Greece Outside In: 08/23/18

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Burnley on the back foot after tough night in Greece

Burnley had Ben Gibson sent off as they suffered a 3-1 loss at Olympiakos in the first leg of their Europa League qualifying playoff. After Chris Wood’s 33rd-minute penalty cancelled out a free-kick f...

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Chef Salad In A Jar With Greek Dressing

It is important to make sure to put the dressing in first if you want the dressing included in with the salad. Then start layering in this order, chicken, several slices of egg, carrot, celery, red ca...

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Greece stocks higher at close of trade; Athens General Composite up 1.63%

Investing.com – Greece stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Financials, Industrials and Construction sectors led shares higher. At the close in Athens, the Athens General Co...

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Greek navy ship docks in Cyprus

The Greek Navy’s general support ship HS Prometheus arrived at Limassol port on Thursday and will be open to visits from the public. The vessel, which will be docked in Cyprus as part of the training ...

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One month on, Greek wildfire victims face long road to normality

MATI, Greece (Reuters) - Standing in the burnt-out shell of what used to be his home and business, Theodoros Kouris waits for Greek government inspectors to decide the building’s fate. It has been one ...

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Expert: Fires will Get Deadlier as Cities Grow, Planet Warms

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A senior German scientist who will lead an independent inquiry into last month’s deadly Greek wildfire says fires are expected to […] The post Expert: Fires will Get Deadlier as Cities Grow, Planet Warms appeared first on The National Herald.

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Athens Stock Exchange Lost 28.5% of Value During Bailouts Period

ATHENS – Greece’s economic crisis, still lingering despite the end of more than eight years of 326 billion euros ($376.87 billion) of three international bailouts, […] The post Athens Stock Exchange Lost 28.5% of Value During Bailouts Period appeared first on The National Herald.

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Interview of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias, in the Athens daily Efimerida ton Syntakton, with journalist Nikolas Zirganos (21 July 2018)

