, Creative and Happy New Year!
Dear friends, dear readers, the Embassy of Greece, Press & Communication Office, would like to wish all of You Merry Christmas and a Peaceful, Creative and Happy New Year!

17/12/2008

Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas on incidents in Greece
An article by Secretary General of Information Panos Livadas titled “Hijacking Democracy” appears in Huffingtonpost.com, 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.

28/11/2008

Yle on the new Colossus of Rhodes
The website of Finland's national public service broadcasting company YLE hosted an article on the project to rebuild the new Colossus of Rhodes in the port of the island. The long-held dream of the people of Rhodes is about to be fulfilled by the German artist Gert Hof and the ambitious project will be funded by various international sources. According to island's mayor, Hatzis Hatziefthimiou, "It will be a unique architectural creation". The new statue will be placed in the same spot where it is believed that the original monument was and it will be dedicated to celebrating peace. In addition, it is worth mentioning that parts of melted-down weapons from around the world will be used for its construction. The cost of the project is estimated around 200 million euros and the completion of the project will take approximately 6 years.

27/11/2008

4th International Conference "People with Disabilities and Mass Media"
The Secretariat General of Communication - Secretariat General of Information organises the 4th International Conference on People with Disabilities and Mass Media. The 4th International Conference will take place at the premises of the Secretariat General of Communication - Secretariat General of Information, on 22-23 June 2009 and will focus on the factors which shape the under development environment of digital media such as social web, blogs, wikis, facebook, etc. The Conference will also attempt to explore the possibilities of presenting disability through advertising spots, as well as the changes this practice might bring in our perception of disability. The 4th International Conference will conclude with the active participation of children with disabilities, because children themselves can communicate their message better than anyone through their artistic expression.

24/11/2008

Myths prevail in the Greek Movies
The well known finnish newspaper Aamulehti hosted an article, signed by the finnish cine-critic and freelance journalist, Mr. Antti Selkokari on the three greek movies presented at the 49th Thessaloniki Film Festival: Τhe “Kiss of life” (Nikos Zapatinas), “Under your make up” (Vagelis Seitanidis) and “Well kept secrets-Athanasia” (Panos Karkanevatos). According to Mr. Selkokari, legends and secular beliefs are still prevalent in the greek movies, thus wondering how the Finns would accept a modern film based and inspired by the epopee of Kalevala. Referring to the film directed by Zapatinas, the critic underlines that the movie makes a clear statement that fighting against destiny is hopeless.

13/11/2008

Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and Embassy of Finland in Greece organise a seminar on Competitiveness
The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) in association with the Embassy of Finland in Athens organizes a seminar on “The improvement of competitiveness as a national and international challenge”, which will take place at the Amalia Hotel (Syntagma Square) on Tuesday, 25th of November, 2008. The first session of the seminar will focus on Finland’s successful economic development model. Four key-speakers from Finland will analyze the supportive services the Finnish state is providing as well as the contribution of research institutes in the development of the business sector, an impressive example of which is NOKIA. The Regional Business Development Plan of Finland aiming in creating a sound and competitive environment for businesses on a regional level will be presented during the second session of the seminar. Representatives of companies will present their experiences of successfully combining technology, innovation, social responsibility with competitiveness and development. During the last session of the event, a member of the Council of Competitiveness of the USA will share his country’s experience of how a favorable business environment can encourage and develop actions serving causes such as the protection of the environment and viable development. The Minister of Development of the Hellenic Republic Mr Christos Folias will extend a greeting to the seminar’s participants.

03/11/2008

Ηufvudstadsbladet on the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures
The well known Finnish newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet (circulation 51130 copies) hosts an article on the recently established Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures that wishes to contribute to the international efforts for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens". The article includes some statements by the president of the Committee and former Ambassador of Finland in Athens Mr. Ole Norrback who underlines the importance of the return of the Sculptures from the British Museum to Greece. It also refers to the history of the famous Sculptures and the way they ended up in London, after they had been removed by the notorious Lord Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire which was occupying Greece at the time. Last but not least, a special mention is paid to the New Acropolis Museum, which will open its doors to the public in March 2009.

30/10/2008

Finnish web page on Crete
At its latest issue, the well-known Finnish travel magazine Matkaopas is referring to the Finnish internet site www.kreeta.info which contains a plethora of information on the Greek island of Crete. The site is maintained by “Crete-fan” Mr Juhani Viitanen and it provides a wide range of information on Cretan towns, beaches, villages, canyons, mountains and sights worth visiting. It also contains useful advices for families with children as well as suggests books on Crete. It should also be mentioned that kreeta.info is home to some very attractive images of Crete.

