Strong Bilateral Relationships Between Greece and USA

Fani Toli
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Strong Bilateral Relationships Between Greece and USA

During the meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Greek FM Stavros Lambrinidis at the State Department, Clinton underlined bilateral relationships between USA and Greece, that continue strong, regional and international matters, and of course the international economic challenges that Greece along with the rest of the world is facing.

On his part, Lambrinidis emphasized the extremely important and helpful role the US has played, and Hillary Clinton in particular, throughout these difficult months.

Moreover, Clinton talked about OXI day, when Greeks celebrate the freedom and courage of the Greek people.  She stated, “Greece today is being asked to summon its courage again. This time the challenge is economic. The Greek people are making major changes, big sacrifices, to return their country to financial health and economic competitiveness”.

“Greece is a long standing ally of the United States. In ways large and small, life in our country is enriched by the energy and contributions of our many Greek-Americans. And abroad Greece and the United States share common goals for stability and prosperity in Southeastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. United States looks forward to broadening deepening and strengthening this already very vital relationship”, Hillary Clinton added.

Finally, Foreign Minister of Greece thanked Clinton, saying, “Greece and the United States do know of difficulties. We have been together, stood by each other during difficult wars, and we are standing by each other today, as well. I think I will have a wonderful opportunity to discuss issues in our neighborhood and in our region that concern us both deeply, in which Greece has a very active involvement and a great desire to be able, together with the EU and the US, to bring peace and stability that we all need”.

Greek Shipowners Demand Piracy Be Curtailed

Fani Toli
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Greek Shipowners Demand Piracy Be Curtailed

Greek shipowners have been warned of the havoc on vital international ocean trades if the problem with piracy is not curtailed more effectively.

The message was spelt out “in no uncertain terms” by a delegation of Greek owners who visited Washington this month, meeting rule-makers and officials including US Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood.

“They understand the implications if the transport chain is disrupted, which obviously it may be if seafarers are not willing to go into the Indian Ocean, for example,” said a source, which took place under the auspices of the Union of Greek Shipowners.

One owner said, “There is a tendency in the US to think that piracy in the Indian Ocean has very little to do with them. But they understand the implications for trade and we also pointed out the mounting cost of piracy to the American consumer.”

A report in IFW’s sister publication, Lloyd’s List, said Greek-controlled shipping was estimated to carry about 20% of US imports and exports, a share partly reflecting the fact that Greek owners on average operate larger ships than many other nationalities.

The Union of Greek Shipowners has called for “self-protection of seafarers and ships by using private armed guards on board”.

Message of Honorary SAE President Andrew Athens on October 28th

Stella Tsolakidou
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Message of Honorary SAE President Andrew Athens on October 28th

President and Founder of Hellenicare and Honorary SAE President Mr. Andrew A. Athens sent out a message on the occasion of the October 28th anniversary of “Oxi Day”, underlining that the historic day of the Greek Resistance fight against the Axis Powers continues to inspire in terms of the ideals of freedom and justice.

Furthermore, Mr. Andrews referred to his personal experiences as a student in Chicago at the very day the Greek people refused access on Greek grounds to the Italian invaders.

Among others, Mr. Athens stressed the pride every Greek abroad was feeling at that time for the courageous and patriotic decision of the Greek people.

“The Oxi (No) of the Greek people had been a turning point in the developments of World War II. That little Greek nation showed such a strength and determination to fight off the Axis armed forces, that it made us all proud for being Greeks” commented the Honorary SAE President.

The Greek-American businessman concluded his message by pointing out that the 1940 resistance messages still apply to modern times and are valued by every nation around the world. “Tomorrow’s celebration of the “Oxi Day” in Washington is a tribute to the heroes of the past and modern day fighters promoting human rights and religious freedom” added Mr. Andrews.

