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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Greek Orthodox Church faces Israeli homeowners’ ire after land sales

JERUSALEM (RNS) – Six years ago, when Irene Grossman purchased her home in Talbiyeh, an upscale neighborhood in central Jerusalem, she knew the Greek Orthodox Church owned the land. But she ...


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Juncker: EU showed ‘lack of solidarity’ to Greece during the economic crisis

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed regret that the European Union had not shown sufficient solidarity with Greece when the crisis erupted. Speaking at the event EUROAT20 in Strasbourg on Tuesday marking the 20th year since the launch of the euro currency, Juncker said that the austerity policies were not imposed in the eurozone to … The post Juncker: EU showed ‘lack of solidarity’ to Greece during the economic crisis appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Accused Albanian drug lord surrenders to police

One of Albania's most wanted drug traffickers surrendered to police on Tuesday after almost three years on the run on charges of smuggling narcotics by neighboring Greece.


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Trouble for Greece and the Greek Banks, All Over Again

If there is ever a country in Europe that seems to always have some strife, Greece has to top of the list. Many investors and economists have been worried about the bank debt problems of Italy ...


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Metropolitan Seraphim calls on all Greeks to protest for Macedonia on Sunday’s rally

The head of the Piraeus Metropolis used harsh words to condemn the Prespes Agreement


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Greek tugboat found packed with cannabis, stimulants

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities say they have seized 6.5 tons of cannabis and a large quantity of pills containing the banned stimulant Fenethylline hidden in a tug boat on the south coast of the i...


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Moscovici to give vote of confidence to the Greek economy

European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici is expected to give a vote of confidence to the Greek economy after his meetings tomorrow in Athens with t


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Mitsotakis Says SYRIZA-ANEL Coalition Breakup Set Up

ATHENS – Major opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the departure of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) from the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA was staged […] The post Mitsotakis Says SYRIZA-ANEL Coalition Breakup Set Up appeared first on The National Herald.


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Emeril Lagasse Opens First NYC Restaurant and It’s Greek

NEW YORK – Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, perhaps best known for his TV cooking shows and his catchphrase “Bam!” has opened a new restaurant in […] The post Emeril Lagasse Opens First NYC Restaurant and It’s Greek appeared first on The National Herald.


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Greece Seeing More Tourists - But They Spend Much Less

According to a study published on Tuesday by the Bank of Greece, tourism revenues, measured on a per capita basis, have declined in Greece over the last several years. This finding came as a bit ...


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Greek government set to ride out anger over Macedonia deal

The Greek government is expected to survive a confidence vote on Wednesday, amid continuing domestic and international fallout from a historic agreement to change the name of neighbouring Macedonia. G...


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Karditsa: One of Greece’s Most Bike-Friendly Cities

Karditsa is one of Greece’s most successful examples of cities which embraced the culture of bike riding as an alternative to driving a car. Estimates place the number of bicycles in the city ...


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Greek drug authorities recall batch of Lucidel medicine for safety reasons

Traces of carcinogenic substances found in the drug


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“Will you betray Macedonia?” – MP faces appear on posters in northern Greece (photos)

The organisers of the campaign say they will continue


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Macedonian Lawmakers Ratify Name Change

Greek parliament could follow suit within days if the government wins tomorrow’s confidence vote.


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EU CRISIS: Greece PM in desperate plea to save leadership as vote on KNIFE-EDGE

Alexis Tsipras is expected to survive by a whisker after he called the confidence vote himself when defence minister Panos Kammenos sensationally quit, leaving Greece's coalition government’s future h...


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Macedonia Step Toward Joining NATO

Macedonia, which was created when Yugoslavia broke up, was invited to join the alliance in 2008, but its membership was vetoed by Greece, which already has its own province named Macedonia. Athens claimed that the name made it sound like Macedonia the country has its eyes set on annexing Macedonia the province — or at the least was appropriating Greece’s historical heritage. So Macedonia (the country) has now changed its name to North Macedonia. Greece has “a new friend now in North Macedonia,’’ the renamed country’s President Zoran Zaev said after the name change became official on Friday. Still, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, leader of the right-wing Independent party, remains vehemently opposed. A Greek government spokeswoman said the timeline for possible NATO ratification will be clarified next week.


