Greece Outside In: 03/04/15

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

EU Chief: Spain Not Running 'Diabolical' Anti-Greece Plan

The European Commission's leader says he does not believe Spain and Portugal have a "diabolical" plot to oust Greece's new far left government as ...

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Spain Wants Best Possible Relationship with Greece, Rajoy Says

MADRID—Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Wednesday that his country wants to have the best possible relations with Greece and will look ...

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Merkel in Brussels to discuss main EU issues

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Brussels on Wednesday (March 4) for her first official bilateral visit since Jean-Claude Juncker took over the presidency of the EU Commission last November. She met the full college of commissioners to discuss about the Ukrainian conflict and the Greek bailout. Merkel also mentionned two main ongoing issues, the […]

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EU Commission chief: Spain, Portugal not involved in 'diabolical' plot to oust Greek govt

by Associated Press EU chief: Spain not running 'diabolical' anti-Greece plan Associated Press - 4 March 2015 15:29-05:00 MADRID (AP) — The European Commission's leader says he does not believe Spain and Portugal have a "diabolical" plot to oust Greece's new far left government as they pressure Greece to comply with bailout terms they both had to endure. EC President Jean-Claude Juncker made the comments Wednesday after a brief summit in Madrid with the leaders of France, Spain and Portugal to promote energy connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. Spain and Portugal reacted angrily to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipris' accusation last weekend that they had formed an "axis of forces" to overthrow his newly elected administration. Spain's economy minister subsequently declared a third bailout was likely for financially strapped Greece. Portugal took a public finances bailout in 2011 and Spain got a bank bailout in 2012. News Topics: Business, General news People, Places and Companies: Jean-Claude Juncker, Spain, Greece, Madrid, Portugal, Western Europe, Europe Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tsipras holds talks with cenbanker Stournaras on the phone

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras contacted Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras on the telephone, while the BoG governor was in Cyprus for a meeting of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), government sources said on ...

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The Nobel Prize for Students

Margaret Mead wrote that we should not doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the world; indeed, she said, it's the only thing that ever has. What if you could create a catalyst for those groups of people? Is there a way to reframe the identities and careers of thousands of people to be more pro-social? That is exactly what the Hult Prize is. It is a gamified ecosystem for building the next wave of social entrepreneurs; a worldwide competition that annually attracts more than 10,000 students to try their hand at the world's most pressing problems. The founder of the Hult Prize, Ahmad Ashkar, started this organization in 2009 and you can't help but be awestruck by its success, with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative as a partner, as well as the Hult International Business School. Every year, the global finals are hosted at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York, where a winning team receives $1million USD in start-up capital to fund their venture. What is so interesting about this competition is not that it selects one great team and gives them the network, reputation and resources necessary to grow into a powerful agent of change. The most exciting aspect is that it transforms and connects thousands of people from across the globe, every year. That is why Bill Clinton said in an interview with TIME Magazine that it is one of "the top five ideas that are changing the world for the better." The Hult Prize is a way to get to the very heart of the matter of making the world a better place. You have to start at the grassroots level. It all begins with our basic assumptions about what is possible, what is important, and what makes a meaningful undertaking. What Ahmad and his team have done is to build a platform for opening people's eyes to new possibilities en masse. They have also tapped into something much larger than themselves. No seed is better than the soil it is planted in, and the dream has clearly found fertile ground in which to spread. The collective consciousness of the millennial generation is yearning for new ways to challenge themselves and old paradigms. The notion that institutions or the thinking that created them can't solve old problems has seeped into the bedrock of our culture, and it is transforming us across the old political spectrum. The "Occupy" movement, the climate change movement, the Tea Party, the Greek party Syrzia, the Arab Spring and Podemos in Spain are all examples of this same change in perception. What makes The Hult Prize stand out is that it is pragmatic and hands-on. It is not about setting new rules; it is about finding tangible ways to prove that new ways of thinking get results. That is the gift Ahmad Ashkar and the rest of his team is giving to thousands of people every year. How do you change the world? You prove that you can. This post was produced by The Huffington Post and the Hult Prize Foundation Hult Prize@ program, in which teams of college and university entrepreneurs compete for funding for compelling social business ideas, including a grand prize of US$1,000,000. The posts are written by student campus directors of "Hult Prize@," the program bringing the competition directly to campuses around the world. To learn more about the Hult Prize Foundation and how you can become a campus director, please visit hultprize.org. Read all the posts in the series here.