30/10/2008

Turun Sanomat on the town of Chania
The well-known finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat hosts, in its traveling pages, an extended article on the town of Chania in Crete, signed by Jorma Kokkonen. The article emphasizes that the old town, where many medieval buildings are still standing in relatively good condition and many others are currently being restored, is gradually becoming one of the posh areas of Chania. The article also makes a special mention to the old harbor, which figures in the Unesco World Heritage List, and stresses out that during the summer months its restaurants and coffee shops are getting quite crowded, since Chania and the whole of the surrounding region is a favorite summer destination, also among Scandinavian tourists. Last but not least, the article underlines the distinct beauty and variety of the beaches surrounding the area and presents a list of museums, archaeological and other sites worth visiting.

30/10/2008

Matkaopas - New summer destinations in Greece
Matkaopas is also hosting an article on the new summer destinations offered by the finnish travel agencies. According to the article, Aurinkomatkat, one of the biggest travel agencies in the country, is offering tourist packages (starting from 720 euros, air tickets and hotel included) to Evia and more specifically to the tranquil coastal villages of Eretria and Amarynthos. The article continues by mentioning that Evia will pleasantly surprise Greece-loving travelers, underlining that its location is perfect for day-visits to Athens or to the archaeological site of Delphi

30/10/2008

Matkaopas on thalassotherapy
The well-known finnish travel magazine Matkaopas (circulation 39.341 copies) hosts a two page article on thalassotherapy, arguing that it has its roots in Greece and that its based on the beneficial attributes of the minerals contained in sea saltwater, breeze and mud. With the help of thalassotherapy, these minerals are absorbed through skin resulting in the rejuvenation of the outer and inner body. The article mentions that there is a large variety of spas providing thalassotherapy around the Mediterranean and suggests in particularly the famous Blue Palace Resort & Thalasso in Elounda, Crete

24/10/2008

Aamulehti and Turun Sanomat on the efforts to save the Acropolis monuments from air pollution
The well known finnish newspapers Aamulehti and Turun Sanomat hosted an article on the continuous efforts for the salvation of the historic monuments of the Acropolis hill from the deterioration caused by air pollution. The article underlines that Greek researchers and engineers, having tested a large spectrum of techniques, they now possess a sophisticated laser technique that is considered to be most suitable and efficient.

23/10/2008

Lectures on Greek Philosophers at Äänekoski
The Finnish-Greek Association of Äänekoski (Äänekoski-Kreikka yhdistys ry) organises a series of lectures entitled “Elate II –Great Philosophers heritage” (suurten filosofien perintö) starting the coming Friday 24th at 18.30. The lectures will be held at the City Hall of Äänekoski and will be given by Michail Leonidakis (Bachelor of Business Administration and Tradenomy) who has been living in Jyväskylä for over 10 years. Further information on how to participate can be found at the association’s internet site.

17/10/2008

Kaleva on the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures and looted antiquities
The well known Finnish newspaper Kaleva (circulation 82.000 copies) hosts two articles on the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures and the looted antiquities around the world, signed by Dr. Kirsti Simonsuuri, researcher, writer, ex director of the Finnish Institute of Athens and member of Finnish Committee for the Restitution of Parthenon Sculptures, and the journalist Mr. Petri Laukka. Dr. Kirsti Simonsuuri in her article entitled “Humanity does not need museums full of looted antiquities” presents briefly the history of the famous Sculptures and the way they ended up in London, after they had been removed by the notorious Lord Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire which was occupying Greece at the time. Dr. Simonsuuri argues that they constitute an integral part of the national identity of the Greek Nation and thus, they should be returned to Athens and more specifically to the New Acropolis Museum designed by the world renowned architect Bernard Tschumi. The New Museum offers the best conditions for the conservation and presentation of these magnificent masterpieces as it is situated by the Acropolis Hill and shelters the remaining part of Parthenon Zoforos. Dr. Simonsuuri makes also a special mention to The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures that was established earlier this autumn, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens". In addition, Mr. Laukka’s article includes –among other- the statements of Kai Ekholm, Professor at the National Library of Finland, who bluffly expresses the opinion that the Parthenon Marbles belong undoubtedly to Greece, but the effort for their return to motherland will be a strenuous one

25/09/2008

Turun Sanomat on Amorgos
The well known finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat hosted an article on the greek island of Amorgos, signed by Kalle Kirstilä. The article focuses especially on the “authentic” character of the island, the simplicity of which fascinates even the most demanding visitor. The reputation of the island is spreading from “mouth to mouth” without using the modern techniques of “aggressive marketing”. Travelers arrive at the island as tourists, but they leave Amorgos as friends and they return every summer. The article emphasizes the distinct beauty of the island, the breathtaking landscapes, the picturesque villages and the traditional architecture. In addition, the article makes a special mention of the famous Byzantine monastery of “Panagia Chozoviotissa” that constitutes one of the top attractions of Amorgos island and one of the places where the famous movie "The Big Blue" of Luc Besson was filmed. The article concludes underlining that “Nobody will ever discover you in Amorgos”, adding that this motto may be actually true…

25/09/2008

'Nostoi' opens at new Acropolis Museum
Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and his visiting Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday officially inaugurated the "Nostoi" exhibition at the new Acropolis Museum in Athens. They then attended the placement of a Parthenon fragment returned to Greece from Italy in the form of long-term loan in its right position in the surviving segments of the frieze on display in Athens. The 0.35mx0.34m fragment (depicting part of the dress and right foot of ancient Greek goddess Artemis) was donated to Italy in 1816 by Lord Elgin and comes from Salinas Regional Museum of Archeology in Palermo, Sicily. Speaking during the special ceremony, President Papoulias thanked his Italian counterpart for the "highly significant gesture" and expressed hope that the return of the Parthenon fragment "will signal the start of a healing process to the injury done to this monument by the removal of the Parthenon Marbles."