Fitch: Greek Rating Likely Stays "Junk" After Deal

A. Makris
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Fitch: Greek Rating Likely Stays "Junk" After Deal

Greece’s credit grade will remain low, probably still in “junk” status, even after its debt load is cut as part of a European plan to fight the financial crisis, Fitch ratings agency said Friday.
Fitch said Friday that the deal would result in a temporary default, as widely expected. After the private creditors have swapped their Greek bonds for new ones with a lower value, the country’s rating is likely to remain in the ‘B’ category, only a few notches up from its current CCC grade. Most B ratings are in so-called “junk” status, meaning non-investment grade.
“Greece would still have a large amount of debt outstanding, its growth prospects are weak and its willingness to implement structural reforms may dissipate,” the agency said in a report.
(source: AP)

European University of Cyprus at London Greek Film Festival!

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European University of Cyprus at London Greek Film Festival!

The 4th annual London Greek Film Festival (LGFF) came to a close on Tuesday with the Odysseus Awards ceremony at the famous Westbourne Studios of West London, after nine days of showcasing the best in modern Greek film.

Professors from the European University of Cyprus, Sophia Hadjipapa-Gee and Demetra Englezou with a video art and animation submission took part in this year’s LGFF .

Sophia Hadjipapa-Gee presented a video titled ‘In the Land of ‘No”.  The video was a stop motion animation. It captures snapshot instances of the so-called “Ochi area” in Nicosia, named after a famous kiosk. The site is emblematic of Nicosia and Cyprus in general as it is illustrative of Cyprus history and current reality.

‘In the Land of ” No” postwar Cyprus is outlined by a series of disparate elements in a strange symbiosis. The camera pans to present these elements one by one in a fragmented way, and gradually constructs a complex puzzle of the landscape.

The disparate elements coexist strangely in the area and highlight Cyprus society, erratic and irreconcilable with itself. The break off of the stop motion animation, which omits some frames and the fragmentation of shots, creates a sense of incomplete and disjointed world which is changing rapidly.

Moreover, ‘Mirrors’ of Demetra Englezou are a motion graphics video that reflects energy of the movement, sound, harmony, space and gravity. Mirrors guide you through a journey where you are listening openly and accepting the feelings that reflects on your instant emotion. Finally, the mirrors are a doorway to another world. It is a metaphor of possible imaginative worlds.

World Recognition of Greek Catholic Church in Poland

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World Recognition of Greek Catholic Church in Poland

A sixteenth-century church has been placed on the prestigious list of international monuments deserving care and financial support.

“This church has a soul” – says Fr. Jan Tarapacki, who holds mass several times a year in this Greek Catholic Church of St. Paraskeva in Radruz (Subcarpathian Province) for former residents of the village.

In 1940, the whole village was deported to the Soviet Union and the local church became empty. The majority of former villagers live now in the Lviv area of Ukraine. They visit the place regularly but mostly the church is besieged by tourists. It attracts about 10 thousand visitors every year.

The wooden church, dated to the late sixteenth century has been included on the prestigious list of World Monuments Fund, dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grant-making, education, and training.

WMF describes its mission as “to preserve important historic architectural sites and works of art without regard to national boundaries”.

From Contracts to Workers, Ultimatum on EU Rules

A. Makris
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From Contracts to Workers, Ultimatum on EU Rules

The European Commission has issued the government in Athens today issued the government an ultimatum, saying that it must adjust a series of regulations that do not conform with EU rules, ranging from public administration to the award of contracts for computer services. Greece has two months to take the necessary measures, or the country could be hauled in front of the European Court of Justice.

In terms of access to public administration, Athens must put an end to discrimination against citizens from other member states.

Current Greek legislation stipulates that priority for jobs in local administration is given to residents registered in the town in which the jobs are available. The European Commission says that these conditions, though not directly linked to nationality, have an impact on the mobility of EU workers. The same is true of public contracts in computer services, a sector in which the European Commission demands that no direct or indirect conditions of discrimination be imposed for potential candidates from other member states, as occurred during a recent pitch.

The restrictions prevented Greek citizens from enjoying a potentially improved service at lower costs. In the telecommunications sector, meanwhile, there is a problem of excessive bureaucracy, which forbids the easy installation of infrastructure such as aerials, masts, manholes and cables. The result of this is limited development of broadband compared to the EU average.