JOURNALIST: The Prespa Agreement was even welcomed by the European People’s Party, to which VMRO and New Democracy belong. But we haven’t had positive messages from Belgrade. Why?N. KOTZIAS: The Prespa Agreement laid bare the differences that exist between the forces stuck in the past – opting for inaction on many issues – and forces like us, who believe in an active democratic foreign policy that actively endeavours to change the conditions in the region to make them better and more progressive. We don’t want history as a prison; only as a school. New Democracy and VMRO thrive on problems. We thrive on resolving problems.With regard to certain nationalists in Belgrade – who are in the minority, fortunately – my feeling is that this agreement puts paid to their ‘dreams’ of regaining leadership of the region. In contrast with these circles, the majority of the political forces and Serbian society are, I believe, well disposed towards the agreement.JOURNALIST: Russia isn’t very happy about the prospect of fYROM’s joining NATO. Was there resentment from Russia? Is this why the two Russian diplomats were expelled?N. KOTZIAS: Our policy is based on the criterion of national interest. Russia has to realise that it cannot disrespect the national interests of another state simply because it feels stronger than the other state. We will not accept such a stance – and we have proven this – from the West or the East.On the other hand, I must say I’m more interested in the domestic reactions that don’t bear these interests in mind. When I raised the issue of removing the occupation forces from Cyprus, they criticized me and urged me to show understanding for Turkey’s demands to keep the occupation forces in Cyprus. When I wanted to resolve the name issue and, consequently, thwart third parties’ designs on the region – first and foremost Islamist designs – they falsely accused me of surrendering Greek Macedonia. Now they are asking me to show tolerance for espionage activities in Greece. The people saying all of these things are playing the hard-line patriot, but in reality they are supporting third-party interests.JOURNALIST: There were internal reactions to the Prespa Agreement in both countries, with the opposition in both countries using virtually the same arguments. Are you concerned that this polarisation might have broader repercussions, at least in Greece.N. KOTZIAS: In both countries, the opposition is using hate speech. They are cultivating political hatred in all its dimensions: domestically and in international relations. New Democracy rejects the agreement on the grounds that we conceded everything to Skopje. Ivanov and his party aren’t ratifying the agreement because it supposedly subjugates their country to Greece. If you hold these side by side, the obvious conclusion is that, in both countries, these are parties that thrive on this rhetoric, on the non-solution of problems, on inertia. They have failed to understand history, the geopolitical developments in the region, and, with regard to the agreement, they don’t understand even a paragraph of international law.At the end of the day, of course, I’m not concerned by the disagreement on the Agreement. From one standpoint it is natural. What concerns me is where the propagation and legitimization of extreme-right hate speech will lead the country.JOURNALIST: What is your message to citizens who disagree?N. KOTZIAS: They should read and study the agreement more carefully; listen to the other side of the argument; consider in practical terms whether the risks some camps within the opposition are pointing to are in fact real. For example, one woman told me that, through the agreement, we are conceding Thessaloniki as fYROM’s new capital. As we say in Greece, lies and deception are short-winded.It is no coincidence that the vast majority of the historians dealing with the Macedonian issue, along with the professors of international, public and private law, and diplomats who are experts on these issues, support the agreement. This was clear on Thursday, at the conference we held, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the legal aspects of the Prespa Agreement.JOURNALIST: What are the risks for the two governments in the long roadmap for sealing the agreement.N. KOTZIAS: The leadership of North Macedonia have to win the referendum and the parliamentary votes on amendment of the Constitution. We need to continue to ensure a parliamentary majority in favour of the agreement. Together, we need to deal with the hate speech, because we want to live in peace with the people of the neighbouring country. The interests of our two countries are closer than fYROM’s interests are to those of any other country in the region.JOURNALIST: Can you describe two pivotal moments in the negotiations when you thought everything was falling apart?N. KOTZIAS: In my life, as a minister, and, in the past, as an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I have carried out numerous negotiations. My experience is that, in these negotiations, one must be very focused on the latter, on the basis of the needs and interests of the country, and our European course, while at the same time carrying out a realistic assessment of the other side’s needs. There are many difficulties and few pleasant moments in these negotiations. You have to maintain your composure and orientation, not losing sight of the goal because of difficulties. You have to be sober and come up with solutions to the problems that arise.The most difficult moment was when we had finished the negotiations but not everyone saw it that way. It was also difficult to persuade the EU and the UN to let us find the agenda for the solutions. But we did persuade them. Because the more sides are involved – whether with various pretexts or good will – the more complicated and difficult the negotiations become. Fortunately, the UN helped through its role, and everyone else kept their distance from the negotiations. The most difficult point in the negotiations themselves was the issue of the constitutional changes.JOURNALIST: And also when you felt the agreement was being completed?N. KOTZIAS: As you know, I am not a career politician. From a young age, I have been a ‘political being’. On the large political stage, I agreed to contribute to the solution of problems and to bringing Greek foreign policy out of the mire of submission and inertia. When the agreement was completed, I really had few moments – and only moments – of joy. But as you know, politics – at least as I know it, as its servant – has the disadvantage of usually being very bitter, but the advantage of never being boring.JOURNALIST: You have made