Cyprus will assume the six monthly rotating EU presidency in July 2012 whether some wish it or not, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Sunday.
Speaking during the annual anti-occupation event organized by Morphou Municipality and organizations, President Christofias referring to the Turkish reactions regarding the Cyprus EU Presidency he sent a message to Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglou that whether they like or not Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency.
“I want to say to Mr. Erdogan and to Mr. Davutoglou and to all the rest that Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency whether they want it or not“, the President said.
(source: cna)
Christofias: Cyprus EU Presidency will proceed despite Turkish reactions
Possible Cutting Of 25% In Private Sector Wages
New uniform payroll program includes provision for workers in SOEs and banks with state participation, and 70,000 employees are subject to salary reductions, reaching even 40%.
Meanwhile, the Troika presses for government interventions in the issue of minimum wages, as international lenders appear dissatisfied by the law bill submitted by Labour Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis.
The minister is at the centre of dispute, and information indicates that Troika is frustrated by that the issue went public, while the ministry delayed major interventions.
Wages in the private sectors would be further reduced even by 25%, as sectoral agreements will be substantially abolished, according to the provisions of the new bill, tabled last Thursday. Thus, now the national collective agreement provides the safety net of €750 per month.
(source: capital)
Inaugural CEGA Awards to Celebrate Excellence in Greek Achievement
The CEGA Awards were created to Celebrate Excellence in Greek Achievement. They have been
conceived within the inspiration of honouring top achievement by Canadians of Greek decent. The
awards honour preeminent individuals, who have excelled in their respective fields, strive for
excellence and serve as role models within and beyond our Hellenic community.
The CEGA Awards bestow appreciation for the achievement of Greek Canadians by recognizing
excellence in one of five categories: the promotion of Hellenism; Education; Philanthropy; Civic
Responsibility and Family & Individual Excellence. These categories represent the five pillars of
the AHEPA mission statement.
The inaugural 2011 CEGA Awards are being held on October 15th 2011 at the prestigious
Fairmont Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, Canada. This black tie (optional) event will
bring together prominent individuals in a dinner celebration and create an opportunity for leisure,
social and cultural experience outside the normal everyday experience. We will celebrate human
achievement by producing a unique, memorable event with celebrity guest speakers. This group of
recipients was selected by the AHEPA Toronto, 2011 CEGA Awards committee which is comprised
of seven members.
The CEGA Award for the Promotion of Hellenism will be presented to the Honourable Dimitris
Azemopoulos, Consul General of Greece in Toronto since February 26, 2009. Mr. Azemopoulos’
career has focused on serving Hellenism and the Hellenic Republic. With multiple degrees and
fluency in eight languages, he has represented Hellenism in several positions and countries,
including the diplomatic Cabinets of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the
Republic, as Consular in the Greek Embassy in Warsaw, in the Council of the EU, as Head of the
Cabinet of the Director General Responsible for the International Organizations and Security, as
Director of the Cabinet of the Secretary General for the European Affairs and First Consular at the
Embassy of Greece in Norway. His hard work, innovative ideas and dedication have earned him
numerous awards and recognitions. These include The Eagle of the Polish Republic, The Cross of
the Commander of the Italian Republic and The National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada
Award for his leadership to the courses of social justice, human rights and democracy among all
Canadians.
The CEGA Award for Education will be presented to Nancy Athan‐Mylonas, theatre
director/choreographer. Ms. Athan‐Mylonas is a classically trained dancer & actor who is
enamoured with the exploration of her Hellenic roots through the cultural arts. Her
journey initially lead her to open The School of Movement and The Greek Folklore Centre in
Sydney, Australia in 1966, where she taught Greek traditional & modern dances, dance theatre,
ballet and mime. This journey continued with the founding of Theatre Nefeli for the Greek
Community of Toronto in 1991, which has since seen the nurturing of 7 generations of young talent in these cultural arts.
Ms. Athan‐Mylonas’ productions are designed to convey to their audiences the importance of carrying on the Hellenic spirit, pride & heritage, and they do so
in the most entertaining fashion that appeals to all generations.
The CEGA Award for Philanthropy will be presented to John Dagonas, Director of the Hellenic
Hope Centre for Persons with Special Needs. Mr. Dagonas’ contributions transcend the standard
notion of philanthropy by the shear volume of organizations, committees and projects in which he
participates. His leadership as Chairman of the Board of the Hellenic Hope Centre for Persons with
Special Needs has resulted in the construction of a larger and more modern facility for the
organization. He has served as President of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, of Athens Villa –
Non‐Profit Housing Corporation of Ontario and of The Federation of Aegean Islands, Director of
Hellenic Canadian Congress, Hellenic Home for the Aged, The National Bank of Greece, West Park
Hospital and Metamorphosis School. In 2002, he was named Archon of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate. More recently, Mr. Dagonas was elected SAE Coordinator in Canada
Region.