11/09/2008

Eleftheria Arvanitaki live in Helsinki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki, the Greek pop folk singer of Icarian descent, born in 1962 in Piraeus, will perform live in Helsinki on Saturday, September 27th at the Finlandia Hall (7 pm). Her career in singing started in the beginning of the '80s, by joining the rembetika band "Opisthodromiki Kompania" ("Οπισθοδρομική Κομπανία"-Retrograde Company), while her first solo album, titled “Eleftheria Arvanitaki”, was recorded in 1984. Since then, she has recorded 21 personal albums and has made numerous appearances in albums of fellow artists. Eleftheria Arvanitaki embodies in her evocative singing the entire Greek heritage, ranging from soulful Rembetika, Smyrneika, and island folk songs to modern classics and popular songs set to the words of contemporary lyricists. In August 2004, she participated in the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics, while she has performed in several WOMAD and other festivals. In 200, she took part in the Christmas concert "Frostroses" in Reykjavik, Iceland as a part of a group of singers named "European Divas". The other "divas" were Sissel Kyrkjebø (Norway), Eivør (Iceland), Ragga Gisla (Iceland), Patricia Bardon (Ireland) and Petula Clark (UK). Eleftheria Arvanitaki -one of the most respected and successful figures of Greek music- with a richly expressive voice of extraordinary clarity and depth and a powerful stage presence, combining in her repertoire traditional and contemporary Greek music, promises to give a great concert in Helsinki and a night to remember!

02/09/2008

Matkaopas on the new Acropolis Museum
The well known finnish travel magazine Matkaopas hosted an article entitled “Wow what a museum!” on the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, which is expected to open its doors to the public later this year, providing 14.000 square meters of exhibition space. The article also mentions that the construction of this titanic project, designed by Bernard Tschumi, began in 2004 and the total cost reached 13 million euros. The article concludes mentioning that the New Acropolis Museum is very close to the Acropolis hill and near the Syntagma square at the centre of the town

07/08/2008

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) and Boletín Griego de Noticias (in Spanish). A German weekly edition is also forthcoming.

06/08/2008

Inner cabinet discusses digital broadcast issues
The first trial digital broadcast will be launched on November 1, 2008, announced Minister of State and government spokesman Thodoros Rousopoulos after the inner cabinet meeting Tuesday that focused on sector issues chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. A presidential decree and two joint ministerial decisions will have to precede the issuing of broadcast licenses to radio and television channels by the National Council for Radio and Television (ESR), Rousopoulos stated adding that the goal set is to ensure that television channels will have financial independence from commercial sponsors.

05/08/2008

A unique National Marine Park
The Mediterranean Monk Seal also known as Monachus Monachus, is Europe's most endangered marine mammal, and is among the six most endangered mammals in the world. Greece has allocated a vast area for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus and its habitat in the Aegean Sea. The Greek National Sea Park of Alonissos - Northern Sporades, which extends around the Northern Sporades island complex, and is the main action ground of the Hellenic Society for the study and protection of the monk seal (Mom). It should be stated that legislation in Greece is very strict towards the hunting of the seal and that the public in general is very much aware and supportive of the effort for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus. The National Marine Park of Alonnisos - Northern Sporades was the first designated Marine Park in the country and is currently the largest marine protected area in Europe (approximately 2,260 Km2). Besides the sea area, the Park includes Alonnisos, six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathura, Piperi and Skantzoura), as well as 22 uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops. The Northern Sporades island-complex stretches out into the Aegean, east of the Pelion peninsula. On the serene Sporades, life still continues along its old rhythms. Tourism has brought prosperity to these islands without affecting much of their traditional lifestyle, especially on the island of Alonissos.

14/07/2008

Matkalehti on Crete
The well known Finnish tourist magazine Matkalehti dedicates two pages on Crete. The article, signed by Mr. Tommi Lappalainen, underlines that two millions tourists visit this Greek island every year and consequently tourism constitutes the fundamental source of wealth for the island. A visit to the archaeological sites of the ancient cities of Knossos and Phaistos offer a detailed insight of the everyday life of the historically remote period of the Minoan civilization. Chania is described as a city of unique beauty, boasting about a rich cultural heritage, while the region near Elounta and the gorge of Samaria offer unforgettable off-road experiences.

