30/04/2009

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 4^th. Reception ceremonies and official talks with President of the Republic Tarja Halonen will take place at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, May 5^th. The program on Tuesday will include the laying of a wreath in Hietaniemi Cemetery and a banquet at the Presidential Palace. On Wednesday, May 6^th 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 7^th.

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 6^th 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.

YIANNIS RITSOS 100 YEARS – CONCERT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

One hundred years have passed since the birth of Greek poet Yiannis Ritsos and in order to honor the occasion, a free concert will take place at the Juhlasali of the University of Helsinki. The event is being organized by the Department of Modern Greek Language and sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Ministry of Culture. Composer Christos Leondis and his orchestra will present melodies based on Ritsos’ poems. Two of the latter, “Kapnismeno tsoukali” (11 songs) and “Proino astro” (6 songs), will be performed for the very first time, here in Finland. The first one tells about the life at the prison islands, while the second is dedicated to the poet’s daughter.

During the event, poems will be recited and a DVD-presentation regarding Ritsos will also be shown. Christos Leontis will contact some other of his melodies as well.

PM @ EPP CONFERENCE

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis addressed the European Peoples' Party (EPP) conference, ahead of the June Elections at the European Parliament, in Warsaw on Wednesday, stressing the need for shielding the European social model and maintaining the balance between the market and social responsibility. The conference was attended by most premiers of the European Union member-states, as well as a considerable number of party leaders, both from member-states and EU accession candidate countries. Referring to the crucial economic situation, Karamanlis underlined that the key word is "confidence" and that the EPP has always placed emphasis on the social dimension in safeguarding economic cohesion and social solidarity.

MIGRATION, A TOP PRIORITY: MEASURES ADOPTED AND COLLABORATION WITH THE EU

Being a border region of Europe, Greece has being experiencing a migration influx from both land and sea. The figures speak for themselves: 150,000 immigrants were arrested in Greece in 2008, while arrests of traffickers in illegal immigration increased by more than 40% within the last two years. 

Faced with the intricacy of the situation and in accordance with its 2009 national program on migration, Greece first accelerates absorption rates of EU funds earmarked for relevant purposes. In addition, red tape on residence permits is cut down, while in 2008, some 9,000 individuals were granted Greek nationality. Moreover, through a special program (“Aeneas”), Greece creates comprehensive partnerships with the countries of origin and of transit to ensure the return of the illegal immigrants and progressively establish synergies between migration and development.   

The guidelines for all the above actions are provided by the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, to which Greece adheres fully. Asylum tops the list of issues to be considered. A European legislative framework of reference is imperative. Greece abides by international law and secures the right of every foreign immigrant individually to apply for asylum. (Some 25,000 applied in 2007). Creating a favorable environment for those granted access is equally important, always in measure of each country’s reception capacity. 

However, before facing the necessity to deal with immigration, it is in every member state’s interest to contain the phenomenon altogether. External boarders should be policed at all times and trafficking cracked down. Countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta and Cyprus should be endowed with supplementary resources. The European Union must intensify its cooperation with non EU transit countries implicated and prove more decisive when the latter do not cooperate despite the subsidy received with EU funds. 

ATHENS 2009: SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

NBC’s Rick Steve reports on Athens’ dramatic change. “The city of about 4 million has made a concerted effort to curb pollution, clean up and pedestrianise the streets, spiff up the museums, build a new airport, and invest in one of Europe's better public-transit systems. 

Athens still has its "big three" sights: the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the remarkable National Archaeological Museum. In June the fourth big sight of the city is opening - the New Acropolis Museum. It is a world-class space, custom-built to showcase the Parthenon sculptures, a state-of-the-art building worth a look itself. 

City of Athens: www.cityofathens.gr/en; Breathtaking Athens: www.breathtakingathens.com 

UNITED AGAINST RACISM

Greece participated in the 2009 Durban Review Conference against Racism held in Geneva (Durban II, April 20-24), following the 2001 Durban World Conference. 

In his address, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the Durban Review Conference H.E. Ambassador Franciscos Verros, stressed that Greece has a long commitment to helping the international community build a common human society of mutual understanding. Moreover, the Greek government regards the task of eliminating discrimination as one of its most significant policy objectives. In this respect, in 2005, incorporating EU directives, Greece enacted legislation on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment regardless of race, origin, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation. The country’s principles can be summarised in combating xenophobia and trafficking, improving measures on asylum, migration and minorities, as well as protecting the rights of women, children and the disabled. International cooperation could be further enhanced should UN member trust Greece to serve the term of 2012-2015 as a member of the Human Rights Council, for which the country has presented its candidacy.  

AÍÔÉ-SMOKING CAMPAIGN

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos launched on Tuesday a six-month campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of smoking and promote the enforcement of severe restrictions on smoking in public places from July 1. Addressing a special event, titled "A National Alliance against Smoking," Avramopoulos unveiled the National Action Plan aiming to eliminate smoking and stressed that "with the drafting of this plan against smoking, our country has acquired a targeted and strategic policy for the promotion and safeguarding of public health." 

Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece - Health Services in Greece

TRIKALA’S LANDMARKS RESTORED

Trikala’s landmarks, the medieval fort and the clock tower opened to the public on April 27 after undergoing extensive restoration. Located at the north side of the town and on the top of Chasia mountain range, the old fort dates back to the Classic and Hellenistic eras. In the east side, the clock-tower was first built during the Turkish rule and replaced by another one in 1936.

Trikala, capital city of the homonymous prefecture is a modern and pedestrian-friendly town on the banks of Lithaios River. 

Greek News Agenda: Winter Destinations