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LA Parks Considering Taking Over Management Of Greek Theatre

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Who should manage the Greek Theatre? After months of back-and-forth between Live Nation and Nederlander, the ...

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Greek Shipping Magnate Is the Money Behind Amal Clooney's Case of the Elgin Marbles

According to the London Times, a former official in Greece's culture ministry said that an anonymous Greek shipping magnate who works in both ...

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Spain's Rajoy Wants Good Relationship with Greece

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his country wants to have the best possible relations with Greece in comments that may help defuse a rare controversy between the two European Union countries.

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Shocking Images from Greece’s Largest Prison Reveal Despicable Conditions

New shocking images revealing the despicable conditions of Greece’s largest Prison Hospital in Korydallos district, western Athens, have been posted on Twitter earlier today. The photos, depicting the lack of even minimum hygiene conditions, 100% justify the inmates’ nickname for the facility: “Korydallos hell.” In October 2014, Greek news portal enikos.gr run an exclusive story on the conditions in Korydallos prison and its hospital. Inmates even referred to deaths by tuberculosis, while, as they highlighted, two prisoners lose their lives in the hospital almost every month! Indicative of the hygiene conditions was one of the inmates’ statement: “The inmates that contract tuberculosis go to solitary confinement for three months but when they come back to their cells we do not really know if they have really been cured. We only have one doctor for all inmates and he is inexperienced. The conditions inside the prison are tragic. We have a tuberculosis case almost every day and one or two inmates die from the disease every month. Ten minutes before they die, they are rushed to a public hospital in order not to die in prison.” The shaming photos posted on Twitter today:

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Irish PM Kenny: Ireland a Lesson for Greece

His advice to the newly elected Greek government expressed today Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. As he highlighted on the sidelines of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation’s conference held in Dublin, Greece should follow his country’s steps in order to achieve a “constructive engagement” with its European loan partners while negotiating the long-standing debt crisis. “For Greece, there is a lesson from Ireland,” he told CNBC, adding that even though it is a difficult one, “the benefits are starting to be seen after a four-year period.” Moreover, as he revealed, he personally advised Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras: “I have said that to the Greek Prime Minister myself. Here is a lesson from one small country that you can take some reflection on in terms of building your own economy for the future,” he said. Referring to the difficulties Greece is currently facing from a humanitarian point of view, Kenny highlighted that Athens “needs time and space, and Europe is giving Greece that time and space.” It should be noted that yesterday, the Greek Accounting Office received the government’s bill to address the humanitarian crisis, which is the first to be tabled by SYRIZA. The bill includes measures for feeding, housing and providing electricity to households classified as “very poor,” and is expected to be tabled in Parliament before the weekend.

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Jewish Museum of Greece Moved to Downtown Athens

The Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens was first established in 1977 and was housed in a small space next to the city’s synagogue. However, the collection started to grow over the years and needed a much larger space in order to be properly exhibited. Now, the museum has acquired a renovated neoclassical building in the heart of Athens, near Syntagma Square. Over the last 38 years, the museum has come a long way. The curators have collected significant cultural items from various communities across the country, creating an important and innovative center for the exploration of the Greek-Jewish identity. According to the museum’s official website, “the new building is of great architectural interest. Only the exterior walls of the existing 19th century building were maintained; the interior was completely rebuilt in order to meet the demands of a modern Museum.” The 800-square-meter space houses more than 8,000 items, including religious and domestic artifacts that record the history and tradition of the Greek Jews. Furthermore, the building will also house temporary exhibitions, a contemporary art gallery, a photographic archive, a conservation laboratory and an educational programs area. As it is mentioned on the official website, the museum aims: to collect and exhibit all elements of the history, tradition and culture of the Greek-Jewish community; to research, study and record the tangible and intangible heritage of the Greek Jews and communicate such for the purposes of education and enjoyment; to introduce visitors of all ages and nationalities to the diversity of the Greek Jewish heritage, in the context of Greek history; to foster cross-cultural understanding among people and promote public dialogue about tolerance and respect for people of all religions, races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, using lessons from the Holocaust.