10/07/2008

”Vasabladet” and “Vastra Nyland” on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
The well known Swedish-speaking newspapers of Finland “Vasabladet” and “Vastra Nyland” hosted on the 25th and 26th of June respectively an article by Mr. Ralf Friberg, former Finland’s Ambassador to Athens, on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The article, entitled “Parthenon must be restituted” argues that history is full of incidents of abruption of cultural treasures from their countries of origin and full of examples of illicit trade of ancient masterpieces. The world famous Parthenon Marbles - a collection of marble sculptures that originally decorated the Parthenon Temple - had a similar fate. They were removed and transported to Britain by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. The Marbles were later purchased by the British Government and placed on display in the British Museum, where they are still on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. Mr. Friberg is a member of the Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marble that was recently constituted, aiming to contribute to the international effort for the reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens. In the coming autumn the Committee is very likely to appeal to the Minister of Culture, Stefan Wallin, to take a clear stance upon the issue. Mr. Friberg states that bringing together these magnificent pieces of art in a meaningful set, is the obvious move to settle this major cultural issue, which has been pending for years and years. Moreover, the completion of the New Acropolis Museum, with a total area of 25.000 square meters, is one of the most powerful arguments for the repatriation and reunification of the Parthenon Marbles

10/07/2008

Greece’s best known pastoral drama in Tampere Theatre Festival
The Tampere Theatre Festival takes place during the second week of August around the city of Tampere at over 20 venues. This year the festival runs from the 4th to the 10th of August celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Tampere Theatre Festival is the oldest and the largest professional theatre Festival in the Nordic countries, introducing distinguished international and Finnish productions of drama, dance, performance and street theatre. It includes the season's most interesting productions from around Finland and esteemed guest performances from other countries. In the artistic framework of the Festival, consisting of a wide variety of performing arts, Greece’s best known and most often performed pastoral drama will be presented to the audience from 9th to 10th of August. The famous pastoral drama Golfo, by the national playwright Spiridon Peresiadis, has been given a modern flair. Golfo 2.3 Beta is an abundant Hellenic collage where love, betrayal, faithfulness, laughter, tears, poetry, dance, clownery, national parades and childhood TV programs all intertwine. Donning Japanese manga-like, big-eyed masks, the three actors of the Horos Theatre Company create a current perspective for the age-old content of the tragic pastoral romance. It is worth mentioning that the Association of Greek Theatre and Music Critics awarded Golfo 2.3. Beta the title of the best performance of the year in 2007.

03/07/2008

Turun Sanomat on Greek islands
The well known Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat hosted an article on the Greek islands, signed by Liisa Simola. Corfu, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Samos and Crete invite travelers to discover their distinct character. The architectural style of Corfu, the idyllic and piny island of the Ionian Sea, is an amalgam of Greek, Venetian, French and British influences. Spianada, with its beautiful cafés and Mon Repos -the summer residence of the Austro-Hungarian empress Sissy- are among the benchmarks of the island. Kefalonia, with the world famous beach of Myrtos, the Drogaratis Cave, a manifestation of the grandeur of nature and the Melissanis Lake-Cave offer an unforgettable experience. Mykonos, one of the most cosmopolitan islands of Mediterranean, seduces the visitor with its breathtaking beauty. Samos, the homeland of Pythagoras, the great philosopher and mathematician of antiquity, invites travelers to visit Pythagoreion and Heraion, archaeological sites that figure in the Unesco World Heritage List. The article concludes by mentioning that Crete, the biggest and –for some people- the most beautiful Greek island, invites travelers to visit the magnificent Knossos palace and discover the distinct off-road beauty of the island.

27/06/2008

The Rovaniemi portal also in Greek
The City of Rovaniemi, the Capital of Lapland located on the Arctic Circle, launched its new international pages. The international website is now offering information in English, French, German, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Greek! It is worth mentioning that 100 international media representatives visit Rovaniemi, every year, especially for visiting the world famous Santa Claus’ Village. Therefore, the City of Rovaniemi's international internet pages are being developed to better serve immigrants, international students, international enterprises and all the people interested in Rovaniemi."

24/06/2008

BlueWings magazine on Athens
BlueWings, the in-flight magazine of Finnair, national carrier of Finland, dedicates six pages on Athens. The article signed by Mike Gerrard, entitled “The new golden era of Athens”, argues that the Greek capital has become one of the top destinations, figuring among the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Athens is flourishing, combining the old and the new, the heritage of the brilliant history and the expectations of a promising future. The infrastructure and transportation are of high quality and the city offers a large variety of top-end hotels, award-winning restaurants, interesting museums and sophisticated galleries. The article concludes by underlining that Parthenon Temple will remain the benchmark in this fast changing city.