advance announcement of the agreement with Albania on the EEZ and the pre-emptive reactions started from the opposition in both countries. Do you fear a reaction like the one to the Macedonia issue?N. KOTZIAS: We have problems with Albania that go back as far as 90 years. The reason they are unresolved is that they manifested themselves substantially after the end of the Cold War. And there is also the fact that previous governments ran out of steam in any efforts they might have made to resolve some of these issues. For example, the state of war. Can we pretend that these two countries are still at war? The opposition on both sides of the border is trying to play on citizens' emotions regarding this issue. They are trying to perpetuate negative stereotypes and prejudices between the two peoples. They went so far as to say Greece would lose Northern Epirus because of me. My answer is that they should look into whether the Asia Minor Disaster was my fault.I think the Greek people are gradually learning to support solutions rather than problems. Consequently, it is my hope that there will be a more mature view of the solutions to our problems with Albania. We want friendship between our peoples and a policy of peaceful coexistence between our societies. Personally, I always look with pride on my excellent Albanian students at the University of Piraeus; students who are now professors in their country.JOURNALIST: What is the overall strategy behind good neighbourly relations and friendship with our northern neighbours? How will Greece benefit strategically, economically and politically?N. KOTZIAS: The social and economic development of our country is facilitated and bolstered by the development of the region. What’s more, together with our three northern neighbours we have started drawing up a cooperation and joint-action policy that will, I hope, constitute the basis of our future cooperation within the EU. It is also key to ensure, through the European course of these states, their independence from Turkish expansionism and from the strong Islamist movements that are trying to transform the nationalism in states of the region into religious fanaticism.So, our policy is a political and economic, social and cultural, development strategy of Greece and the region, based on the principles and values of the policy of peaceful coexistence free of fanaticism of any kind, to the benefit of our states and peoples. Everyone sees us as leaders of the region, but exercising this leadership means fighting arrogance, impudence and any effort to make others submit to us. It requires a spirit of friendship and cooperation, consensus and compromise. It requires the spirit of Rigas Feraios.JOURNALIST: What is your assessment of Turkey following the elections and how do you see Greek-Turkish relations developing? What do you expect from Ankara? A positive move on the issue of the detention of the two Greek soldiers? Escalation in the Aegean and the Cypriot EEZ? A Tsipras-Erdogan meeting?N. KOTZIAS: Turkey is a difficult neighbour. The political leadership is restless and inclined towards revisionism. At the same time, they have proven to stand the test of time and the Turkish people find them charismatic. I’m not a fortune teller, so I can’t tell you how our relations with Turkey will evolve, but I’ll tell you what has to happen to keep them from deteriorating further. I think it has to be accepted that a number of problems we have with them need to be resolved on the basis of international law. Peaceful development of our relations and a stop to all provocations is imperative, as is the further development of socio-economic relations to the benefit of our peoples. Above all, the Cyprus problem needs to be settled on the basis of the UN resolutions, and the occupation forces have to leave. Our neighbours have to stop dreaming about the Aegean islands and understand that the Greek Muslim minority in Thrace multiplied, in contrast to what the Greeks in Turkey suffered. Finally – but of great and symbolic importance – Turkey needs to release the two Greek soldiers.JOURNALIST: Exploitation of the energy deposits in the south-east Mediterranean and pipelines, transiting Greece, to Europe raise an issue of the security of energy facilities and routes. How will you deal with this situation?N. KOTZIAS: Through closer linking of Greece and Cyprus and the development of our alliances in and for the region. At the same time, we will pursue better relations with Turkey, but that isn’t up to us alone; Turkey has to work in this direction as well. We will do what we can to keep Middle East crises and wars from spreading to the Eastern Mediterranean. The two regions are adjacent to each other to a great extent, but they don’t overlap. I also think our trilateral cooperation schemes in the region (with Egypt, Armenia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Palestine) and the Rhodes Conference for a new security and stability structure in the region – in which 25 states and international regions are participating – are contributing in this direction.JOURNALIST: Do you expect anything new from the UN Secretary-General’s latest initiative for reopening the Cyprus talks?N. KOTZIAS: In the past, every new round of negotiations took place with a loss of ground on the positions of the previous negotiations. Each new proposal was a step back from the previous one. For the first time, this historical trend has been reversed. We are going into the new negotiations on terms that are better than the ones Mr. Eide prepared. We are entering this round with the proposals of the very serious UN Secretary-General, as these were set out at the end of the talks in Crans Montana. We have consolidated the position that the treaties of guarantee and alliance can no longer be maintained. And I am very proud of this last point because when I raised this in the negotiations – along with Prime minister Tsipras and my colleagues in ‘Pratto’ – most people distrusted and were even hostile to my proposals, especially outside of Greece.JOURNALIST: How is the composition and balance of the new government in Berlin impacting the direction of the EU, especially with regard to the refugee issue?N. KOTZIAS: We’ll see. On the refugee issue, we need to achieve a cohesive European policy rather than a zero-sum game of counterproductive national policies. In the initial stage of the refugee crisis, Germany opened its embrace. It now seems to have regretted this. I hope positive, productive thinking wins out in Germany. I hope they choose to ally themselves with France and the South, and not with nationalism. Otherwise, Europe will be facing major problems.