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Russia rejects accusations of meddling in Greece’s affairs, says senior diplomat

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow would be expressing its point of view on the issues within the competence of the UN Security Council


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The Missions Institute at Holy Cross School of Theology and the Contributions of Fr. Luke Veronis

BOSTON – The Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity has been established since 2010 at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in […] The post The Missions Institute at Holy Cross School of Theology and the Contributions of Fr. Luke Veronis appeared first on The National Herald.


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Kammenos hands over MoD to Apostolakis as jets fly above in honorary formation

Change of guard in the Greek Ministry of Defence


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Greek Parliament: The procedure that will lead to the vote of confidence is underway

Developing Story


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Greek PM set to squeak through confidence motion over Macedonia deal

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made an impassioned appeal to parliament for support on Tuesday, the eve of a confidence vote he is expected to survive by a whisker with the ...


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EU fines Greece more than 200 mln euros over Chinese tax fraud network

The European Unions Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has issued a fine of more than 200 million euros to Greece for failing to stop a wide-scale tax fraud by Chinese criminal gangs importing ultra-cheap goods


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US Report Says Anti-Americanism On the Wane in Greece

A U.S. State Department report drafted last August but released in early January of 2019 states that Greece is “a pillar of stability in a complicated region.” The State Department’s ...


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EU allows Greece to postpone deadline for coal plant bids

ATHENS (Reuters) - The European Commission has allowed Greece’s Public Power Corp. (PPC) to postpone to late January a deadline for binding bids for three coal-fired plants, an energy ministry ...


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Greek MPs open debate on Tsipras confidence vote

Greece's parliament on Tuesday began a two-day debate on a confidence vote called by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after his coalition collapsed in a row over a planned name change deal with Macedonia ...


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Greece Tells Russia Not to Interfere in Domestic Affairs

Greece warned the nation of Russia on Monday not to intervene in its domestic affairs after Moscow alleged that the Prespa agreement was “imposed from the outside.” The Greek government was ...


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“Naming and Shaming” Campaign for Pro-Prespa MP’s in Northern Greece

As Greek P.M. Alexis Tsipras seeks to extend his mandate through a confidence vote in parliament, some government lawmakers have been targeted for their stance on the Prespa agreement through a ...


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Cluventure Organizes Unique Trips to Destinations including Greece

DETROIT – The student business accelerator Starting Gate began in 2013 at Western Michigan University (WMU) in an effort to address “how to support the […] The post Cluventure Organizes Unique Trips to Destinations including Greece appeared first on The National Herald.


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US Consultants See Early Greek Elections, Big New Democracy Win

While Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras seems set to win a vote of confidence in Parliament after his coalition partner, the Independent Greeks (ANEL) quit, […] The post US Consultants See Early Greek Elections, Big New Democracy Win appeared first on The National Herald.


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EU Fines Greece 202.3 Million Euros Over Cheap Chinese Goods

The European Union’s Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) fined Greece 202.3 million euros ($231.22 million) for not stopping massive tax fraud by Chinese criminal gangs taking cheap […] The post EU Fines Greece 202.3 Million Euros Over Cheap Chinese Goods appeared first on The National Herald.


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Anti-Americanism Down, US Has Big Plans for Greece

As its ties with Greece tighten – ironically thanks to the previously anti-American Radical Left SYRIZA of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras changing its stance – […] The post Anti-Americanism Down, US Has Big Plans for Greece appeared first on The National Herald.


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Iraqi migrant in Turkey blames Greek officers for daughter's death

An Iraqi irregular migrant who was rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard along with 45 others in the Aegean Sea on Jan. 15 said Greek naval officers "tried to kill" them.