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British Tories MP Brings Cyprus Problem to the House of Commons

North London Conservative MP David Burrowes has once again raised the Cyprus’ long standing issue at the House of Commons Foreign Policy Session. Burrowes, a well-known friend of Cypriot people, brought the burning issue back to date with a question to his fellow MPs in which he highlighted its 40 years of insolvency. “There is a country in Europe that is occupied and divided for over 40 years; that is Cyprus. What priority is the government giving to solve the Cyprus problem?” he asked, addressing the Foreign Office top officials. The response to Burrowes’ question came from the Minister for Europe David Lidington who said: “We continue to give strong support to the United Nations envoy Espen Eide and his efforts to bring the two communities in Cyprus together. A settlement would be in the interest of all communities in Cyprus.” Furthermore, the Minister stressed that the British government welcomed the recent meeting hosted at the Foreign Office in which the Chambers of Commerce from both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities were represented by their presidents. “They both spoke eloquently about how a settlement would help the prosperity of everybody on the island,” Lidington concluded. Cyprus, which is a member of the European Union since 2004, has been violently divided since 1974, after a brutal Turkish invasion and the following occupation of its northern lands or 37% of its territory. On its part, Turkey has repeatedly denied to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, despite numerous calls by international institutions and the European Union, which Ankara aims to join. At the same time, numerous United Nations-backed negotiations to reunite the island under a federal government have failed. In October 2014, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades suspended his participation in the peace talks following a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) issued by Turkey for the conduction of hydrocarbons research in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by seismic vessel “Barbaros,” escorted by a number of Turkish Navy ships.

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Ancient Greek City Philippi to Claim Place in World Heritage List

It was revealed on Monday that the archaeological site of Philippi in northern Greece will be a candidate to become one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. UNESCO’s World Heritage List includes archaeological sites and monuments of special cultural or physical significance to the common heritage of humanity. The sites are selected based on certain criteria. For example if a site is recognized as an outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history or as a masterpiece of human creative genius. Therefore the archaeological site of Philippi is undoubtedly worthy of a place on UNESCO’s list. “The area of Philippi hosts a series of archaeological monuments, witnesses to a long historical path during which civilizations intersected and developed,” writes UNESCO’s official site. Philippi was established in 356 BC by the king of Macedon, Philip II, on the site of the Thasian colony of Crenides, near the head of the Aegean Sea. Centuries later, it was abandoned after the Ottoman conquest (14th century). The present municipality of Filippoi is located near the ancient city’s ruins and it is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Kavala, Greece. The ancient city is currently the most important archaeological site in the region. The first excavations did not begin until the summer of 1914,and were soon interrupted by World War I. Between 1920 and 1937, archaeologists unearthed the Greek theatre, the forum, the baths and the city walls. After World War II, Greek archaeologists returned to the site, uncovering multiple public buildings.

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World Press View: Greek Lessons in Debt and Drachmas

With talk of a third bailout in the air as it battles with international lenders over reforms, Greece is getting some foreign advice from the media on what it needs.

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Greek MEP complains to Schulz over Mogherini’s “Macedonia” wording

What did the Greek MEP said to the President of the European Parliament - EU Foreign Policy High Representative called FYROM, “Macedonia”

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German MPs: Bring back receipts from your holidays in Greece and you’ll get a bon

CDU Mps proposal in order to limit tax evasion in Greek destinations and increase government revenue

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Thieves posed as PPC workers to rob pensioner in Fokida

Three men were to face a prosecutor on Wednesday following their arrest in Delphi, central Greece, on charges of robbery and fraud after they allegedly swindled 500 euros from an elderly woman in the village of Chryso, in Fokida prefecture, by posing as employees of the Public Power Corporation on a visit to check her electricity meter.