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Westminster, Colorado Selected as Upcoming Location for The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Expansion

WESTMINSTER, CO, August 23, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Known for its fresher-than-fresh ingredients, made-to-order preparations, and savory health-conscious flavors, The Great Greek Mediterranean Gril...

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Anti-vax fears drive a measles outbreak in Europe

EACH year, as the summer winds down across Europe, so do measles cases—which tend to peak in late spring. August is, therefore, a good time to take stock of the measles season for the year. The tally for Europe, published on August 20th by the World Health Organisation, shows that cases in the first six months of 2018 exceeded the annual total for each of the past five years. About half of the 41,000 cases this year were in Ukraine. Infection rates also jumped in Serbia, Greece and Georgia. In recent years big outbreaks have erupted in Italy, Romania, France and Germany. None of this is a surprise. In the past decade, measles-vaccination rates in some European countries have often fallen below those in parts of Africa. Italy, France and Serbia, for example, have lower child-vaccinations rates than Burundi, Rwanda and Senegal. In some years, vaccine shortages were to blame, especially in parts of eastern Europe. Both Ukraine and Serbia have had irregular supplies of the MMR vaccine (...

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You’re part of the family at Greek Fest

Rochester’s Greek Fest, one of the state’s longest-running outdoor festivals, will hold its 56th annual celebration this weekend. The event takes place this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the grounds ...

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Endangered coral transported across Marmara islands via special method

A species of coral colony that face possible danger of extinction in a reef off Sivriada, one of the Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara, has been transferred via a special method to another of the Princes’ Islands—known by the names of Tavşan Island or Balıkçı Island or Neandros Island in Greek.

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Tropical disease outbreaks are growing threat in Europe as temperatures rise

After West Nile virus kills 22 people in heatwave, experts warn of more mosquito and tick-borne diseases due to climate change Europe is facing a growing threat of tropical disease outbreaks, as rising temperatures linked to climate change cause illnesses brought by travellers to spread more easily, health experts warned. This summer has seen a sharp spike in West Nile virus infections in Europe, following soaring temperatures, compared with the past four years. Until the middle of August, 400 cases of the disease, which is carried by mosquitos, were recorded in Europe, with 22 fatalities, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Countries affected include Italy, Greece, Hungary, Serbia and Romania, all of which have recorded cases of the tropical infection in the past. Continue reading...

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A Greek festival, fun at a state park and more: Check out these four events this weekend

A Greek festival, fun at a state park and more: Check out these four events this weekend Check out the Taste of Greece Festival in Plymouth Township, a fundraiser in Livonia and more this weekend. Che...

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As Greece exits its third bailout, eurozone still has much to learn from the crisis

After nine years of unprecedented peacetime economic hardship, Greece exited its IMF bailout programme on August 20. So ends a series of three bailouts organised by the so-called troika of the IMF, Eu...

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement on the deadly wildfires in Attica (24 July 2018)

We express our sincere gratitude to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and fYROM, Nikola Dimitrov, for their immediate response in offering aircraft to help extinguish the deadly wildfires in Attica. We also thank Cyprus, Israel, Spain and the European Commission for offering assistance –material and personnel– and thank all of our friends and partners who have expressed their solidarity with and support for the Greek people in these difficult hours. The immediacy with which this assistance was offered demonstrates that the spirit of sincere cooperation and solidarity, like natural disasters, knows no borders and overcomes all differences.

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Robert Davi Partners With Georgós Wine, The Most Innovative Greek Wine Company

Davi has appeared in more than 130 films including, THE GOONIES; JAMES BOND: LICENSE TO KILL; DIE HARD, the upcoming film REAGAN, as well as the groundbreaking TV series Paper Empire. Currently tourin...

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Explore: Greek Fest returns; Sidney lantern fest; Cowichan wine tour

If you have had a hankering for dolmades, calamari or arni psito (lamb roasted on a spit) lately, then it’s probably time for Greek Fest, an annual event for Victorians to indulge in Greek cuisine and ...

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Greek Court Ruling Favoring Asylum Soldier Stirs Turkish Ire

Only days after the release of two Greek soldiers held since March 1 after accidentally crossing the border, relations with Turkey turned sour again after […] The post Greek Court Ruling Favoring Asylum Soldier Stirs Turkish Ire appeared first on The National Herald.

