The governors of three Greek prisons, among them the high-security Korydallos jail in southwest Athens, are refusing to take more inmates as overcrowding is at dangerous levels.
Cramped conditions at the three jails, which also include Tripoli in southern Greece and Halkida in the north, pose a health and security risk and mean even temporary prisoners can’t be accepted.
In a joint letter to judicial authorities, the governors said they were unable to accommodate any more inmates “even temporarily due to excessively cramped conditions which pose a health and security risk”.
“There is no space anywhere except the bathrooms. We are closing because the prison is close to exploding”, Spyros Athanassiou, governor of the Halkida prison wrote.
Similar grievances were also expressed by Ioannis Anestis, the governor of Korydallos, which has seen a series of security breaches recently, including a hostage-taking last month. “We are unable to receive inmates due to the suffering and overcrowding of our institution,” he said. He noted that the prison was built to hold 800 people, but is currently housing more than 2,320.
Most Greek jails are filled to at least double their capacity, with more than 12,700 people behind bars throughout the country, almost half of them foreigners.
Prisons Won’t Take Any More Inmates
Greek-Jewish Community's Letter to UN Recalls Bulgaria's Part in Greek Jews' Holocaust
On the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, and the UN Department of Public Information briefing on Bulgaria’s unknown part in saving its Jewish population during WWII, the Central Board of Jewish Communities of Greece sent a letter to the UN body on January 26, reminding them of Bulgaria’s part in the Greek Jews’ Holocaust.
Although Bulgaria organized a campaign during WWII to save its Jewish population, the price paid was the deportation of 11,000 Greek Jews from Thrace and Macedonia, then controlled by Bulgaria.
“In the name of the historical memory of our brothers, victims of the Bulgarian atrocities in our country during the Holocaust, we ask you to include this small and ‘untold’ part of history in your briefing,” said the letter sent Jan. 26, according to novinite.com.
Despite the fact that Bulgaria was an Axis ally in WWII, the country managed to save the lives of about 50,000 Bulgarian Jews with the support of Bulgarian politicians and even Tsar Boris III.
Papademos Expects Agreement on Debt Deal by End of Week
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said negotiators had made “significant progress” in talks to strike a restructuring deal for Greek government debt, with the aim of reaching a definitive agreement by the end of this week.
“Significant progress has been made in talks about private sector involvement,” Papademos told reporters early on Tuesday, following a meeting with senior officials from the European Central Bank and the EU after an EU leaders’ summit.
“We are seeking to conclude negotiations with the troika by the end of the week,” he said, referring to the team of analysts from the ECB, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, who are responsible for monitoring Greece’s progress in meeting budget deficit targets.
Papademos said the major sticking points to be agreed upon with the troika regarded deeper spending cuts and labor market reforms.
Those commitments, together with a deal with private sector bondholders to take a 50 percent face-value writedown on the near 200 billion euros ($264 billion) of Greek bonds they hold, are necessary before the troika can sign off on a second rescue package for Greece.
40 Old Epigraphs Shown in Delphi Exhibit
An exhibition entitled ”Delphic Letters: Journey through the old epigraphs of the pan-Hellenic sanctuary” has been organised by Greece’s 14th Classical and Prehistorical antiques bureau at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, the important archaeological site and historic Ancient Greek city on the slopes of the Parnassus, in central Greece, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year. In ancient times, Delphi, known as the ”centre of awareness” was the site of the most important and venerated oracle of the God Apollo.
In a long room in the museum, the Classical bureau, which is directed by archaeologist Athanasia Psalti, has set up an exhibition of 40 stone steles ranging from the Archaic period to the first years of Christianity, representing just a small part of the many epigraphs discovered during excavations in the area.
The epigraphs of the Delphic sanctuary were numerous and had an important role in the functioning of the site. Those exhibited in the new show, the archaeologist says, are among the most significant evidence unearthed and give a clear picture of all categories of inscriptions covered. The epigraphs on display include some of the most important resolutions decided by representatives of the 12 tribes that lived in the surrounding regions during assemblies held in summer and in autumn, the ”Ieromimnones”.
Inscriptions to cities, kings and emperors can also be admired, as well as those for sporting events held in the stadium that would be the setting for the Pythian Games, which were held three years after the Olympics and take their name from Pythia, the priestess who pronounced the oracles in the name of Apollo.
The epigraphs with incisions of accounts include a record of funds for the reconstruction of the Sanctuary of Apollo around the second half of the 6th century BC. Among the most significant incisions is the famous antique maxim ”Know Thyself” (”Gnothis eauton”) which figured on the architrave at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo, inside of which burned the ”eternal flame”. There are also a number of incisions referring to acts of liberation of slaves, while educational programmes, as Psalti explains, evoke people who had really existed, such as the philosopher Aristotle, or mythological figures such as the nymph Castalia.