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Target thinks millennials want these 7 kinds of groceries

Target is in the process of turning around business. Once the leader in the "cheap chic" movement, the brand has been challenged by competitors. New Target CEO Brian Cornell plans to overhaul the retailer's grocery selection to appeal to urban-dwelling millennials, The Wall Street Journal reports. Cornell has reportedly been touring grocers like Wegmans and Trader Joe's for inspiration. Here are the seven trendy grocery categories Target is stocking up on. Yogurt and granola The dairy product has become popular with consumers, thanks in part to Greek yogurt company Chobani. Young consumers are also increasingly eschewing carbs in favor of high-protein foods. Cereal consumption is plummeting because many consumers think it's too sugary and overprocessed. Granola, which is made from baked oats, has a healthier image. Coffee and tea As consumers increasingly shy away from soda, coffee and tea are back on the map. These beverages are perceived as being healthier than the sugary soft drinks of the past. They're also known for containing antioxidants. Candy Companies like Sugarfina are leading a movement toward elevated candy. The company's offerings include peach bellini gummies and cocoa-dusted almonds. It's likely that Target will expand its offerings to include more creative options than traditional Hershey chocolate. Snacks Snack-size portions are gaining traction in grocery stores across the country as Americans watch calorie counts and increasingly prefer smaller meals. The retailer will likely offer healthier snack options, like quinoa crisps and chia seed popcorn, alongside the traditional Doritos. Beer and wine Target is going to stock up on craft beers. Millennials are notorious for avoiding traditional brews like Budweiser in favor of craft options. Buyers at the company will also take a note from Trader Joe's playbook and will offer a bigger selection of inexpensive wine. Meat Americans have been going crazy for meats including steak, brisket, and bacon. At the same time, more people than ever want to know where their food comes from. It's likely that Target plans to capitalize on this trend by expanding its selection of meat to include grass-fed and organic options. Fruits and vegetables Millennials are more likely than their parents to want whole, unprocessed foods. Even Wal-Mart has been getting in on the trend and has expanded its produce section. Doing this will mean Target is in a better position to compete.SEE ALSO: Keurig is facing widespread backlash against the K-Cup Follow Us: On Facebook Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do

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Workers protest withdrawal of Hellas Gold processing plant license

More than 2,000 people who work at the Skouries gold mine in Halkidiki, northern Greece, took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the government’s decision to withdraw and review the license given for a processing plant at the site.

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How Greece could dodge bankruptcy this month

… to make its loan repayments, Greece would join an ignominious list … stricken sovereign, particularly if the Greek government falls prey to further … above would still not ensure Greece's financial future after …

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“Migration policy change” document sets Greece’s political world on fire

“I was speechless, when I heard it in the news, I didn’t know what was about,” Alternate Minister for Public Order & Citizen’s Protection Yiannis Panousis told media Wednesday morning. He was referring to an document – a circular, in fact – issued by a high-ranking police officer and claiming […]

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Chancellor Merkel: Greece Should Focus on Implementation of the Eurogroup Agreement

merkel-bundestag What comes first for Greece is the implementation of the Eurogroup agreement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a ...

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European leaders bat away Greece questions but Spain says Athens will need third bailout

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker have rejected claims that Greece would require a third economic ...

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Russia Mulls Lifting European Food Import Ban for Greece

Greece's fruit industry was hard hit by the ban on imports imposed by Russia in August, and the country has requested an exception for its peaches, ...

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Greece: “Yes, there was a different choice!”

We think it is a clear step backwards compared to what Syriza and Alexis Tsipras said before the elections. The first major issue is the debt. The agreement, signed by the government, says that the Greek government (i.e. the working people) will pay the ...

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Greek Football Super League to Kick Off Again in Empty Stadiums

Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis announced earlier today that the Greek football top division (Super League) will resume, highlighting though ...

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Greek restaurant targeted with hate mail in Düsseldorf

A Greek restaurant in Düsseldorf has become the victim of anonymous hate mail which branded Greece as "corrupt and lazy." The German mass media is being held responsible for rousing negativity against Greeks.

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Greek league to restart but fans banned for 2 weeks

This was followed by a boardroom brawl between officials of the two clubs during a meeting arranged by Greek league organizers. Kontonis said he ...

