Fans of Panathinaikos will be thrilled with Wednesday’s results: 2-0 win against Aek. Djibril Cisse scored twice in nine minutes, securing a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League. The talented Frenchman used his skills, exploiting a defensive error and beautifully heading his second goal into the net. Panathinaikos managed to shake off Paok Thessaloniki who were strong contenders during the six-round playoffs.
Paok, Aek and Volos all qualified for the Europa League.
Panathinaikos Through to Champions League
Profile of Special Olympics 2011 Torch
The ancient Greek fret ornament Meandrous, is a symbol of victory and unity, eternal life, and emblem of the impossible according to the Greek mythology.
With this symbol, the sacred flame of hope will cross the five continents, carrying a message of peace, reconciliation and hope.
The torch is designed with the Greek spirit in a modern carving. A creation of the house Zolotas, it is comprised of coal and gold, is 50 cm. tall and weighs about 1.6 pounds. The torch which will transfer the Flame of Hope at the torch relay which will be completed at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on June 25th 2011, at the Opening Ceremony of the World Games Special Olympics.
The Touch of the Flame of Hope will take place at the Holy Hill of Pnyx on June 9th, 2011, and will start its first relay in Istanbul.
George Papandreou States to OECD Roundtable: "Leave us Alone to Work…"
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed in Paris on Wednesday that: “It is Greece’s responsibility to solve its crisis”. He added, “Greece is not a poor country” and “it has great possibilities, but was mismanaged.”
Addressing a roundtable at the Public Commemoration of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) 50th anniversary, Papandreou underlined that despite press reports, Greece had “impressive results in one year: it decreased the deficit by 5 percent and the primary deficit by 7.2 percent, while there are forecasts for a primary surplus in 2012, thanks to the drastic measures.”
He also noted that in the first quarter of 2011, growth rates became positive, while over the past 5-6 months exports increased on a monthly basis and on an average of 35 percent.
The Greek Prime Minister went on to say that his government is continuing reforms for greater transparency, the pensioning issue, for a fairer tax system based on the so-called “Scandinavian” model. Regarding the tax issue in particular, he said that “because it was unfair it created the culture of tax evasion in Greece.”
The Prime Minister also referred to the report by the Brooklyn Institute that stated there were many parallels between Greece and Chile. Papandreou said that the difference between the two countries is that Chile, after the dictatorship, acquired healthy infrastructures for the regulation and growth of its economy and created transparency.
“We did not do the same in Greece,” he noted, pointing to to the Institute’s assessments that through structural changes Greece could also save 4-8 percent of its GDP on an annual basis.
“The first thing we should also have done were the structural changes because in this way we would have solved the crisis and the problem of our debt,” Papandreou added.
He underlined the speed with which monetary markets react in contrast to political decisions that are slow. The markets’ speed is not necessarily bad, he said, “…but when they overshadow the political system, there is a problem of democracy because it deeply undermines the feeling of trust of our citizens.”
Lastly, he referred to inequalities inside countries as well as between countries, to the “tax paradises” and the “citizens’ happiness rate” that must be taken into consideration by leaders.
Concluding his speech and referring to the press, economic analysts and all those that spread rumours, the Greek Premier stated: “Leave us alone, we know that we have problems, leave us alone to work.”
(source: ana-mpa)
Cretan Businessman Commits Suicide Over Financial Woes
A 52-year-old businessman was found hanged in Crete, in an apparent suicide over severe financial problems, police said on Thursday.
The body of the man – the latest in a rash of suicides on the island over financial difficulties — was found by his brother on Thursday morning in his home in Anogeia, Mylopotamos in the Rethymno prefecture.
Sources close to the family told ana-mpa that the businessman had kept the immense financial problems to himself, in order to not to worry his wife and their 22-year-old son. He was a serious family man with good social relations.
Police are still investigating the apparent suicide.
(source: ana-mpa)
Pierre Cardin Travels to Greece for First Directorial Debut
The internationally renowned French designer Pierre Cardin, arrived in Greece a few days ago for his first directorial debut in the musical performance of “Casanova, Amori e Ingannia Venezia”. The show was performed for charity at the National Opera House of Athens on May 23rd. It was directed and curated by Cardin. Mr. Cardin also created the magnificent costumes.
On Sunday evening, Mero Kesesioglou (known for her activities concerning the fatigued children in Côte d’Ivoire) hosted a dinner in his honor. The designer, accompanied by friends (among them, Mimis Plessas) enjoyed the unique creations of the award-winning chef Michael Ntouneta at the club-restaurant “Akrotiri Boutique”.