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‘What Is Democracy?’ Review: Going Back to Greece, Documentary Asks Who Rules

An all-nighter spent skimming Plato’s “Republic” would be a less hurried undertaking than “What Is Democracy?,” a hugely ambitious documentary from the Canadian director Astra Taylor (“Zizek!”). Like ...


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Greek Prime Minister Calls on Parliament to Reaffirm His Mandate

ATHENS — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday called on lawmakers to reaffirm his mandate in a confidence vote he is seen winning on Wednesday. Tsipras called the vote after the resignation ...


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Greek PM Defends Macedonia Deal Ahead of Confidence Vote

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's prime minister is defending his deal to normalize relations with neighboring Macedonia ahead of a confidence vote in parliament after his governing coalition collapsed o...


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Monmouth University restores Greek life to campus

WEST LONG BRANCH — Monmouth University restored its seven fraternities and eight sororities for the spring semester after suspending their campus activities last September. After several ...


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Vodafone Greece offers smartphones, tablets, accessories at up to 80% discounts

Vodafone Greece is offering up to 80 percent discounts on 4G/LTE smartphones, tablets and accessories as part of a promotional campaign. The promotion takes place in Vodafone stores and at the Vodafon...


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The Koufodinas Guide to Terrorism Tourism in Athens

With Greece enjoying a run of record tourism seasons, officials are looking to make it year-round and not just the spring-and-summer lure of sun, sand, […] The post The Koufodinas Guide to Terrorism Tourism in Athens appeared first on The National Herald.


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Greek PM set to win confidence vote with support from opposition

ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Greece’s Alexis Tsipras appeared set to win a confidence vote after winning the support of an opposition centrist lawmaker who broke ranks with his party on Tuesday ...


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Stormy winds up to 10-11 Beaufort force ferries to dock at Greek ports

Stormy winds up to 10 and locally up to 11 Beaufort have forced authorities to order ferries to remain docked at the ports of Piraaeus, Rafina and Lavrio on Tuesday, Jan 15th 2019. Schedules to the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands and Crete have been cancelled since early Tuesday morning. Closed to sea traffic are … The post Stormy winds up to 10-11 Beaufort force ferries to dock at Greek ports appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Greek bond yields hit one-month low as PM Tsipras expected to survive confidence vote

LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Greek government bond yields dropped across the curve on Tuesday morning, as expectations grew that the country’s leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would survive a parli...


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The right’s looming challenge to democracy in Greece

There’s only one country in the world where the decade long crisis of neoliberal global capitalism swept a radical left party into government: Greece. But in 2019, the capacity of its left to successf...


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Fed Cup: Great Britain to play Hungary, Greece and Slovenia

Katie Boulter made her Fed Cup debut against Estonia in 2018 when she won two doubles matches Great Britain have been drawn alongside Hungary, Greece and Slovenia in Group A for February's Fed Cup Eur...


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Meeting of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Markos Bolaris, with the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania, Ardiana Hobdari. (10 January 2019)

On 10 January 2019, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Markos Bolaris, received Albania's Ambassador to Greece, Ardiana Hobdari.At the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs alluded to Greece’s firm support for Albania's accession to the European Union and reminded that our neighbouring country was granted EU candidate status during the Greek Presidency. He underlined the five key, explicit principles of conditionality of the EU General Affairs Council. (decision 26/06/2018), which first and foremost comprise the implementation of the legal framework on non-discrimination policy for minority rights, as well as the effective protection of the property rights of Greek minorities. In this regard, he mentioned the issue of the protection of Greek properties in Himarë. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also referred to the thematic range of his portfolio, underscoring in particular the excellent possibilities for collaboration he envisages in the future in the common areas of culture, education, as well as in ecclesiastic and environmental matters. In conclusion, he requested the Ambassador's personal intervention so that the Albanian Authorities' deliver the forensic results on the death of Konstantinos Katsifas.Ms Hobdari told Mr Bolaris that the Albanian side recognizes and appreciates Greece's firm support for accession to the European Union, not only for her country but also for all the Western Balkan countries, making reference to the Thessaloniki Agenda during the Greek Presidency in 2003. She added that  Albania is carrying out reforms in preparation for accession to the European Union. Regarding the properties issue, she clarified that her country is trying to form a clear picture of the ownership status. She added that the investigation of the competent authorities on the death of K. Katsifas is almost complete, and that the Greek side will soon be informed of its results.