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Juncker, Merkel Play Down Talk of Third Greek Bailout

It is “premature” to talk of a third bailout for Greece, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday, playing down talk of a new rescue package being considered for the debt-ridden eurozone member. "We are going to focus on implementing what was agreed in the Eurogroup," Juncker said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels. Angela Merkel also warned against speculation that Greece will need a third financial bailout now that the current programme had been extended by four months. "We are currently doing all that we possibly can to ensure that the second programme be successful," Merkel said The German parliament last month approved the decision of eurozone finance ministers to extend Greece’s current bailout programme until June, “so we now need to implement what was agreed in the Eurogroup", said Merkel On Monday, Spain's Economy Minister Luis de Guindos suggested that the eurozone was talking about another bailout for Greece. He later backtracked on his statement, saying the prospect of a third rescue package was hypothetical. Also on Monday, Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras denied his country needed a new bailout deal.

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Cyprus protesters demand end to 'devastating' austerity ahead of ECB meeting on island

by Associated Press Cyprus protesters demand end to 'devastating' austerity Associated Press - 4 March 2015 12:49-05:00 NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Several thousand demonstrators in Cyprus are calling for an end to government austerity policies they say have driven many in the bailed-out country to poverty. Wednesday's protest, a day ahead of a European Central Bank meeting on the island, urged for more spending on job creation policies as opposed to cuts to reduce debt. Some 18 groups organized the event, including left-wing trade unions, teacher and family groups, as well as student organizations. Some protesters carried banners reading, "End to austerity, we want jobs," and "Save the people, not profits and banks." Organizers put their demand for growth-oriented policies in a petition addressed to ECB chief Mario Draghi. They say among those attending were French, Greek and Austrian trade unionists as well as European Parliament member Fabio De Masi. News Topics: Business, Protests and demonstrations, Political and civil unrest, General news People, Places and Companies: Mario Draghi, Cyprus, Europe, Western Europe Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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What Happens at the End of Greece's Four-Month Extension?

greeceeu.jpg Home Page News Page The world breathed a sigh of relief when Greece accepted a four-month extension to its current bailout programme on February 20. After much political rhetoric to the contrary, newly-elected Syriza promised to continue with reforms. The deal is such that the vital last injection of cash that is propping up its economy – worth €7.2 billion – will only be delivered when these reforms are in action. The world breathed a sigh of relief when Greece accepted a four-month extension to its current bailout programme on February 20. After much political rhetoric to the contrary, newly-elected Syriza promised to continue with reforms. The deal is such that the vital last injection of cash that is propping up its economy – worth €7.2 billion – will only be delivered when these reforms are in action. See Also links url: http://www.economywatch.com/features/Greeces-Toughest-Sell-May-be-to-its-People.02-25-15.html Title: Greece's Toughest Sell May be to its People See Also type: Reference read more

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Greece has spent more than it ever produced

This seems to be the case when US observers, influenced by their own country's fiscal debate, look at Greece. For example, Joseph Stiglitz regards ...

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City of Los Angeles may take over operation of Greek Theatre

LOS ANGELES - After a months-long battle between two giants of the concert booking industry to gain management control of the Greek Theatre, the ...

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Hollande and Tsipras invited to Nevruz feast in Turkey’s southeast, says DTK spokesperson

French President Francois Hollande and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are among the leaders who have been invited to this year’s Nevruz celebrations in Diyarbakır

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Government lifts Greek championship suspension

The Greek government on Wednesday decided to allow the country's Super League matches to go ahead this weekend after last week's postponement due to crowd violence. “Today we had a long discussion with representatives of football and I can tell you that from tomorrow (Thursday) there is a guide to address and combat violence,” Kontonis said. Super League president Giorgos Borovilos said: “You ...

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Fact Check: would cutting international aid to US levels save £11 billion?