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US Secretary of State Praises Greek Deal to Rename “Macedonia”

With a deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to rename the Balkan country still awaiting ratification, US Secretary of State […] The post US Secretary of State Praises Greek Deal to Rename “Macedonia” appeared first on The National Herald.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement on the decision of Kykkos Monastery to grant a plot of land adjacent to the Monastery for construction of a Greek Embassy and Ambassadorial Residence

Greece expresses its gratitude to the Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria, Nikiphoros, who, irrespective of court proceedings and based on his love for the motherland, decided to proceed to the renewed granting of a plot of land adjacent to the monastery for construction of a Greek Embassy and Ambassadorial residence.In 2012, the plot of land in question was included in the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) to be put up for sale, in violation of a clause in the agreement by which the Monastery had originally granted the plot of land for the given purpose.We also welcome the Monastery’s decision to support the realisation of this important project by contributing a significant sum of money. The love of and devotion to Greece shown by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria, Nikiphoros, and the Monastery he leads are tokens of patriotism and solicitude for the interests and prosperity of global Hellenism.

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Shocking moment British tourist 'downs 30 Sambuca shots in 60 seconds in a bar in GREECE'

Mr McAdam, who works part time in McDonald's, claimed he was told by bar staff in the Players Sports Bar And Grill in Zante, GREECE, that if he could ...

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Egyptian receives €97000 compensation from GREECE

In March, Minister of Solidarity Ghada Wali declared that the payouts of 182 Egyptians who had worked in GREECE were transferred in collaboration ...

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GREECE has officially come out of the crisis but it still faces three big challenges

The European Stability Mechanism has announced that GREECE has "successfully emerged" from the financial assistance programme agreed in 2015.

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Moscovici: GREECE can produce growth and surplus in 2019

“GREECE has implemented 450 reforms that were necessary. I believe that GREECE is now in a position to create surpluses and return to growth in 2019 ...

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Tom Hanks Sends Postcard from GREECE to Teen with Leukemia

What followed was a flood of postcards from throughout the United States and the world– including a special post card all the way from GREECE, signed ...

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Report highlights GREECE'S demographic time bomb

The demographic time bomb that is expected to go off in GREECE in the next few years will cause turmoil in the economy and, consequently, the social ...

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British boy, 12, is blasted 30 feet through the air by the turbines of an Airbus plane in Greece

The 12-year-old was with his father watching planes land just above their heads when he was fired more than 30 feet through the air on the Greek island of Skiathos (file photo).

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Kindred skies: Ancient Greeks & Aboriginal Australians saw constellations in common (PHOTOS)

Secrets of the ancient worlds

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WVU Greek administrator: No fraternities singled out during reform process

That’s one of the reactions to the news that four fraternities had initially declared their intentions to dissociate from West Virginia University. Two of the fraternities, Alpha Sigma Phi and Phi Sig...

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Greece Enters Post-Bailout Era, But Has Little Else to Cheer

After eight years of Austerity and European financial support, Greece officially exited its third bailout program on Aug. 20. For the first time since 2010, the country can “stand on its own,” accordi...

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Leaders of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece attend joint press conference

Leaders of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece agreed on Saturday that the whole region needs to be included in the European Union (EU) and that the cooperation on joint projects can bring the region long-awaited prosperity and stability.

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Greek FM to visit China

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will pay an official visit to China from Aug. 26 to 30, at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Chi...

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Greek Prosecutors Hunt for Clues a Month Since the Fire Tragedy

A month since the fires that devastated the resort of Mati in eastern Attica and claimed the lives of at least 96 people, Greek prosecutors are mulling over the evidence provided by witnesses. More th...

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UK-built satellite ‘to improve weather forecasts’

The European Space Agency has launched the first satellite capable of measuring the wind speed on the surface of the Earth from space. The satellite, Named Aeolus after the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology, was built in the UK and was launched from an ESA facility in Kourou in French Guiana. Aeolus is expected to improve weather prediction models by using lasers to track winds on the Earth up to 30km into the stratosphere. Image: Twitter / @esa

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Greece Hospital Workers Union Says Austerity Was Devastating

ATHENS – More than eight years of austerity, continued by the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA-led coalition under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras – who promised to […] The post Greece Hospital Workers Union Says Austerity Was Devastating appeared first on The National Herald.

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US Official Says American Diplomacy Solved Greece-FYROM Name Feud

The deal’s not ratified yet, but a top American official said the United States was behind pushing Greece to reach an agreement changing the name […] The post US Official Says American Diplomacy Solved Greece-FYROM Name Feud appeared first on The National Herald.

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Thursday, August 23, 2018