Profile of Greeks in Libya

Greece has had a long and positive relationship with Libya, actually dating back as early as 700 BC when settlers from Crete settled on the northern coast of the country.  Greeks have had a presence mostly in Benghazi and Tripoli for generations. Benghazi where the majority of the Greek community resides, is only 400 km south of Crete. The Greek island of Crete is a short distance from Benghazi and many families in Benghazi today bear Cretan surnames. The Greek community is centered in the country’s two largest cities: around 500 reside in Tripoli and nearly 1,000 live in Benghazi.

The Greek community in Benghazi operates its own schools and also has its own small Greek Orthodox church found in the centre of the city.  It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary Evangelistria with one priest. It was founded in 1907-12. The Greek community in Tripoli also has one church of its own, as well as a priest. It is located in Tripoli’s old Medina, near the second century arch of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and is dedicated to Saint George of the “Slaves”. It dates from the seventeen century and was founded in 1664 in an ex Ottoman prison building.
(source: noctos)

Albanian Newspapers Claim Goumas’ Death an “Accident”

According to Albanian newspapers, the Public Prosecutor’s office found that expatriate, Aristotelis Goumas, was not murdered. On the contrary, he died because of a car accident caused by himself. The fact is that on the 12th of August 2010, in Himare, a group of Albanian nationalists attacked Goumas and murdered him because he used to speak Greek.  At the beginning, the crime was condemned by the Albanian judicial and political power. Nevertheless, after nine months of invastigations the murder was deemed an accident. Within this scope, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece seem to be concerned and stated they will attend the proceedings, and are ready to intervene, whenever it is necessary.

IMF/EU/ECB Extends Deadline For Political Decisions

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IMF/EU/ECB have asked for further cost cutting in public enterprises, faster implementation of privatization program and more efficient measures against tax evasion, and expects political decisions until next week.
In the wake of Portugal’s request for a bailout loan, Troika representatives have set a deadline for Greek government until April 15 in order to proceed with political decisions. They also asked to be constantly filled in on any change in the proposed measures and the unsettled yet state deficit.
European Union and European Central Bank representatives are expected to focus in Portugal’s issue. They will be supervised by Servaas Deroose’s team. Deroose, who is well-known in Greece since his statement regarding the €50b privatization program, has been replaced on Wednesday by Jurgen Kruger, as usually requests for rescue loans are already known by institutions and finance ministers.
The immediate departure of the remaining representatives should not be ruled out, according to sources. The prolonged stay was planned to exert pressure on Greek government under the shadow of a possible non-disbursement of the next aid installment. Moreover:
The issue of 2010 and 2011 deficit was not formally on the agenda as the figures are under revision. They expected to be settled by April 26, while an early report of the first quarter deficit will be available on April 10. Provision data show that the revenue problem remains, and the gap reaches €1.5b.
Mid-term package has not been finalized, as Finance Minister’s proposals face strong internal opposition. Troika and Ministry have discussed possible scenarios of measures worth more than €22b, according to sources.
Troika has raised clear objections about revenues issue, which reportedly has been strengthened as a ratio. The government is looking for ways to combat tax evasion and insurance contribution evasion in order to raise more than €10b to avoid implementing further painful measures.
However, Troika expressed doubts, given the unfavorable course of budget execution and requested additional measures in public enterprises. It considers crucial the acceleration of privatization and criticized the fact that no actual movements have been made.
(source: capital)

Tryfon Reglis Performs “Sex, Relationships, and Sometimes… Love” Monologues

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Tryfon Reglis

Greek-American actor Tryfon Reglis is one of the cast members performing the “Sex, relationships, and Sometines…Love” monologues at the Complex Theater in Los Angeles. The show was first produced at Show World in Times Square in 2003. It has currently been running a healthy 6 years at the 45th Street Theatre in Times Square with The Michael Chekov Theatre Co. and now is also running in Los Angeles. The show is written by Joelle Arqueros.

These monologues are for everyone. They characterize the raw, delicate, and poignant perspectives of sex and love. They are modern, candid, topical, and for all walks of life- men, women, crossgender, straight, gay, and human. A Monologues Show about Relationships…. Or whatever you want to call them.

Tryfon Vasilios Reglis was born and raised in Chicago IL. He is first generation Greek-American, raised in a Greek household with very strong family values, morals, and religious beliefs. His parents came to America in the

mid 70’s. One year after graduating college Tryfon decided to move out of Chicago. He was ready to pursue an acting career but instead of going to Hollywood, he headed south to Miami, Florida. In Miami he learned the early steps of becoming an actor. With some acting experience under his belt and after two years in Miami, Tryfon decided to give Hollywood a try. He left Miami in August of ’06 with nothing but a car full of stuff, a close friend, and less than $800 in his pocket. Now residing in North Hollywood he is slowly on his way to becoming a respectable, hard working Hollywood actor.

For Tickets in LA please call 323-769-5566
Price: $15 or $20 includes ALL YOU CAN DRINK

LOS ANGELES: Thurs nights 730 and 9pm
The Complex 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. (near Wilcox)

Hollywood , CA

Every Thurs 7:30pm, & 9pm.