UKIP has called for foreign aid to be scaled back. Stefan Wermuth/PA ArchiveCutting the foreign aid budget to the same percentage of GNI [gross national income] as that contributed by America, [saves] up to another £11bn. Suzanne Evans, UKIP deputy chairman, at the party’s spring conference In a speech setting out some of the pillars of UKIP’s election manifesto, the party’s deputy chairman Suzanne Evans said that cutting foreign aid to US levels would make £11 billion in budget savings. But it seems unlikely that the actual savings if this were to happen would reach that figure. To check the statistic we assume that UKIP envisages the UK reducing its share of national income given in aid to the US level. Various sources can be used to assess the claim but it is reasonable to use data from the OECD-DAC as that provides the best comparative statistics on official aid from OECD donors. The latest available figures are for 2013. In the “compare your country” charts for 2013, the US provided a net total of US$30.88 billion in aid, equivalent to 0.18% of US Gross National Income (GNI). Volume matters The US is an interesting choice as it allocates a lower share of national income to aid than any other large donor – but would claim, in defence, that it has larger flows of “private aid” from philanthropic foundations, charities and NGOs than other donors. Still, the US allocates the largest volume (measured in $US) of aid of any donor. In 2013, the UK allocated a net total of US$17.92 billion (£11.68 billion), 0.71% of GNI in aid. If the UK allocated the US share (0.18% GNI) this would have been about US$4.54 billion in 2013. The saving of US$13.38 billion is equivalent to a reduction in the UK aid budget of about £8.7 billion (at an exchange rate of $US1 = £0.65). We are now in 2015 so relevant comparison data (the aid shares of GNI, the absolute amounts and the exchange rate) will have altered. An alternative simple calculation for the UKIP claim using current values is that spending by the Department for International Development (DFID) is reduced by 75%. Using the calculation that 25% of 0.72 is 0.18, reducing the UK level to the US share of GNI is a 75% reduction. The DFID Annual Report 2013-14 (the latest available) shows that total DFID expenditure was £10.1 billion in 2013-14. Total UK Official Development Assistance (or aid) was £11.4 billion in calendar year 2013. This differs from the OECD-DAC figure above because that was converted from $US and exchange rates vary. This includes spending by other departments as well as DFID, so ODA appears to be 1.13 times the DFID budget. Using the larger figure of £11.4 billion, the UKIP saving (from a 75% reduction) would be £8.6 billion for 2013. In the 2013 spending round the DFID budget for 2015-16 was £11.1 billion so potential aid spending in 2015 may be as high as £12.5 billion (applying the same ODA/DFID multiple of 1.13 as observed in 2013). This would yield the highest saving for the UKIP claim, at £9.4 billion in 2015. If the UK reduced aid to 0.19% of GNI it would be listed in donor tables alongside the US, but also with Greece, Italy and Spain, who gave 0.13 to 0.16% GNI in 2013, and just below Japan. In $US volume terms at the lower aid level, the UK would be just below Australia and Canada, and well below the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, France, Japan, Germany and, of course, the US. Verdict The statement by UKIP’s Suzanne Evans that cutting foreign aid spending to US levels would save the UK £11 billion is not true. Using both data from the OECD and the UK government, the highest likely saving would be just over £9 billion. Cutting aid to US levels would also leave the UK below many other OECD countries in terms of volume in $US spent on overseas assistance. Review The analysis, evaluation and conclusions drawn are appropriate and tenable. I agree that the OECD-DAC provides the best source of data and statistics to answer questions of this sort. The latest available figures from this source are for 2013, so it makes sense to base the analysis on these figures. The assumed exchange rate between the UK pound and US dollar is also reasonable: according to IMF data, the average exchange rate in 2013 was £1=$1.56 or $1=£0.64, but this makes little difference to the conclusions. The report is also right to point out that if the UK did reduce aid to the same share of GNI as the US, it would rank below all the other main aid donors in the OECD, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan and Germany, which all give a larger share of GNI in foreign aid than the US. Oliver Morrissey has undertaken research funded by the Department for International Development in the past.