24/06/2008

Parthenon marbles repatriation
A proposal for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece was tabled in the State Legislative Assembly of Western Australia by governing Labor Party (ALP) member John Biase D' Orazio. According to the proposal, the Legislative Assembly is called to support the wish of the Greek-Australian Community as regards the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and their display in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens. He also suggests that the W. Australia state parliament convey this stance to the UK government in a proper manner.

18/06/2008

Ilta-Sanomat on spa hotels of Crete
The finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, hosted a two-page article on the spa hotels of Crete, signed by Jutta Rissanen. Apart from its rare landscapes and its distinct natural beauty, Crete has many luxurious hotels, offering most contemporary thalassotherapy and spa centres. The article focuses especially on Six Senses Spa, at Porto Elounda Hotel, in Crete (top 26 – the best Spas worldwide / Conde Nast Traveller), describing the services provided, the stylish decoration and the breathtaking view to the Aegean. The article concludes by listing a catalogue of spa hotels of Crete.

12/06/2008

The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
In a large number of countries like Italy, Spain, USA, Russia, the neighboring Sweden, and elsewhere there are national committees whose purpose is to educate the public on a local, state, national and international level on the compelling need to protect, preserve and repatriate looted cultural property to its country of origin and most particularly to promote the return from London to Athens of the Parthenon Sculptures. The Finnish Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles had its first meeting earlier this week, aiming to participate in the international effort for "The reunification of all the surviving Parthenon Sculptures in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens". The Ambassador Ole Norrback is the President of the Committee, while among its members are His Eminence Metropolitan Johannes of Nicaea, professors Jaakko Frösen, Mika Kajava and Jussi Korhonen, Dr. Kirsti Simonsuuri and the Ambassador Ralf Friberg.

10/06/2008

International Documentary Festival on Disability
The 2nd Emotion Pictures International Documentary Festival on Disability will be held between 21-23 June 2008, at the New Benaki Museum for Contemporary Art and Design (138 Piraeus Street, Athens) The festival, composed of documentary films focusing exclusively on issues of disability, is once again organized by the Secretariat General of Communication - Secretariat General of Information, in collaboration with the Greek Film Centre. The aims and objectives of the festival remain the same, those being, the use of documentary films as a medium to increase public awareness and promote the inclusion of disabled people, whilst further encouraging the media and film-makers, disabled or not, to take an active interest in this area and address the widest possible public. The message that the festival focuses on communicating is accepting and embracing difference.

04/06/2008

On line information about Greece
Daily access to specialised info is an ever growing prerequisite in today's knowledge-based societies. To this end, a concise list of Greek news sources in English and other languages is offered by this Greek News Agenda Special Issue, aiming at locating some important Greek news on line.

28/05/2008

Routes in Teaching Modern Greek
"Routes in Teaching Modern Greek" is a distance-training course that was developed within the project Developing Levels of Certificate of Attainment in Greek (Εξετάσεις για την πιστοποίηση ελληνομάθειας). The course is addressed to expatriates and foreigners who are involved in teaching Greek as a foreign language abroad. Their aim is to keep teachers abreast of developments in teaching foreign languages, and in particular Greek, to help them acquire the knowledge and teaching skills required for language teaching and to train them in the m ethodology of teaching Greek as a foreign language at all levels and to all age-groups. The first training cycle lasted 8 months (August 2007-April 2008). The environment in which the course operates is user-friendly, easily accessible, and offers options that have been designed to address the trainees’ needs with efficiency and immediacy.

23/05/2008

Turun Sanomat on illegal immigration in Greece
Turun Sanomat Newspaper has published today an interview of H.E. the Ambassador of Greece in Finland Mr Dimitrios Loundras that deals mainly with the issue of the illegal immigration in Greece. In his interview, Mr Loundras is stressing the need of a common EU policy on the issue and describes the difficult situation that Greece faces due to the illegal immigration. Greece has received 112.000 illegal immigrants only in 2007. Most of them arrive without proper documentation, making the handling procedure of their asylum application extremely difficult and time-consuming.

22/05/2008

The Communication strategy of Greece in Southeastern Europe-Realities & Prospects
An interesting seminar on The Communication strategy of Greece in Southeastern Europe will take place at the premises of the General Secretariat of Communication - General Secretariat of Information on May 28th (10.00-17.00). A large number of speakers from various disciplines will participate in the event, which is open to the public and is organised by The Press Attachés Union in the context of the “Forum of International Communication Policy”. (Address: 11, Fragkoudi Str.& Alexandrou Pantou, Kallithea)

19/05/2008

Helsingin Sanomat on Crete
The well known finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat hosts an article on the greek island of Crete, signed by Tarja Saarivuori. The article focuses especially on the distinct beauty of the mountainous villages of the island, such as the picturesque village of Pantanassa, only 20 minutes away from the city of Rethymnon. The article mentions a few remarkable benchmarks of the area and concludes wondering for how long these “untouched” landscapes will remain unchangeable.

