How the world sees Greece
The council will start restoring social event privileges, but the process will not included an immediate lift of suspensions for all 27 chapters. Instead, chapters will be notified of action plans that must be completed, which were determined on an ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.clickondetroit.com |
The council will start restoring social event privileges, but the process will not included an immediate lift of suspensions for all 27 chapters. Instead, chapters will be notified of action plans that must be completed, which were determined on an ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.clickondetroit.com |
* Premier League updates from the London derby at the Emirates * Arsenal set to sign 20-year-old Greek defender Mavropanos * And email scott.murray@theguardian.com with any thoughts 9.32pm GMT 90 MIN: “There’s only one team in London,” trill the visiting fans. On the Arsenal bench, Arsene Wenger hangs his head. He’s not had the breaks this week. There are four added minutes. Can the Gunners give their boss some late festive cheer? 9.30pm GMT 88 MIN: Before the corner is taken, Walcott comes on for Chambers. The set piece leads to Mustafi hitting a fierce volley from the edge of the box. It’s heading towards the top right, but clanks into Cahill’s arm. No penalty, because that arm was tucked into his body, and the defender had no time to react anyway. That would have been some goal. Continue reading...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com |
* Premier League updates from the London derby at the Emirates * Arsenal set to sign 20-year-old Greek defender Mavropanos * And email scott.murray@theguardian.com with any thoughts 9.32pm GMT 90 MIN: “There’s only one team in London,” trill the visiting fans. On the Arsenal bench, Arsene Wenger hangs his head. He’s not had the breaks this week. There are four added minutes. Can the Gunners give their boss some late festive cheer? 9.30pm GMT 88 MIN: Before the corner is taken, Walcott comes on for Chambers. The set piece leads to Mustafi hitting a fierce volley from the edge of the box. It’s heading towards the top right, but clanks into Cahill’s arm. No penalty, because that arm was tucked into his body, and the defender had no time to react anyway. That would have been some goal. Continue reading...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com |
Cinncinnati’s own The National was scheduled to play the iconic Greek Theatre in Berkeley back on October 14 and 15, 2017. While the shows were postponed due to the California Wildfires, new dates have been announced. The National will play the Greek ...
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The nutritional value of GREEK yoghurt has been well documented, and has turned it into one of the most sought after snacks in the modern American diet. Now scientific research has shown that it can also help produce bio-fuel for vehicles and planes. Researchers at Cornell University and the University ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT usa.greekreporter.com |
Also called Greek lasagna, pastitsio is a layered, baked pasta dish with a creamy white sauce. This shortcut version from Erin Sellin, who blogs at dinnersdishesanddesserts.com, features the warming cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice that gives this comfort ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT communitytable.parade.com |
The other major looming challenge is the latest United Nations-mediated initiative to solve a decades-old disagreement between GREECE and FYROM over the latter's official name. UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz is to meet with negotiators from GREECE and FYROM on January 19 in New York as part ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Terens Quick made the following statement after the Greece-Cyprus-Armenia Trilateral meeting on Diaspora issues, which was held in Yerevan: “The actions of our Trilateral cooperation will be based on the pillars of Diaspora youth and well-known members of our Diasporas throughout the world, to the benefit of our nations and our overseas communities. I am thoroughly convinced that this important endeavour we are launching will have the full support and assistance of diaspora communities the world over.”This was the second Trilateral meeting on diaspora cooperation between the three countries; cooperation that is the result of an initiative on the part of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias, in consultation with his Cypriot and Armenian counterparts. Diaspora issues were among the subjects of the talks and meeting held last Wednesday, in Athens, between the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian.The Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terens Quick, the Cypriot Commissioner for Overseas Cypriots, Fotis Fotiou, and the Armenian Diaspora Minister, Hranush Hakobyan, set the agenda of actions for 2018; actions that will take place in the three countries’ capitals and in countries with large Armenian communities, such as France and the U.S. On the recommendation of its General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, Greece proposes the hosting of a photo exhibit in Thessaloniki on the subject of the Armenian and Pontic Genocides, in parallel with cultural events supported by the corresponding organizations in each country. Moreover, in Komotini, where there is a large Armenian community, a meeting of top university students of the three countries’ Diaspora communities will be held, with the aim of developing inter-university links among the Greek, Cypriot and Armenian Diasporas. In this regard, the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed: “I am certain that we will be assisted in these two actions by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with its new Chair of Pontic Studies, and the Democritus University of Thrace, as well as by the Municipalities of the two cities, in parallel, of course, with the local organizations of the Pontians, Armenians and Cypriots.”The Trilateral meeting culminated in a meeting with Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Garen Nazaryan and a visit by the heads of the three countries’ delegations to Patriarch Karenin II of Armenia.The next meeting will take place in March, in Greece.
