08/03/2010

PM PAPANDREOU ON A DIPLOMATIC MARATHON

Prime Minister George Papandreou embarked on Friday (5.3) on a diplomatic marathon visiting Luxemburg, Berlin, Paris and Washington.

Papandreou in Berlin

On Friday (5.3) the premier held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

At a joint press conference, following the meeting, Papandreou said that support for the measures taken by the Greek government and a decision for joint action against speculators were the two main elements of the political support that Greece had sought and received from Germany. A third element was a decision to expand bilateral cooperation in seven sectors, via a joint committee set up by the two countries. Prior to his visit to Berlin, Papandreou met with Luxemburg prime minister and chairman of the Eurozone Jean-Claude Juncker.

Papandreou in Paris

At the joint press conference, after a one-hour meeting with the Greek premier, at the Elysee Palace, yesterday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a strong message of solidarity towards Greece and its efforts to bring about economic recovery, making it clear that the Euro area member states would rise to the occasion.

"The Greek government has taken the measures expected of it. The countries of the Eurozone must now be ready to take their own [measures]. France will therefore do what is necessary,” Sarkozy underlined. 

On his part, Papandreou said he had found active support from France, which recognised and supported the efforts of the Greek people. Noting that resort to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not Greece's preferred choice, Papandreou again stressed that Greece is not asking for financial assistance, only the opportunity to borrow at a rate similar to other Eurozone countries.

Kathimerini daily: Sarkozy says Europe will offer support

Today, the premier is meeting in Washington with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama tomorrow (9.3).

See also ERT online: Sarkozy voices support – Berlin considers creation of EMF

ALTERNATE FM PARTICIPATED AT EU MINISTERS’ MEETING

EU foreign ministers discussed the institutional changes required for the exercise of a European foreign policy, as well as international issues and EU enlargement matters at Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) in Cordoba, Spain on March 5-6.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas had private meetings with Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, FYROM Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, as well as EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.
Speaking to reporters, Droutsas said that at the meeting in Cordoba, the EU foreign ministers backed the Israeli-Palestinian indirect negotiations, while they also discussed the European course of Western Balkan countries and Greece's "2014 Agenda" initiative.

INVESTORS’ DEMAND FOR GREEK BONDS REMAINS STRONG

Greece raised €5 billion with a bond issue last week (March 4), confirming its ability to overcome the current economic difficulties.

Investors’ demand reached €15 billion for the bonds but the amount of money came at a very high price. "Despite the difficult conditions, the trust shown by investors remains strong. However, the high cost shows the necessity to speed up the implementation of the government’s decisions" stated the Ministry of Finance.  

President of the European Central Bank Jean Claude Trichet praised Greece’s efforts, stressing that "we appreciate enormously what has been decided," emphasising on the fact that the country is in a much better state than before.

Kathimerini Daily: Cash raised but at a hefty price

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT SIGNED

Greek Environment and Energy Minister, Tina Birbili, Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov and Italian Deputy Minister for Energy, Stefano Saglia signed last week (March 4) an agreement for the construction of the Greek-Bulgarian natural gas pipeline IGB.

The agreement refers to the establishment of the companies to undertake the planning, construction and operation of the natural gas pipeline IGB, designed to interconnect the Greek city of Komotini with the Bulgarian Stara Zagora. Birbili stressed that the target is for the project, budgeted at €150 million, to be ready in two years’ time.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the two-day conference "Energy in South East Europe" organized by the European Investment Bank in Thessaloniki.

Kathimerini Daily: Natural gas pipeline deal put on paper

ATHENS - CITY BREAK FOR LIMITED BUDGETS

The Press & Communications Office of the Embassy of Greece in London is hosting an event for the presentation of a reality style travel documentary, on March 18, at the Hellenic Centre.

The documentary is produced by Topology Media and is part of the series 'Low Cost.' The documentary aims to promote Athens as an affordable yet fascinating city break.

The host takes the spectators to a journey around Athens meeting the challenge of spending a whole weekend on a limited budget of only €200, and providing suggestions for accommodation, meals, shopping, museums, cultural visits and… going out at night.