19/05/2008

ELECTRA – a Study on the History of Blood (Elektra - tutkimus veren historiasta)
The Oulu City Theatre is staging a new translation and adaptation of various Electra myths by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Electra is, according to the theatre’s internet site, a drama about family, children and parents as well as crime and violence. It is a history of one family, a story about how the bloodline descends from father to son and from mother to daughter. A crime committed in the privacy of a home touches and shocks the whole community. Does Electra have the right to take revenge? Is reconciliation possible? How to break the circle of violence? In its search for answers to these questions the Creek tragedy displays its searing relevance to our times.

19/05/2008

Hellenic Culture Abroad
The Hellenic Foundation for Culture promotes Greek culture and language throughout the world carrying out its activities through its branches in various cities and countries. The Foundation 's programme for 2008 - 2009 includes an exhibition of Byzantine Icons from Greek museums and private collections, the History Lost exhibition of illicit antiquities trade, the "Emigration-Immigration" events, as well as a special "Tribute to the Balkans."

02/05/2008

Helsingin Sanomat on the New Acropolis Museum
The well known finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat hosted an article, signed by the finnish writer and journalist, Mr. Mika Rissanen on the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, which is expected to open in late 2008, providing 14.000 square meters of exhibition space. The article presents the new museum describing the transparent, glass surfaces of the outer walls that result in a breathtaking view of the Acropolis, underlining that the glass “windows” in the Museum’s ground floor allow the visitors to admire the findings of the archaeological excavation on the construction site.

02/05/2008

Helsingin Sanomat on the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures
The welll known finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat hosted an article, signed by the finnish writer and journalist, Mr. Mika Rissanen on the request for the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles. The article presents briefly the history of the Parthenon sculptures, revealing the way in which many sculptures were removed from the temple and transported to England. The journalist advocates that the time has finally come for the Parthenon Marbles to return home, in the New Acropolis Museum

21/04/2008

Greek Orthodox Easter
Considered the most important holiday on the Greek calendar, the celebration of Orthodox Easter (Pascha, Greek: Πάσχα) is unique in almost every corner of Greece. Special traditions mark not only the mourning of Christ’s Crucifixion and the celebration of Resurrection, but also the passage from winter to spring. The uniqueness in celebrating Easter the traditional Greek way lies more in the week leading up to the event (Holy Week) rather than the actual religious holiday. The word "Pascha" derives from the Jewish "Pasah" which means "Passover". Jewish people celebrated "Pasah" to commemorate their liberation from the Egyptians and the passage of the Red sea.While in the ancient Greek years, Easter time coincided with the month of Anthesterion (the flowering month), a celebration of spring and the rebirth of vegetation.

18/04/2008

"The Athens Summit on Climate Change and Energy Security"
On April 17, 2007 the UN Security Council held its first hearings ever on the relationship between climate change, energy and security. From May 5 to 7 2008, Athens will be the venue of the world’s first major international conference focused on the new paradigm of climate and energy security. Until very recently climate protection and energy security have been viewed as largely contradictory or separate objectives. "The Athens Summit on Climate Change and Energy Security" (www.athens-summit.com), held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, will strive to overthrow this zero-sum mentality. The highlights of the event include a ministerial summit, initiated by the Minister of Development Christos Folias, who has invited his counterparts from 61 countries to discuss and find solutions about the issues of energy and climate change. A key objective of the summit is to formulate the Athens Declaration, an EU-Mediterranean 2020 Partnership to jointly achieve at least 20% energy savings and generate 20% energy from renewable energy sources by 2020. It is also intended to form a partnership between EU countries and non-EU Mediterranean countries in this respect, including, among others, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Turkey, to meet this challenge.

15/04/2008

Anna magazine dedicates five pages on Kephalonia and mainland Greece
The well known magazine Anna publishes two articles regarding Greece. The first one is dedicated to Kephalonia, describing it as a peaceful and beautiful destination. Its magnificent landscape and unique seashore make it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Western Greece. The second one is dedicated to mainland Greece suggesting ten special reasons to visit this Greek region that offers a variety of historical, cultural and modern destinations.

15/04/2008

Kotiliesi magazine on Melina Mercouri
The well known finnish magazine Kotiliesi dedicates seven pages on Melina Mercouri. The article signed by Elina Koivunen and entitled “The last Godess”, presents in details the life and career of the well known greek actress starting from her very first steps to the successful career abroad and her involvement in politics. It is worth mentioning that the basic source for the article was Melina Mercouri’s autobiography which was translated to finnish.

11/04/2008

Greece tries to deal with illegal immigration
Turun Sanomat Newspaper is publishing today an article regarding the illegal immigration problem and refugees' problem that faces today Greece. According to Counsellor for Press and Communication Affairs of Embassy of Greece in Finland, during last year 112.000 illegal immigrants arrived in Greece and during last years more than one million immigrants, most of them illegal, and refugees passed the Greek borders.