Greek Patriarch in Lebanon Pursues Unity of Orthodox Antioch

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Greek Patriarch in Lebanon Pursues Unity of Orthodox Antioch

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim stressed Thursday the significance of unity of the Orthodox Antioch Church in Lebanon, Syria, the Levant, and the diaspora in order to confront challenges facing the community.

Speaking at the Orthodox Antioch Conclave which he chaired at the patriarchate’s headquarters in Balamand, North Lebanon, Hazim said priority should be given to efforts for providing clear answers to church members who, along with their countrymen, are facing “several problems and challenges.”

“The church cannot stand helplessly by amid the oppression and discrimination from which the peoples and groups are suffering,” Hazim said.

The conclave was held against the backdrop of “delicate circumstances through which the countries of the Antioch seat and Arab Orient countries are experiencing, particularly Syria and Lebanon, where the Orthodox are the largest in number among Christians,” according to a statement.

Thessaloniki: Parade Got Gancelled-President of Greek Democracy Forced To leave

Emmanouela Seiradaki
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Thessaloniki: Parade Got Gancelled-President of Greek Democracy Forced To leave

THESSALONIKI-Carolos Papoulias, President of the Greek Democracy was forced to leave  from the parade celebrating the anniversary of the heroic “OXI”- the “no” that the Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas said  to Italy’s ultimatum asking the surrender of Greece to the forces of the Axis. That was on October 28th, 1940.
October 2011 however, after a controversial rescue plan and an even more controversial 50% haircut, Greek citizens say “OXI” once more but not to the Italians.
This time it is their very own government they want out. Hundreds of demonstrators in Thessaloniki took over the street where the parade was supposed to take place and shouted some rather insulting  slogans for the Greek government.  Mr Papoulias was standing on the dignitaries’ platform, patiently waiting  for the parade to start for more than half an hour whilst listening to” Get out of here you thieves” and “You are traitors”.  Riot police  tried to push them away but the demonstrators would’nt  leave. Mr Papoulias seemed rather irritated and declared ” I’m truly disappointed. They should have chosen another day to demonstrate.
They can’t call me a traitor. I fought for this country since I was fifteen years old” .“It is clear that these are organized groups,” said Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris. «I don’t know if they have been triggered  by political parties. I’m not sure which party would think there is anything to gain from this.”Boutaris defended himself  against accusations that he had been poorly prepared for the protests.
The parade in Thessaloniki got cancelled, for the first time since the parades began but things are not much better in Athens and Pireas where demonstrators have taken over the streets as well and shout slogans against politicians.
Prime Minister George Papandreou contacted Papoulias by telephone to express his sorrow over the incident, blasting “efforts to undermine the democratic institutions in the country,” according to local media.
Greek government spokesman Elias Mossialos said it’s an insult to the institution of the Presidency and the struggles of Greek people by a small minority.
Far-right Popular Orthodox Rally party called for the resignation of Citizen’s Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis over the failure of police forces to disperse the crowd, while ruling socialist party deputies and opposition lawmakers criticized the events.
Main opposition conservative New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras commented that it was “a destructive reaction to a destructive government policy that marred the national holiday.”

German Austerity Policies Remind Greeks of Nazi Occupation

Stella Tsolakidou
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German Austerity Policies Remind Greeks of Nazi Occupation

According to Reuters, the harsh austerity measures imposed by the German mechanisms on the Greek people have revived historical enmities and many Greeks are beginning to compare the current circumstances to the Nazi Occupation of Greece during World War II.
On the occasion of the “Oxi” celebrations in Greece on the 28th of October tension seems to rather escalate. Some Greeks have started to resent German tourists travelling to Greece, while some media persons have called the Greek PM “dosilogos”.
Reuters reported that many Greek cartoonists depict EU task forces on Greece “as ferocious soldiers in World War Two German uniforms”.
The Occupation of Greece back in the 1940s becomes a touchy subject of the present due to the terrible financial circumstances of debt-hit Greece and the consequent social turmoil.
According to Reuters, for ordinary Greeks, the German presence in their affairs is chilling, while many have called on Germany to bail out Greece “on the grounds it owes Athens money for war atrocities in the past”.
Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos had also referred to the gold taken by Nazi Germany from the Greek central bank and has never been returned. Germany refused to comment on that complaint.

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