APRIL 7 , 14, 21, 28

May 5 , 12

"Tsikoudia the spirit of Crete" Wins 3rd Prize at Gourmand World Cookbook Fair

“When I fast on water, I put some raki in my glass…”
The album of Andreas Smaragdis “Tsikoudia the Spirit of Crete”, published by Dokimakis Publications, won the 3rd World Prize at the category of Best Spirits Books at the Gourmand World Cookbook Fair 2011 exhibitions.  The event took place in Paris in March 2011.
This exhibition is the best exhibition dedicated to cookbooks and wine books. It was inaugurated in 1995 by Edward Cuantro.  Its target was to present the variety of books that talk about  cooking and wine. 41 prizes are awarded about cooking and 18 about wine.
At this year’s exhibition, 154 countries have taken part with over 6,000 books. The album “Tsikoudia the Spirit of Crete”, was awarded because it is a very well made bilingual publication(Greek- English), with photographs taken by Andreas Smaragdis and texts written by professor, Ilias Kastanas and the lector Giorgos Notas. The titles under the photos are commented by the artist Loudovikos of Anogia.
 

Strikers Occupy Mayor's Office in Athens

Municipal workers occupied the Mayor’s office in Athens in another protest against austerity measures in debt-ridden Greece. The demonstrators, fearing job cuts after their municipal labour contracts expired, have been occupying Athens City Hall since March 21st.  On Wednesday, they occupied Mayor Giorgos Kaminis’ nearby office for about two hours.  There were about 200 demonstrators gathered outside the building.  Giant Greek flags and protest banners- one reading “2,500 families will be thrown intothe street, we won’t stand for it” – were draped over the front of the building.

George Theofanous is New "Hope for Children" Goodwill Ambassador

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Renowned Cypriot composer, George Theofanous, was appointed as the new Goodwill Ambassador of “Hope for Children”, which works to promote and advocate children’s rights.
Mr. Joseph Varughese, Director-General of the Hope For Children – UNCRC Policy Center, is very excited to have Mr. Theofanous as its goodwill Ambassador, especially in the wake of its most recent campaign: One in Five To Stop Sexual Abuse Against Children. Joseph Varughese said: “We are confident that the appointment of Mr. George Theofanous as the Goodwill Ambassador will contribute to the promotion of Children’s Rights”.
George Theoganous was born in Larnaka in 1968. He studied music and cinema, as well as composition and orchestral conducting at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Antique Toy Exhibition Held April 7th-10th, Thessaloniki

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A private collection of objects dating back to the 18th century unveils the magical world of children’s toys in an exhibition.  It is hosted by the Association of Secondhand Dealers in Thessaloniki and will run between April 7th-10th.
The impressive collection, that belongs to secondhand goods’ dealer Ioannis Vavatsis, numbers 8,500 items he purchased from Greek and foreign markets over the past 20 years. The oldest object on display is a children’s book printed in 1790.
Vavatsis keeps the collection at his antique shop and he aspires to create a Children’s Museum where it can be housed permanently.
(source: ana-mpa)

FT: "Τhe EU has lost faith in Greece…"

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What Süddeutsche Zeitung calls “the subject that is discussed in whispers at the EU” — the likely restructuring of Greece’s sovereign debt — dominates the front page of Financial Times Deutschland. According to the German business daily, “the EU has lost faith in Greece” and international market confidence in the country has declined to the point where it will no longer be able to independently seek financing to service its debt in 2012 — a situation that was not part of the plan. On 5 April, the rate of interest on Greek 10-year bonds reached 12.7 percent, which is twice the rate that the country pays on its loans from the EU and the IMF.
Two outstanding problems remain. The first of these is that speculation in the wake of a restructuring of Greek debt could destabilise other member states in difficulty — i.e. Ireland and Portugal. The second is that the EU has yet to establish a procedure for restructuring. “Greece will have to negotiate on its own behalf and will depend on the good will” of the banks and insurance companies that are its creditors, remarks FTD.

Gambling Legislation Sent Again To European Commission

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After the announcement of its intention to regulate the domestic gaming market, Greek government sent again the draft law to the European Union to be examined through the emergency procedure, on the grounds of public order disturbance from the growing number of interested parties.
The text for the regulation of the gaming market, which was posted on Tuesday at the European Commission’s information system TRIS, refers to the imperative need of Greek government for the immediate passage of the draft law, which is expected in late May 2011.
In this context, the Commission is requested to examine the posted text and send its comments in order to be incorporated in the legislative process quickly.
This development comes just a few days after the complication with the initial notification of the draft law, which was returned to Greece for reform, as Capital.gr noted.
Otherwise, the targeted revenue of €700m from the sale of licenses and the state’s share in the profits is undermined. In that case, alternative plans of these revenues are already prepared.
However, the admission of government’s inability to control the gambling market by referring to “serious and unforeseeable circumstances connected with the safety of citizens” may delay the process, as European Commission’s policy is to examine thoroughly public order issues.
(source: capital)