09/04/2008

Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.E.) precipitated immense historical change in the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds. But the resonance his legend achieved over the next two millennia stretched even farther - across foreign cultures, religious traditions, and distant nations. Alexander appears in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic writings, frequently as a prophet of God. He came to embody the concerns of Hellenistic man; he fueled Roman ideas on tyranny and kingship; he was a talisman for fourth-century pagans and a hero of chivalry in the early Middle Ages. Richard Stoneman, author of several books on Greek history and culture and a foremost expert on the Alexander myths, gathers together for the first time hundreds of the colourful Alexander legends that have been told and retold around the globe. He, introduces us first to the historical Alexander and then to the Alexander of legend, an unparalleled mythic icon who came to represent the heroic ideal in cultures from Egypt to Iceland, from Britain to Malaya.

31/03/2008

Greece celebrates her Independence Day in Finland
Celebrating the Independence Day of Greece (25th of March) the Embassy of Greece in Finland organises today an official reception at the Crypt of Lutheran Cathedral Church of Helsinki.

27/03/2008

Mondo magazine on Athens
The well-known finnish tourist magazine Mondo, dedicates two pages on Athens, offering a very interesting guide for the would-be visitors of the greek capital. The article, signed by Anna Lehtonen, presents the monuments, sites, hotels, restaurants and shops that should not be missed when visiting Athens. Akropolis, Ancient Agora, DESTE Foundation, the areas of Psyrri, Kolwnaki and Monastiraki have a prominent place in this comprehensive city guide.

11/03/2008

Cultural Property
In the framework of the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation, Greece will host an international conference to be attended by lawyers, museum professionals and experts in the field of the return of cultural property on 17 and 18 March 2008 at the New Acropolis Museum (www.newacropolismuseum.gr) in Athens. This conference is the first in a series of international gatherings organized by UNESCO and its Member States to foster awareness and provide fora for reflection and exchanges on the issue of the return of cultural property. This meeting will also provide an opportunity to consider means of strengthening the action of the Intergovernmental Committee.

05/03/2008

Access to Greek Language teaching
“Φρυκτωρίες” [Fryktories, an ancient communication system based on fire] website supports the teaching of modern Greek language and literature in foreign universities (in Greek): www.komvos.edu.gr/fryktories/ Also, the Centre for the Greek Language provides a new web portal for students, teachers and researchers. Moreover. the Centre for the Greek Language holds annual exams for the "Certificate of Attainment in Greek"

04/03/2008

Ambassador Loundras: Greece and Finland unites tourism and common flags colours
In an interview to Lapin Kansa newspaper the Ambassador of Greece in Finland Mr. Dimitrios Loundras speaks about the excellent relations between Greece and Finland and the converging interests of two countries in the fields of tourism and innovation

22/02/2008

Greek Film Festival in Tampere (24-28.2.2008)
The Embassy of Greece in cooperation with the Finnish-Greek Association in Tampere, the Pirkanmaa Film Centre and the Greek Film Centre, is organising a Greek Film Festival that will take place at Niagara Cinema (Kehräsaari, B-Talo, 33100 Tampere) on 24-28 February 2008. The program of the Greek Film Festival includes the following movies: Sun 24.2. at 16.30 Nikos Grammatikos O VASILIAS - THE KING (2002) 130 min, Mon 25.2. at 18.30 Pantelis Voulgaris OLA INE DROMOS- IT´S A LONG ROAD (1998) 118 min, Tue 26.2. at 18.30 Giorgos Kolozis TO PIDIMA TOU KATSANTONI KE O BARBA LAMPROS- KATSANTONIS` LEAP AND UNCLE LAMPROS (2005) 70 min, Wed 27.2. at 18.30 Stamatis Tsarouchas I GENEI TIS SAMOTHRAKIS -THE VALIANTS OF SAMOTHRACE (2003), 85 min, Thu 28.2. at 18.30 Sotiris Goritsas BRAZILERO (2001) 95 min, Tervetuloa! Welcome!

06/02/2008

Me Naiset on Greece
The well known finish magazine Me Naiset dedicates nine pages on Greece. Through numerous articles, readers are encouraged to try “island hopping” in Cyclades and visit different places of distinct beauty in Greece. Rhodes, Ydra, Zakynthos and Crete are among the islands presented in the magazine. There is also a three page article dedicated on greek culinary, underlining that fresh vegetables, fruits and olive oil are among the main ingredients of the greek recipes. The article also encourage readers to taste the famous greek retsina and other greek wines.

05/02/2008

The Secretariat General of Information website
The Secretariat General of Information website aims to inform the media and the general public on interesting features concerning Greece: Visit its new Global Greeks page; Feature Stories: Worship at Zeus's Birthplace Predates the Greek God; Latest World Media Reports: The Greek Energy Sector: Developments and Opportunities; Acropolis and the Parthenon Marbles: EasyJet founder joins fight to return Elgin Marbles to Athens; New weekly bulletin in French: "GrèceHebdo"; New weekly bulletin in Spanish: Boletín Griego de Noticias; Also visit the website's Links Library section.