A CLICK AWAY FROM LEARNING GREEK

The "Odysseas Language Project" is a new online interactive programme designed to teach the Greek language on the internet.

Led by the Greek-Canadian Andre Gerolymatos, chairman of Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University in Canada, "Odysseas" is designed to emulate how an actual personal tutor would instruct a student.

The programme keeps on expanding as the number of students in the United States, Canada and China who are taking up this challenge, is increasing.

Through partnerships with some of the most prestigious universities worldwide such as Harvard, Yale and University of Beijing in China, more and more students are lining up to learn Greek. The programme offers four different proficiency levels ranging from beginner to advanced and it is funded by Stavros Niarchos Foundation.  

Athens News (26.02.10): An online Greek Language Odyssey

EXHIBITION-TRIBUTE TO MELINA MERCOURI

Sixteen years have passed since Melina Mercouri, one of the great women of Greece, died on March 6, 1994. On the 16^th anniversary of her death, as well as of International Women’s Day (March 8), the Eugenides Foundation is hosting an exhibition-tribute to the late, multifaceted actress and politician, emphasizing her relationship to education and culture. 

Internationally acclaimed actress, singer and politician, Melina was characterized by many as the epitome of womanhood, as well as the "last Greek Goddess."

An ardent supporter of the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, Melina, as minister of Culture, openly claimed them and devoted herself to this goal. The exhibition titled "Melina-Education-Culture" will run from March 9 to April 8. 

Moreover, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the City of Athens is holding several events today in honour of women, while the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) is holding a conference titled "Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Modern Reality."  

Melina Mercouri Foundation: www.melinamercourifoundation.org.gr

Greek News Agenda: Melina Mercouri: “Culture is Greece’s heavy industry”  

THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL

The "12th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF)– Images of the 21st Century" will run from March 12 to 21 showcasing approximately 170 documentaries.

The TDF is a leading European Documentary Festival, held every March in Thessaloniki. Through its tributes and retrospectives, the TDF focuses on filmmakers with unique cinematic voices, internationally renowned for their contribution to the documentary genre.

The Festival’s side events host exhibitions, masterclasses, round table discussions, publications, concerts, and parties.

An International Doc Market will be held this year from March 15 – 20, featuring over 450 titles.

Greek Film Centre: www.gfc.gr ; Greek Film Archives: www.tainiothiki.gr

MUSEUM OF TRADITIONAL OIL PRODUCTION ON LESVOS ISLAND

The old Vrana traditional Oil Press on the island of Lesvos was recently inaugurated as a Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production in Lesvos, after extensive restoration that lasted three years.

The historic oil press, one of the first steam-powered factories from the industrial revolution of Lesvos, dates back to the 19th century.

Built in 1887 in Papados village, in the Gulf of Yera, the press belonged to Nikolaos Vranas - grandfather of the island's Nobel poetry laureate Odysseas Elytis - and was in operation up to the early 1970s, while the olive oil it produced was traded throughout Greece and in Istanbul on the opposite Turkish coast on the Bosphorus Strait.

Athens News Agency: Historic Vrana oil press on Lesvos reopens as Industrial Museum

Greek News Agenda: Made in Greece

GREEK CUISINE: AVGOTARACHO DELICACY

Avgotacho (bottarga) – a Mediterranean delicacy of cured fish roe - is produced in Greece primarily from the flathead mullet caught in Greek lagoons, and especially in Messolonghi.

The mature ovaries are removed from the fish, washed with water, salted with sea salt, dried under the sun, and sealed in melted beeswax.

It is a natural product, without preservatives, rich in proteins and vitamins (A,B,C, Omega 3). Avgotaraho has been considered a delicacy since the era of the Pharaohs and was an important element in the Ancient Greek diet. 

Messolonghi Avgotaracho, made from fish caught in the Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons, has a European protected designation of origin indication - one of the few seafood products with a PDO. 

Avgotaracho can be used in a variety of recipes, but it is also an excellent appetizer or meze for ouzo, or tsipouro. Dried avgotaracho powder can be used in salads, dressings, and spaghetti dishes.