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Meeting of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris with the Archbishop of the Maronites of Cyprus, Joseph Soueif (11 January 2019)

On 11 January 2019, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris received the Archbishop of the Maronites of Cyprus, Joseph Soueif.At the meeting, His Eminence the Archbishop briefed Mr Bolaris on the Maronite Church in Lebanon and Cyprus, conveyed the greetings of the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon, described the problems and the prospects of the Maronite Community in Cyprus, as well as the hard times which the Early Christian confessions are facing in the Middle East. He explained the purpose of his visit to Greece, which includes organisation of the Maronite Christians in Greece and the establishment of their parish.The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs warmly greeted His Eminence and informed him that Greece, its government, and its people welcome him with feelings of hospitality, love and friendship, fully aware of the difficulties and trials to which the Maronite Christians have been subject, both during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and during the war in Lebanon. He briefed Archbishop Joseph about the two-day conference on religious and ecclesiastical diplomacy scheduled for February of this year, in which he invited a representative of the Maronites to participate. In conclusion, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs assured his interlocutor that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Authorities are at his disposal and will see to that the purposes of his visit are fulfilled.


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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos’ interview with the Athens Macedonian News Agency

JOURNALIST: The parliament of the fYROM has concluded the process of voting on the constitutional changes based on the Prespa Agreement. What does approval of the Agreement by the neighbouring country mean for Greece? G. KATROUGALOS: This is a historic moment. Following its approval also by the Greek parliament, a difference will have been resolved that has poisoned the political scene in the two countries for almost three decades.  The Prespa Agreement does not pertain only to these two countries, but it sends a strong message to the rest of the countries of South-eastern Europe on the possibility of peaceful resolution in a region which has been Europe's powder keg. It also confirms, yet again, the key role that Greece can play in the wider region. For both countries, a period of friendship and economic cooperation is commencing, from which our Macedonia shall especially benefit, as well as Northern Greece in general. JOURNALIST: Can you describe to us the exact process that will be followed, in our country, for ratification of the Prespa Agreement? When is the government prepared to bring the Agreement to the Hellenic parliament, in what form, and when is it expected to be ratified? G. KATROUGALOS: The next steps result directly either from our Constitution or from the Prespa Agreement itself. After being informed by the neighbouring country that the relevant procedure has been completed, the Agreement will be submitted to Parliament for ratification. Either way, we have discussed it in detail, in the context of the censure motion which New Democracy had submitted. In any case, the possibility will again exist for comprehensive and exhaustive debate on the subject by all sides, because this is exactly what Greek society lacks, familiarity with what the Agreement provides for. I am certain that many of our fellow citizens who are reacting would not have the same objections if they knew the exact contents of the agreement, or at least their reactions would not be to the same extent and of the same level of intensity. Following ratification of the Agreement, the process can begin for the Agreement for accession of the neighbouring country to NATO. A condition for this is for the relevant protocol of accession to come to our country, which again must be ratified through a law by the Hellenic Parliament, despite the many things that are disseminated by the opposition on supposed automatic entry of fYROM following signature of the Prespa Agreement. In this context, the Prime Minister, in conjunction with the President of the Parliament, will set the exact dates for discussion. JOURNALIST: Is ratification also required by the UN Security Council? G. KATROUGALOS: No, ratification is not required by the UN Security Council. The Agreement will of course be notified to the Secretary General of the UN because the Security Council had set, through its resolutions 817(1993) and 845(1993), the framework within which the matter had to be resolved, which is fully in line with the content of the Prespa Agreement.  