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Only 24 hours after a Greek asylum committee granted asylum to one of the eight Turkish soldiers who fled to GREECE after the failed coup attempt in the neighboring country on July 2016, migrant flows from Turkey to islands of the Aegean rose again. After the provocative threats of Turkish Foreign ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com |
The GREEK homes market remains stagnant, ranking third from bottom among 56 countries monitored by property service company Knight Frank. In its latest quarterly report on the global housing market over the July-September 2017 period, the firm shows that Greece is one of the few remaining markets ...
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The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will travel to Vancouver Canada where on January 16 he will attend aspecial summit about North Korea coorganised by the
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The winter sales in Greece will begin on January 8 and last until February 28, with shops staying open on January 14; the first Sunday of the sales period. According to an announcement by the Thessaloniki Merchants’ Association, the proposed hours for ...
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GREECE, January 3, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – The priests of an entire diocese in Greece are raising the alarm about the impending destruction of their nation that they say is being brought on by state-supported abortion and other immoral laws. Clergy of the ...
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More than 40 hotels all over Greece are expected to be sold in 2018 with high and non-performing loans being the main reason for the auction of those, expected in the first six months of the year. The first wave of hotel sales started in December ...
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In March 2016, Sudbury's Stephanie Langille saw a program about families of refugees leaving Syria and heading to Greece. Among those refugees, she took particular notice of the new mothers in the groups. The lactation consultation decided she wanted to help.
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GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) — A groundbreaking event for the new Chick-fil-A location near Rochester was held on Wednesday. The new restaurant, which is expected to open in Spring, will be located on West Ridge Rd. in GREECE. A special permit for the restaurant was approved by the GREECE Town ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT wivb.com |
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias, will carry out a visit to Rome on Wednesday, 20 December. The Minister will meet with his Italian counterpart, A. Alfano. The talks will focus on further deepening of bilateral relations and strengthening of cooperation in sectors of mutual interest, in light of the current developments and common challenges in the wider region. In the framework of his visit, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Italian counterpart will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations, as well as a Memorandum of Cooperation in the sector of Diplomatic Training, between the Greek and Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.mfa.gr |
Can’t swing a trip to Santorini this summer? No sweat. Just whip up this recipe for Greek lemon chicken skewers with tzatziki sauce. The Mediterranean flavors pair perfectly with white wine, a salad and warm pita. Best of all, it’s ready in under an hour.
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Greek Navy denies incident
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GREEK port congestion leads to CMA CGM surcharge. January 3 - At the GREEK Port of Thessaloniki, increased operational costs and service disruptions generated by ongoing traffic congestion are forcing CMA CGM to implement an Emergency Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS).
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The new plans show seats for 42 people on the ground floor with an external decking area which would be created by demolishing a garage. There is also a bar/coffee area and toilets on the ground floor. Upstairs there are further tables with a kitchen area. The developer says an extraction system will ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.walesonline.co.uk |
The new plans show seats for 42 people on the ground floor with an external decking area which would be created by demolishing a garage. There is also a bar/coffee area and toilets on the ground floor. Upstairs there are further tables with a kitchen area. The developer says an extraction system will ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.walesonline.co.uk |
Nefeli Papadakis (second from left) takes 1st place at the 2017 Iliadis Junior European Cup in Athens, Greece. PINOY. WAUKEGAN, Illinois—Nefeli Papadakis, 19, a five-time U.S. Women's Judo Champion, is competing to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and hopes to be the first Filipina ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT usa.inquirer.net |
FORT PIERCE — The 39th Annual Original GREEK Festival returns to St. Nicholas GREEK Orthodox Church, Feb. 9-11. The festival will open at daily at 11 a.m .and features live music, dancing, authentic GREEK foods, imported GREEK wines, beers and other beverages. The organizing committee expects a ...
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A prior foul disqualified a winning goal of Constantinos Mavropanos (42) of PAS Giannena during the Super League GREEK match between Levadiakos FC and PAS Giannina at Levadia Stadium, in Livadeia, Greece, on 21 October 2017. Final result: Levadiakos v PAS Giannina 1-1. (Photo by Wassilios ...
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A shopper takes a break on a street in the central city of Trikala on Wednesday as Greece joined other European Union countries in charging consumers for the use of plastic bags. The initiative is aimed at reducing the proliferation of plastic bags and their adverse impact on the environment by ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com |
As unlikely as it may be to believe, Greece’s second-rate asylum committee, on December 29, actually worked hard: they granted asylum to one of the […] The post Game-Playing at the Country’s Expense appeared first on The National Herald.