The choice of pieces to be exhibited was made by the French epigraphist, Dominique Mulliez, who until last year was the director of the French School of Athens and is today a professor of Greek Civilisation at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
(source: ANSA)
German Professor To Spiegel: "If Greek Mood Turns, Issue of Old WWII Reparations Could be Raised"
German Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics Albrecht Ritschl gave an interview to German Spiegel explaining why the Greek debt is not the biggest financial tragedy experienced in Europe, and emphasizing that the anti-Hellenic policies of the German media are quite dangerous to Germany.
“Germany was the biggest debt transgressor of the 20th century becoming insolvent three times at least in the past century” pointed out the LSE professor, adding that Greece’s debt is only a serious matter because of its contamination potential.
The Greek people are well aware of the antagonistic behavior of the German media towards their debt-ridden country. “If the mood in the country turns, old claims for reparations could be raised, from other European nations as well. And if Germany ever had to honor them, we would all be taken the cleaners” Ritschl told the German weekly.
Greece is facing today the same situation Germany had faced after both WWI and WWII, continues Ritschl in his interview. Germany seems to have a short collective memory and have forgotten that their current thriving economy and stability is mostly based on US financial help after WWII and a halt of reparations.
According to Ritschl, Germany also defaulted in 1953, after the then Chancellor Helmut Kohl had refused to implement the London Agreement on German External Debts, which provided that “in case of reunification the German reparations from WWII would be newly regulated”.
Greece had received some small amounts of reparations but the overall money owed to the Mediterranean country from WWII is estimated at about $95 billion, which could easily write off its current debt.
Turkish Corvette Bandirma Sails in Greek Territorial Waters
According to an announcement by the Greek Defence General Staff, the Turkish Corvette ‘Bandirma’ entered Greek territorial waters at 20:15 on Sunday night.
The Turkish corvette, coming from the East Mediterranean Sea, moved between Kasos and Crete islands, then sailed in international waters in northern Crete, and finally followed a course between Milos and Folegandros islands.
The Turkish corvette, moving north, sailed at 01:15 a.m. between Sifnos and Antiparos islands, destined for the port of Smyrna.
Greek Navy ships were watching the Turkish corvette during its sailing in the National Territorial Waters.
Acropolis Museum Will Show 3D Film Regarding History of Monument
A Virtual Theatre in the new Acropolis Museum has been created in order to present films and documentaries with 3D animation regarding the history of restorations of the four monuments of the Acropolis.
The screening of the film ‘Acropolis in Antiquity’ will begin on the 4th and 5th of February at the Hall of Virtual Reality. The film was completed under the guidance of the Acropolis Restoration Service.
The film features Acropolis’ Monuments, providing information for the understanding of the architectural sculptures. The presentation of the film will be held in the English language at 11:00 a.m. and in the Greek language at 12:00 a.m.. The entrance fee will be 1 Euro.
If you are a group with over 10 members, you should call 210 9000903 from Monday through Friday (from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) in order to make reservations.
Thessaloniki Honors Jewish Victims of Holocaust
A memorial in honor of Greek Jews killed during World War II was held in Eleftherias Square in Thessaloniki, at the same spot where thousands were rounded up to be deported to Nazi concentration camps some 64 years ago.
More than 50,000 Greek Jews were killed during the Holocaust, decimating Thessaloniki’s once-thriving Jewish community, which now numbers just 1,000 people.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demetris Dollis, said that people of Thessaloniki will always honor the memory of the city’s 50,000 Jews and expressed the wish that no people will ever again experience such tragedies.
The Deputy District Commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, emphasized the contribution of the Jewish community to the creation of a multicultural character in the city of Thessaloniki. Delegates of the Israelite community also attended the event.
After the memorial, ceremony wreaths were placed at the Holocaust monument.
Deposits Rose in December After Three-Month Decline
Greek bank deposits by businesses and households rose in December for the first time since August as the country’s political outlook stabilized with the formation of an interim government under Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.
Deposits increased to 174.2 billion euros ($228 billion) from 172.9 billion euros the previous month, a rise of 0.75 percent, according to a statement by the Bank of Greece on its website today. Deposits declined 35.4 billion euros, or 17 percent, in 2011.
Deposits shrank 8.3 percent in the three months to November as the country fell short of targets under a European Union and International Monetary Fund fiscal program, leading to agreement on a second Greek financing package at an EU summit on Oct. 26. Papademos’s appointment on Nov. 11 stemmed the deposit outflow after his predecessor, George Papandreou, roiled markets by calling a referendum on the plan.
(source: Bloomberg)
Arianna Huffington Suggests Bringing World Economic Forum To Greece
In her interview to Reuters news agency, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group Arianna Huffington suggested the relocation of the World Economic Forum from Davos, Switzerland to Patmos, Greece.
On the occasion of her attending the Davos Forum, Mrs. Huffington revealed that she has also joined the protesting people in Syntagma Square, Athens, where she saw for herself that the European policies imposed on the Greeks without the Greeks’ input are leading the country to a dead end.
According to Huffington, in comparison to Davos, Patmos is a sunny, warm place that can host the World Economic Forum, since this is where Apostle Ioannis wrote the “Apocalypse”. Like any other Greek island, Patmos can provide the participants of the Forum with the necessary isolation and private atmosphere to convene.