JOURNALIST: The constitutional changes that were approved by the Parliament of fYROM, as well as the statements of the Zaev government, are these in line with the letter and spirit of the Prespa Agreement? G. KATROUGALOS: The constitutional changes are in line with the framework set by the Agreement, and the statements by the Zaev government have at this point left no room for doubt, especially with regard to the non-existent issue of supposed recognition of nationality, which was constructed by New Democracy. As regards the specific issue, amendment XXXIII expressly states that citizenship does not define, nor does it predetermine, the nationality of citizens. JOURNALIST: Which safeguards does the Prespa Agreement contain so that, on the one hand, there is no arbitrary or irredentist interpretation of it and, on the other hand, its unilateral amendment does not take place in the future. G. KATROUGALOS: First of all, the main safeguard was precisely to incorporate everything agreed upon at Prespa into the Constitution, so that returning to the previous situation would not be possible, even if the government were to change. Indeed, the same Agreement expressly provides for full prohibition of returning to the previous name situation etc., even though a new constitutional amendment. Beyond this, Article 19 of the Agreement also provides for a mechanism to resolve differences in the event that one side should feel that the other side is not living up to its obligations, which covers all potential situations efficiently, and without leaving gaps. JOURNALIST: Do you believe that a parliamentary majority exists for its ratification by the Hellenic Parliament? G. KATROUGALOS: I am absolutely certain that the Prespa Agreement will be passed with an absolute majority of MP’s, and even more. JOURNALIST: What is the situation to date related to the coalition government composed of SYRIZA and ANEL? How do you interpret the statement by Minister of Defence Panos Kammenos that “no issue of trust exists unless this is linked to the Prespa Agreement?” Is the possibility of withdrawing the ANEL’s support of the government and the vote of confidence no longer on the horizon? G. KATROUGALOS: We fully respect the political autonomy of the other parties, much more so that of our junior partner, our ally in the coalition government. The decisions on the questions that you posed with regard to their remaining in the government shall be made exclusively by them. The Prime Minister made it clear in his recent interview that, should they leave the coalition government on their own accord, he will request a vote of confidence despite the fact that something like that is not required by the constitution. Indeed, I remind that, in 2013 when the Democratic Left abandoned the Samaras government, at that time, Mr Samaras had not requested a similar renewal of the government's confidence.  All of this, in my opinion, shows that the Prime Minister is fully in control of the political match. He respects both the Constitution and democratic and parliamentary order, as well as the internal autonomy of the other parties.  JOURNALIST: You participated in the Prime Minister's meeting with Germany’s Chancellor. What is your assessment of Merkel’s visit, and what is its importance for further bolstering of Greek-German cooperation? G. KATROUGALOS: First of all, the visit by Ms. Merkel confirms the upgrading of our country’s international standing during our four-year term. All great leaders have passed through Greece, and indeed two of these, President Obama and President Macron, chose our country to send a greatly symbolic message: President Obama with his final speech where he conveyed his thoughts on Democracy to the whole world; President Macron with his first speech in which he laid down his ideas for the future of Europe. This visit also confirms a full return to normalcy. Ms Merkel visited a Greece that was different to the one she had visited in 2014. And thirdly, though of no less importance, Germany is our country’s largest economic partner, with 7.5 billion in recent direct investment, and the Chancellor's visit also marks the even more significant prospects that exist for improvement of the bilateral economic cooperation, something which was apparent also in her meetings with business people.  JOURNALIST: The process of Constitutional Revision is under way in Parliament. Do points of convergence exist? G. KATROUGALOS: Our desire is for the constitutional revision to have the broadest possible consensus. Clearly, where agreement exists, where convergence can exist, because significant ideological differences exist on certain defining issues, for example tackling extreme neoliberalism, where we cannot have particular chances of agreement. What makes the final consensus problematic is that New Democracy does not appear with one voice. While its general rapporteur adheres to a generally productive stance, similar to our own, and he would be amenable to a consensus, many times representatives of the far-right wing of New Democracy have come with precisely the opposite message: "if you don’t vote to change Article 16, you can forget about the revision.”  It is clear that such institutional ultimatums are completely outside of the logic of the Constitution. As I mentioned earlier, convergence may exist on points on which we agree, not where we disagree. We shall continue to insist along the lines of the greatest possible agreement, because that is what the Constitution requires, and because we truly want a revision that is dual in nature: strengthening of Democracy and tackling neoliberalism. We don’t expect New Democracy's response on everything, but it will be irreparably exposed if it rejects the need to revise overripe provisions, such as the unacceptable provisions on the immunity of politicians.  