All proceeds of the event (organized by the Consulate of Côte d’Ivoire under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens, the Municipality of Glyfada and the Greek-French Chamber) will go. Firstly, for the completion of the works of the Greek school in Mali under the name “Greece – Alexander the Great.” Secondly, for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for children suffering from AIDS who are housed in the orphanage “Greece – Macedonia, Côte d’Ivoire.
Prime Minister Julia Gilard Supports UNSC’s Cypriot Resolutions
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, currently visiting Australia, had a meeting on Wednesday with the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed Australia’s support for a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions. The UNSC’s resolutions will reunify Cyprus within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with one single sovereignty, one single international personality and one single citizenship.
Cretan Coast Awarded with 18 Blue Flags
With eighteen “Blue Flags” on its coasts, Rethymnon occupies the 11th position in the list of the awarded counties for the year 2011, from the Greek Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF). The organization acts as coordinator of the International Program “Blue Flag” in our country.
Among the 387 awarded beaches, Greece again placed second among 41 countries. Nine flags will be placed within the limits of the municipality of Rethymno and eighteen flags in the entire county. Rethymno is one of the counties with the most “Blue Flag” beaches and continues the tradition, which in recent years shows that the local governments and citizens protect their beaches.
In 2008, in Rethymno, 16 blue flags were posted, the same picture remained for 2009. In 2010, 13 blue flags were posted and this year, 18 beaches are being awarded. Specifically: “ Rethymnon 6/ Rethymnon 4 / B Missiria Platanias / Rethymno 6 / Perivolia Adelianos Plain A / Plain Pigianos / Scaletta / City Mylopotamou / Panormos / Lake / Lianos Kavos Lavrio / Varkotopi Bali / Bali Lawn / City of St. Basil / Damnoni / Plakias / Souda / Agia Galini / Late Varkotopi / Rodakino”.
4.9R Earthquake Jolts Kyllini Sea Region
A moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale was recorded at 2:27 a.m. Thursday. The quake hit at a distance of 228 km. west of Athens, with its epicentre in the sea region off Kyllini, southwestern Greece.
According to the Geodynamic Institute of the Athens Observatory, the quake had a shallow epicentral depth of 15-20 km. and thus was strongly felt in the wider area.
No injuries or damages were immediately reported.
(source: ana-mpa)
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Pays Religious Visit to Smyrna
The Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew, will be paying a visit to the region of Smyrna, starting on Friday, May 27th until Sunday, May 29th. A highlight of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit will be the Saturday’s vespers service, officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the first time in 90 years after the destruction of Asia Minor at the Entrance of Theotokos Temple in Alatsata.
Additionally on Saturday, the Patriarch will also be officiating the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the archaeological site of Ephesos, at the temple of St. John Theologos, where according to tradition, the faithful disciple of Christ annunciated in heavens. On Sunday, May 29th, at 9:30 a.m., the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy will be held at the Temple of St. Foteini in Smyrna.
The Patriarch will be accompanied by a delegation of the North Aegean Region, led by the periphery’s regional governor Nasos Yagalis. During their stay in the region, members of the delegation will be meeting representatives of the political, financial and social sectors of Smyrna.
The church of the Entrance of Theotokos was built in 1833 in Alatsata, by the famous architect Emmanuel Kalonaris from Smyrna.
Pontiac Greek Descendants Hold Event in Kings Park, June 11th
A representation of the Descent of the Myriad will be organised by the Pontiacs of Australia. They will revive the effort of returning to their homeland, made by the Greek mercenaries who participated in the military operations against Cyrus II of Artaxerxes, in 401 BC.
The representation will take place at the hill of Kings Park, Perth, in Western Australia. Its panoramic view has inspired the revival of the touching meeting of the Myriad with the Greeks of Pontus.
“The exclamation” Thalatta Thalatta “coming from the hills of Thichis, as well as the pyrrichios and the cranes dance that the Greeks danced, nowadays carry the timeless message of the human will and strength to survive, particularly updated in the difficult days that we live” stressed the organizers. They additionally noted:
“The descendants of the Pontiac Greeks will meet on Sunday, June 12th to remember and honor their history and their people. We dance the pyrrichios dance and the cranes dance in the same way our Greek ancestors did 2,500 years ago”.