The CEGA Award for Civic Responsibility will be presented to Nick Aroutzidis, Past President of
AHEPA Canada for three consecutive terms. In this capacity Mr. Aroutzidis worked tirelessly to
raise the visibility and image of the Canadian AHEPA Family by encouraging members to seek
greater interaction and cooperation with local organizations, as well as with municipal and
provincial governments in their respective communities. He built a network of both formal and
informal forums with the Canadian government thus providing a viable opportunity for voicing
the opinions and concerns of Canadians of Hellenic descent. To that end, Mr. Aroutzidis
spearheaded The Parliament Hill Hellenic Friendship Day that took place May 13th 2010. This was
a momentous event because it was the first time that the Hellenic organizations ‐ AHEPA, The
Canadian Hellenic Congress, PSEKA and SAE Canada spoke with one voice.
The CEGA Award for Family and Individual Excellence will be presented to Ted Manziaris,
President of Turtle Island Recycling. With a degree in Environmental Studies, the entrepreneurial
spirit and a desire to make a difference, Mr. Manziaris founded Turtle Island Recycling in the early
1990s, before green business became popular. Today this successful business employs 600 people
and contributes to an environmentally friendly community. Mr. Manziaris also founded the
Toronto Greek Film Retrospective, a series of free screenings that celebrate Greek cinema. He
generously donates his time and skills to such worthwhile causes as ProAction – Cops and Kids,
and the Hellenic Hope Centre for Persons with Special Needs.
www.cegaawards.com
The proceeds from this event will help build the AHEPA Toronto Scholarship Fund.
Merkel, Sarkozy Pledge Euro-Zone Solution This Month
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday pledged to do all that is needed to stabilize the euro zone and to present a comprehensive package of measures by the end of October.
“We are determined to have a sustainable and comprehensive solution by the end of this month because Europe should have resolved its problems by the G-20 summit in Cannes [Nov. 3-4],” said Sarkozy.
The leaders of Germany and France also said they would ensure that European banks had sufficient capital to face any crisis-related shocks.
“We are determined to do what is necessary to guarantee the recapitalization of our banks,” Merkel told reporters ahead of a working dinner with Sarkozy. “We will make proposals in a comprehensive package that will enable closer cooperation between euro-zone countries that will include changes to treaties.”
Sarkozy said: “We also agree to strengthen the structure of capital of banks in Europe. Our agreement is total and we will work hand in hand with European authorities on this subject.”
Merkel and Sarkozy declined to provide any further details about their thinking on how to recapitalize European banks.
“It’s not the moment to go into details of all questions. Other meetings,” said Sarkozy.
Responding to a question about the possibility of a Greek default, Merkel and Sarkozy reiterated that they need to await the “troika” report and that they have confidence in that body, which consists of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund as they seek a solution to Greece’s sovereign-debt problem.
“We think the troika will propose a sustainable solution for Greece,” said Sarkozy. “We are working closely with the troika. Greece is part of the euro zone and we will find solutions to ensure the financial stability of Europe and a long-term solution for the Greek problem.”
Without going into detail, Merkel and Sarkozy also suggested that deepening political union within Europe was on the agenda and suggested that there could be changes to existing treaties to improve the integration of the euro zone.
Sarkozy said: “We must propose an acceleration of integration in the euro zone that will include significant changes so the European system is more effective.”
(source: Dow Jones)
Students Hurl Yogurt at Minister of Interior in Thessaloniki
Students hurled yogurt at Minister of Interior, Charis Kastanides inside a cinema of Thessaloniki, yesterday.
The Minister was watching the new Woody Allen movie in a cinema in Aristotelous Square, while students holding a protest concert in Venizelou Square.
Once the Minister’s presence was known, 100 students entered the cinema yelling slogans, carrying placards, and hurling yogurt at Kastanides.
Turkish Frigate Reaches Cape Sounion
Yesterday afternoon, the Turkish frigate TCG Kemalreis (F-247) reached Cape Sounion and Kafireas, sailing in Greek national waters.
The frigate started its journey from the Eastern Mediterranean, went off Rhodes, Milos, and arrived almost 15 miles off the coast of Sounion. A warship of the Greek Navy was discreetly monitoring all the frigate movements between the Greek islands.
Turkey is continuing its provocative actions in the Aegean Sea which is causing concern to the headquarters of the Greek Armed Forces as far as tension in bilateral relations is concerned, although according to Ankara, it was a “harmless sailing”.
52nd International Film Festival in Thessaloniki
The 52nd International Film Festival proudly announces the participating Greek films.
More than 20 films will participate in individual sections (International Competition, Greek films 2011, Greek Co, Special Screenings, Market), and among them, twelve are going to make their debut in Thessaloniki.
Skill Expo Session Reveals Big Interest in Migrating to Australia
The Skill Expo information session held at the Hilton Hotel of Athens yesterday and today was organized by the Greek Department of Immigration and Citizenship to inform Greek citizens about migrating and working in Australia.