04/02/2008

The New Acropolis Museum and the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
The French daily "Le Figaro" published a special report on the New Acropolis Museum on January 29. Special guest was Dimitrios Pantermalis, the Museum’s Director who presented the New Museum, its architecture, as well as its strategy for the restitution of the Elgin Marbles. The Cambridge Union Society, famous fo r its controversial debates is organising a debate on "This House would return the Parthenon Marbles to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens" on February 18, sponsored by Stelios Hatziioannou, of the easyCruise.

04/02/2008

Greece assumed the 10th Chairmanship of the Human Security Network
In May 2007 Greece assumed the Chairmanship of the Human Security Network after Slovenia. The Greek Presidency will end with the Ministerial Meeting to be held in May 2008 in Greece. The HSN promotes the safeguarding of human security and, in particular, respect for international human rights law in armed conflicts. At the same time, it places particular emphasis on the relationship between democratization and regional development as means for preventing conflicts and ensuring security and respect for human rights around the world.

01/02/2008

Studying in Greece
The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs grants scholarships to foreign citizens for Greek Language, Postgraduate and Postdoctoral studies in Greece, as well as scholarships for summer courses. Applications should be submitted to the Greek Embassy or Consulate in the candidates country of residence, in accordance with the scholarship programme for the academic year 2007-2008. The Centre for the Greek Language (www.greeklanguage.gr) holds annual exams for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek (Εξετάσεις για την πιστοποίηση ελληνομάθειας). Applications for the 2008 exams should be submitted until March 24.

22/01/2008

Prime Minister Karamanlis on Turkey
The government is implementing policies that aim at the gradual improvement and, ultimately, the full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis underlined on Friday in parliament, during Question Time, answering a question tabled by Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party leader George Karatzaferis concerning the premier's forthcoming visit to Turkey. "We are seeking the gradual restoration of mutual trust. We are working for the full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations, which, of course, also presupposes a resolution of the Cyprus issue," the premier said, adding that his visit to Ankara and Istanbul was being "planned in accordance with these clear-cut positions." "There is neither excessive optimism nor pessimism. There is realism, together with a sense of responsibility," he said. Karamanlis noted that there are issues that "must be discussed, without making any discounts, without concessions, but with affirmation of national positions and just demands, on the basis of international law, international treaties, European Union texts..." Karamanlis noted that Turkey was bound, following a series of EU decisions, to implement policies of equality before the law, and reminded that "the European Commission, in its latest Progress Report on Turkey, as well as in the document on its Strategic Enlargement, returns once more to the issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek minority in Istanbul". Today, he continued, the resolution of those problems constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for Turkey's European prospect.

16/01/2008

Official visit to Finland by the greek Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Costas Kiltidis
It is announced that the greek Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Costas Kiltidis, will pay a 6-day visit to Finland, from 21 to 26 January 2008, invited by his counterpart , Secretary of State at the finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Jouni Lind. During his official visit to Finland, Mr. Kiltidis will be mainly briefed on subjects related to national forest policy and reforestation

15/01/2008

MatkaOpas on greek islands
The well known finnish tourist magazine Matkaopas, dedicates six pages on Greece and more precisely on eleven islands of Cyclades. Amorgos, Folegandros, Paros, Tinos, Kea, Sifnos, Kythnos, Naxos, Santorini, Mykonos and Delos are the islands presented. The article focuses on the special characteristics of these islands, on the distinct beauty of each one of them, on the sandy beaches and the "bare and rocky" landscapes encouraging travellers to discover their secrets.

14/01/2008

Hellenic Foundation for Culture - Promoting Greek culture and language throughout the world
Since its foundation in 1992, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture has created Branches in Odessa, Alexandria and Berlin, and there are Offices of Representatives in London, Moscow, Vienna, Brussels, Washington and Beijing. In 2008, it is planned to found Hellenic Houses of Culture in Trieste, Belgrade, Bucharest, Tirana and Sofia. The Foundation offers lessons in the Greek language, organizes cultural events, publishes books and has public libraries in the Branches.

14/01/2008

Increase of flow of finnish tourism towards Greece
According to the relevant data published in the finnish Press, the flow of tourism from Finland towards Greece increased 16,3% during 2007, in comparison with the previous year. Greece is the second most preferred destination among Finns, after the spanish Canary Islands. It is also worth mentioning that the flow of finnish tourism towards Thailand was up by 45,7% compared with 2006, which is an impressive increase.

08/01/2008

HBL on the museum of Cycladic Art in Athens
An article on the museum of Cycladic art in Athens appeared at the travel section of HBL (6.1.2008). The museum is considered to be one of the main attractions of Athens, due to its world famous collection of female cycladic idols. Thus the article bares the eloquent title “Ancient ladies of our time”.

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