The European Commission stated that it has decided to refer Greece to the EU Court of Justice for maintaining investment restrictions in breach of EU rules on the free movement of capital, according to an official announcement.
Moreover, “the Commission considers that investment restrictions in so-called ΄strategic companies΄ impose disproportionate caps on a person’s ability to acquire shares above a certain threshold. The Commission sent a “reasoned opinion” to Greece in November 2008, asking it to comply with EU law. However, Greek authorities have failed to either repeal or amend the contested law.
Commission Refers Greece to EU Court of Justice
Papandreou States: "Greece is not selling its land"
Prime Minister George Papandreou announced on Tuesday, that the government will take a legislative initiative in the next few days that will prohibit the sale or transfer of ownership of public land.
Addressing a greeting to the first meeting of the National Council on Life-Long Learning and connection with Employment, Papandreou added that he will ask all the political parties, through dialogue, to agree to such a legislative regulation and at a later time, with the revision of the Constitution, that this be contained in the Constitution as well.
Papandreou added that only Parliament will be given the authority to decide on the transfer of small expanses of land.
This, he said, is the government’s reply to the current conjuncture but also in the long-term, and reiterated: “Our firm position is — and I say this to everyone inside and outside the country who have not appreciated it — that we are talking about exploitation of the state assets for development and for debt repayment. The term ‘exploitation’ should not be confused with the term ‘sale’. Greece is not selling its land.”
(source: ana-mpa)
H1N1 Flu Spreads in Greece
A rapidly spreading epidemic of the H1N1 flu in Greece is leaving in its wake, a big number of patients and an increasing number of victims.
During the last forty-eight hours, fourteen people have lost their lives due to complications from the flu. Most of them were sufferers from chronic diseases or had health issues. According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, sixty-two people have lost their lives due to the flu.
Additionally, 110 individuals in ICUs remain in critical condition.
The scientists estimate that the peak cycle of the flu will last for one more month. The symptoms are intense; a high temperature that persists, dizziness and strong headaches.
It is imperative that people who belong to high-risk groups are vaccinated. The flu is more active in the northern parts of Greece.
A Greek Blues Singer from Guinea in Athens for 1st Time
Elisabeth comes from Guinea and has an absolutely Greek surname of Kontomanou. She has a ‘blues’ voice like those in days gone by and owns a house in Paris. Nevertheless, she describes herself as a ‘citizen of the world’.
In addition, she has made seven musical records and has cooperated with important musicians such as Leon Parker, Michel Legrand, Mike Stern, Jeff Watts, Richard Bona, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim Beard, Alain Jean-Marie and Toots Thielemans.
To date, she has never been to Greece or speaks Greek. Consequently, the seven live performances accompanied by her son Donald, drummer of Elisabeth Kontomanou Quintet, at “Half Note” this coming Friday until the 17th of February, is for her ‘a very important trip back to her family history’,
She was born in France because of her parents’ acquaintance there. Unfortunately, they died while she was very young and she was brought up without music, although her father was a musician. She had to find out music by herself. She was astonished by Maria Kallas, and later by Stevie Wonder and Greek Folklore music. She has been closely connected with Afro-American music.
In 1999, her record ‘Embrace’ became the corner stone for a great career on the European jazz scene. It made the French press refer to her as ‘a half witch and half priestess’ talking to people’s soul.
And what about her repertoire? She loves Charles Mingus and prefers ‘jazz songs with good lyrics’.
Her interest in ‘exploring different cultures through their music’ is the most significant endowment of her intercontinental ancestry. Xenophobia has caused numerous problems to her but was also the reason why she started believing deeply in art. ‘It is the counteractive against racism’, she thinks.
FM Droutsas & Cypriot President Christofias Conduct Positive Dialogue
The Foreign Minister of Greece Demetris Droutsas (photo) discussed with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, the coordinated action of the two sides, vis-a-vis developments in the Cyprus issue.
Droutsas is on a two-day visit in Cyprus and will visit later this week London and New York. He will have contacts with his British counterpart and the Secretary General of the United Nations, respectively.
While departing from the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, after a two-hour long working lunch with President Christofias, Droutsas stated that the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is “constant and very close.”
Referring to the previous visit of President Christofias to Athens earlier this month, where he met with the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Droutsas said that both sides had a very good meeting.
He added that his present visit offers the opportunity to get into more details regarding the discussion the two sides had in the Greek capital. He stated that Athens and Nicosia, united, are able to face any challenge.
(source: cna)
Appeal to Greek Diaspora by Greek Consul General in Toronto
The Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Demetris Azemopoulos, invites the Greek Community of Toronto and Ontario to participate at an event in support of SickKids Hospital. It will take place on Thursday, 14th of April 2011, at Paramount Conference and Event Venue (222 Rowntree Dairy Road ON L4L 9T2), in collaboration with the Greek Heritage Institute.
The initiative is carried out with the extensive participation of Hellenism in Ontario, in consultation with SickKids Foundation, which also issued a support letter.
The Hospital for Sick Children, a place of “healing hope” since 1875, aspires to become the largest hospital for children suffering from cancer.
For more information on the Hospital’s activities, please visit: www.sickkids.ca
Chef Maria Bernandi Spreads Greek Cuisine throughout Australia
According to an article of “The Sunday Telegraph” newspaper, the Greek cuisine was underestimated in Australia. But this was until Greek chef Maria Bernandi showed up. Maria Bernardi wanted to change this false impression concerning Greek cuisine. She started to give lessons in her school and to write cookbooks. This way, she tries to spread Greek recipes all over the wold and to make Australians familiar with Greek cuisine.
The same article makes a reference to the famous Greek chef George Kalobaris, who has a very successful career in the Australian television. He owns his own restaurant where he serves ouzo, retsina and Greek mezedes.
Scientist Thanasis Ikonomou Works with NASA on Stardust Mission
An historic appointment is about to take place tommorow at 3:00, million miles above earth. If all goes as planned, Nasa’s space shuttle Stardust will ‘meet’ comet Tempel 1.
The shuttle will approach the comet at 200 kilometers and study it. Stardust was first launched in 1999 and this is its second endevour.
Thanasis (Tom) Ikonomou (photo) is the Greek scientist working with Nasa on the Stardust mission, as well as on other missions to Mars and Saturn. He was born in Grevena, Greece and studied nuclear physics at the University of Prague. He has lived in the U.S. since 1964 and conducts research at the University of Chicago.
Greece Sold EUR390mn 13W Treasury Bills
The Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said it sold EUR390 million of 13-week treasury bills at an auction Tuesday, while the total bids reached EUR1,525mn, according to an announcement.
Uniform yield was 3.85%, much lower than last three-month on January 18 (4.1%), while the auction’s bid-to-cover ratio was 5.08 times with 61% of the take-up coming from foreign investors.
Greek 4Q GDP Decreased By 6.6% On Year
The Hellenic Statistical Authority announced on Tuesday that the Gross Domestic Product for the 4th quarter of 2010 decreased by 6.6% in comparison with the 4th quarter of 2009 and by 1.4% in comparison with the 3rd quarter of 2010.
In its report, the statistics agency noted that the significant decrease recorded in final consumption expenditure has contributed to the decline of GDP, while the improvement in the external trade balance has partially offset the negative effect.