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AFP Criticizes Greece for Not Respecting Diplomatic Protocol

French news agency AFP exercised harsh criticism on the new Greek government, saying it is not respecting the diplomatic rulebook of the negotiating table and its officials show blatant inexperience. From 40-year-old Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras downward, Greek officials have gone into European Union meetings in aggressive mood, using hard language and not following diplomatic protocol, said AFP. Furthermore, Greeks exasperated their European peers by leaking draft documents and shedding light on secret negotiations during Eurogroup meetings. On Saturday, Tsipras accused Portugal and Spain for undermining the Greek effort to get out of the crisis and spoke of aggressive conservative forces trying to push Greece to the brink. Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias reacted to EU criticism for approaching Russia, despite Europe’s sanctions against the country. “We have the right to strengthen our relations with whichever state we think would benefit our country. We will not raise our hand for permission, like a pupil in class,” the Minister said. “It is terrible — the Greeks seem to live on another planet,” a frustrated European official said after the first of three Eurogroup meetings ended in acrimony, said AFP. Most European officials do not understand Greece’s stance on several important issues and they put it down to lack of experience. An EU official was very caustic about the new Greek government’s lack of experience: “Tsipras is like a first year medical student who wants to do open-heart surgery right from the start, but he knows nothing about it,” he said, according to AFP.

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European Commission President: Premature to Talk About Third Greek Bailout

His belief that the time is not yet right to discuss a possible third bailout package for Greece expressed European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker today, highlighting that the focus of the talks between Athens and its European loan partners is now drawn on Greece’s implementation of measures already agreed with the Eurozone. “We are going to focus on implementing what was agreed in the Eurogroup,” Juncker said addressing a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, explaining that “it is premature to talk about a third program. It is speculation that is best avoided.” Earlier, Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos struck once again, saying that Greece is unlikely to be able to return to capital markets by June when the four-month extension of its bailout package expires, so it will probably need further support from its European loan partners. On Monday, de Guindos stressed that a third bailout package for Greece, amounting between 30 and 50 billion euros, is currently being envisaged by the Eurozone member-states’ Finance Ministers. As de Guindos highlighted, the terms of the third bailout program will be more flexible compared to the previous ones and will allow Athens to achieve its goals and implement reforms. Furthermore, while addressing voters in the city of Pamplona, the Spanish Finance Minister noted that from his point of view, he sees no other way for Greece beyond European solidarity. At the same time, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) has renewed scenarios regarding a new Greek bailout package, stating that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on which the loan assistance to Greece depends, has no termination date, in what is seen as a clear contradiction with the newly elected Greek government’s claims that the Memoranda are over.

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Berlin dismisses speculation over 3rd aid package to Greece

German Ministry of Finance is unaware of a 30-50 billion aid package to Greece, as Spanish Minister of Finance indicated

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Dijsselbloem: SYRIZA won elections by making promises with no money to cover them

President of Eurogroup notes that Greece needs the “protective umbrella” of the program, while he stresses that there is still a lot to do

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Noam Chomsky: European Reaction to SYRIZA Was Extremely Savage

Internationally acclaimed American philosopher and pioneering linguist Noam Chomsky said the European Union’s response to the Greek SYRIZA-led coalition government requests was “extremely savage,” a reaction that Spain’s main opposition party Podemos could face, as it is being projected as the next general election winner. In an interview to American independent news program Democracy Now, Chomsky highlighted that leftist SYRIZA “made a little bit of progress in their negotiations, but not much. The Germans came down very hard on them.” Further explaining the newly elected Greek government’s negotiations with the country’s loan partners, the philosopher and social activist stressed that Athens was forced to back off from almost all its initial proposals. “What is going on with the austerity is really class war. As an economic program, austerity, under recession, makes no sense. It just makes the situation worse. So the Greek debt, relative to GDP, has actually gone up during the period of -which is- well, the policies that are supposed to overcome the debt. In the case of Spain, the debt was not a public debt, it was private debt. It was the actions of the banks. And that means also the German banks. Remember, when a bank makes a dangerous, a risky borrowing, somebody is making a risky lending. And the policies that are designed by the Troika, you know, are basically paying off the banks, the perpetrators, much like here. The population is suffering. But one of the things that is happening is that the social democratic policies, so-called welfare state, is being eroded. That is class war. It is not an economic policy that makes any sense as to end a serious recession. And there is a reaction to it – Greece, Spain and some in Ireland, growing elsewhere, France. But it is a very dangerous situation, could lead to a right-wing response, very right-wing. The alternative to SYRIZA might be Golden Dawn, neo-Nazi party,” Chomsky said.

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Wednesday, March 4, 2015