Hundreds of people aged up to 50 years attended the Expo searching for a better life away from recession-hit Greece and Europe just like in the 50’s and the 60’s, when massive waves of immigration took place.
According to the Department of Immigration, almost 12.000 Greeks expressed their interest in taking part in the informative Expo but only a limited number received the much desired invitation.
Besides the Expo, the private Australian Industrial Systems Institute organized a separate seminar on industrial and construction engineering, nursery and automation.
The Australian Skilled Migration Programme projects 170,000 immigrants per year. In this way, Australia seeks to attract precious skilled personnel that will enhance the country’s development both economically and socially.
The Australian Embassy made clear in its announcement that attending the Skill Expo session is neither a formal application for migration nor a guarantee for visa approval. “Migration chances are equal for those having attended the Expo and all future applicants both from Greece and other countries”.
The Australian Embassy in Athens is not in charge of issuing permanent business visas. The people will be selected according to qualification criteria, since the number of applications exceeds by far the available jobs.
For more information visit the following website www.immi.gov.au/skillexpos
Ecumenical Patriarch: Crisis Also Spiritual in Nature
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Sunday sent a message of solidarity and unity in order to overcome the ongoing economic crisis in Greece, speaking during a liturgy in the monastic community of Mount Athos, and in the presence of Prime Minister George Papandreou.
Bartholomew expressed a wish for an end to the crisis everywhere, especially in Greece, with the least possible repercussions, while he called the mission of the Greek prime minister and other world leaders as “difficult and arduous”.
The Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out that the reasons for the crisis are not only economic but also spiritual, underlining that the solution is a return to God and the Orthodox Christianity’s virtues.
The Ecumenical Patriarch is visiting Mount Athos in the framework of the ecclesiastical celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of his enthronement.
(source: ana-mpa)
IMF's Man Says Greek Rescue Plan May Fail
ATHENS – The International Monetary Fund’s representative in Greece has warned that a $152 billion bailout of rescue loans may not work because he said the country’s leaders are dragging their feet on critical structural reforms. The IMF, along with the European Union and European Central Bank form the so-called Troika which is providing the bailout funds, in return for waves of punishing pay cuts, tax hikes, slashed pensions and the layoffs of scores of thousands of workers.
Despite those austerity measures, Poul Thomsen said the effort may yet fail. “Greece is at a crossroads. It is clear the program will not work if the authorities do not take the path that requires much stricter structural reforms than those that we have seen so far,” Thomsen said in an interview with the German Sunday paper Welt am Sonntag. “It is going two steps forward, and one backwards,” he complained. “The Greek government understands that many of the most difficult changes lie ahead. At the same time, the political and social fatigue is growing.”
As Greeks have taken to the streets in sometimes violent protests against the measures, Thomsen said he was stunned by the ferocity of the resistance. “People express their frustration sometimes in very unpleasant ways,” he said. “That is one of the ugly aspects of my work. And the intensity of it here is new for me.”
His troika colleague from the European Commission, Mattias Mors, also criticized the slow pace of reforms. “The Greeks believe it is enough to make laws,” he told the same newspaper. “But it takes time to implement. And often the right structures are lacking, for example in tax administration.” The Troika has complained since the bailout loans began 18 months ago that Greece has done virtually nothing to go after tax evaders costing the country nearly $40 billion a year in tax evasion while the working class, poor and pensioners are being pummeled.
The pessimistic assesment comes as Greece is desperately awaiting a next loan installment of $11 billion that has been delayed until the Troika is satisfied with the pace of reforms. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the country will run out of money in mid-November and be unable to pay workers or pensioners without the funds.
Besides long-delayed privatization of state-run enterprises and the sale or lease of state properties designed to raise $71 billion, the government of Prime Minister George Papandreou is being criticized for not doing enough to insure greater revenues for 2013 and 2014, falling short in its plan by $8 billion, Troika officials have said, adding that Papandreou has also failed to end monopolies in a number of professions with significant political clout, such as lawyers, architects, and engineers, as well as taxi and truck drivers and pharmacists who have little competition.
The IMF also denied a statement by the Greek goverment that the next loan installment is a done deal. A senior Troika official told Reuters that the inspectors were likely to give the green light to the aid but that it was not assured. The EU and IMF first want to receive more details on the implementation and impact of plans announced last month to slash the public sector workforce and increase taxes to plug a bigger-than-targeted fiscal gap, the official said.
Greece recently said it would miss its 2011 deficit targets set as a condition of aid, also weakening chances the country could get a second bailout of $157 billion agreed on in July by leaders of the Eurozone, countries using the euro as a currency. Greece’s crisis threatens to undermine the union. EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Oct. 17-18 to discuss revising the July 21 deal to provide Greece with a second rescue package. They may ask investors to accept losses on their holdings of Greek debt even larger than the 21 percent write-down set out in the July deal. Reuters reported that a leading member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Conservatives told a newspaper that Greece was near bankruptcy and must give up part of its sovereignty to obtain the large debt forgiveness it needs to survive.