JOURNALIST: What are the expectations for the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Turkey?  G. KATROUGALOS: We want this trip to contribute to reducing tension in the Aegean and to re-establish the foundations for restarting Greek-Turkish dialogue. We believe that only in this manner can differences between countries be resolved, and because we have faith in the ability to resolve differences with respect to International Law, as we have proven in particular with the Prespa Agreement.  JOURNALIST: How is the Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the US evolving? What are the initial tangible results? G. KATROUGALOS: As regards the geopolitical, the geostrategic importance of the dialogue, its effect is obvious. The positions of the American officials are now in line with the corresponding formal statements of the European Union on the need for International Law to be fully respected by all sides, even by those that dispute it. It therefore represents additional strengthening of the geopolitical power of our country and its position as a factor of stability in the region. On an economic level, both sides have decided for our collaboration to have a structured nature, and for it to be stable and regular in frequency. In January, a new Interministerial Meeting is due to take place of all the ministries that participated in the Strategic Dialogue, in order to systematically promote issues related to investment and finance.  JOURNALIST: What are the basic principles and priorities of Greek foreign policy for 2019? G. KATROUGALOS: Our priorities are standard and stable, because our foreign policy possesses fixed characteristics.  Its first characteristic is complete respect of International Law, and our effort is for Greece to be a provider of security, a factor of stability. The second characteristic of our foreign policy is its multidimensional nature, also due to our country’s position as a natural bridge linking Africa, Asia, and Europe, and because historically our country has always adhered to a peace-loving policy. We wish to play the role of a just intermediary between our own home, Europe, and the other countries in the wider region. Thirdly, and finally, in the region of South-eastern Europe and the Middle East, we wish to confirm the role for confirming a climate of security and stability, as well as for strengthening the European perspectives of those countries. Within the framework of these general guidelines, in the past we have undertaken a series of important multilateral initiatives, many bearing the seal of Nikos Kotzias, which we shall continue to serve. The challenges, as well as the opportunities, are not few. I would like to believe that we shall have similar progress with the issue related to our relations with Albania as we do with fYROM, with the understood condition of re-examination of every measure that infringes upon the rights of our minority there. And with regard to the Cyprus issue, we shall insist that the negotiations begin where they ended at Crans-Montana, with recognition, in other words, of the international dimension of the issue and termination of the anachronistic system of guarantees as well as the gradual withdrawal of occupation troops. The fronts in Europe are also significant, where in May we shall have the European elections, the clash of two fundamentally different views for Europe:  on the one hand the marriage of the far right with neoliberalism and, on the other hand, the powers of social Europe, a Europe of rights and open societies.


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Migrant girl dies in boat sinking off Turkey

A four-year-old girl drowned on Tuesday when a boat carrying migrants to a Greek island sank off Turkey's Aegean coast.A total of 398 migrants have attempted to reach Greek islands via Turkey in the first 15 days of this year, according to figures released by the Turkish coast guard.


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Romanian-Greek Business Forum to be held at the CCIB Palace on January 18

A few days ago, Univ. Professor Dr. Eng. Sorin Dimitriu, the President of the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB) had a meeting with the new Plenipotentiary Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Embassy of Hellenic Republic in Romania, Aristotelis Xenakis.   The meeting was also attended... The post Romanian-Greek Business Forum to be held at the CCIB Palace on January 18 appeared first on Nine O' Clock.


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Greek PM set to win confidence vote after centrist lawmaker breaks ranks: sources

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's Alexis Tsipras is set to win a confidence vote on Wednesday after winning the support of an opposition centrist lawmaker who broke ranks with his party, a source said, givi...


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