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SYDNEY – Greek-Australian Constance Siaflas would like her ex-boyfriend, controversial property developer and former Auburn Council deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, to stop posting photos on Instagram of […] The post Greek-Australian Woman Wants Ex to Stop Posting Photos Online appeared first on The National Herald.
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NEW YORK – This year, there are many Greek-Americans running for office across the country. Among them, Eleni Kounalakis is running for Lieutenant Governor of […] The post Eleni Kounalakis Campaign Surpasses Fundraising Goal appeared first on The National Herald.
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The January transfer window has only just opened and already Arsenal are in talks to complete a deal for a new acquisition. Greece wonderkid Konstantinos Mavropanos is due in London to negotiate a £2.2million move from PAS Giannina. It's all very ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.mirror.co.uk |
GREECE has not ruled out extradition to a third country for a group of Turkish soldiers who fled there after Turkey's abortive coup in 2016. Seven of the eight men applied for asylum and were rejected. They have been kept in preventive custody.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.euronews.com |
GREECE raised 1.625 billion euros on Wednesday in the first auction of treasury bills for 2018, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency announced. The six-month treasury bills were sold at an interest rate of 1.65 percent, down from 1.95 percent in the previous similar auction in December. Shut out of ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com |
Making Greek yogurt at home is actually quite simple: Spoon regular yogurt into cheesecloth and place it over a bowl for several hours. The strained yogurt is thick and smooth, the cloudy liquid runoff pools in the bowl. Commercial Greek yogurt production ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.msn.com |
In total financing under the European Fund for Strategic Investments EFSI in Greece amounts to 17 billion and is set to trigger 57 billion in additional investments Greece
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT balkaneu.com |
The Gunners have completed the signing of the 20-year-old for a fee of around £1.8 million after he was identified by new chief scout Sven Mislintat Arsenal have completed the signing of centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina for a fee in ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.goal.com |
The Gunners have completed the signing of the 20-year-old for a fee of around £1.8 million after he was identified by new chief scout Sven Mislintat Arsenal have completed the signing of centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina for a fee in ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.goal.com |
GREEK President Prokopis Pavlopoulos issued a customary New Year's Day message on Monday that included references to regional developments, while addressing an annual reception at the presidential mansion that brings together the country's political, military, religious and academic leadership.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.tornosnews.gr |
The World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) has formally recognised the Armenian Genocide at its 44th World Congress in Israel, after a Jewish-Australian advocate, Ariel Zohar was among the key speakers for the motion, reported the Armenian National ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.aina.org |
Upon his return to Skopje after an unofficial visit to GREECE, the FYROM premier said that the two neighboring countries will finally come to a conclusion over a dispute that has divided them for over 25 years within the next six months, according to the Athens Macedonia News Agency (AMNA). “For our ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com |
Dozens of local residents of Palaio Faliro, south of Athens, led by the local priest marched on Sunday at the site of a controversial sculpture and demanded its removal. The bright-red sculpture “Phylax” (guard in Greek), has offended some who see it as unChristian, and as a symbol of Satan. Holding ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com |
Impulsive behavior and rhetoric that is limited to catchy, provocative slogans must always be avoided when handling issues of national security. One case in point is that of the eight Turkish servicemen who are seeking asylum in GREECE after fleeing the botched coup against the Turkish government in ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com |
In the framework of the EU-TUR Statement. Source: Press Releases, Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection. Overview. The vast majority of those returned to Turkey are nationals from countries other than Syria. The majority are Pakistani nationals (42 per cent of total). Syrians constitute 15 per cent of the ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT reliefweb.int |
The decision of the listed company Dionic to sell its 50 percent stake in Greece’s biggest price comparison search engine, www.skroutz.gr has triggered a market competition, as several companies, including viva.gr, have already expressed an interest.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.tovima.gr |
The decision of the listed company Dionic to sell its 50 percent stake in Greece’s biggest price comparison search engine, www.skroutz.gr has triggered a market competition, as several companies, including viva.gr, have already expressed an interest.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.tovima.gr |
JOURNALIST: Minister, good day, many happy returns, happy New Year!N. KOTZIAS: Mr. Skouris, many happy returns to you, and to the women and men in the audience.JOURNALIST: You put the women first. N. KOTZIAS: It’s a matter of courtesy and esteem.JOURNALIST: Right! Minister, for many people 2018 is the year when critical issues will open up in our foreign policy. You don’t like the ideology of sitting on one’s hands with regard to national issues, but many people insist that it may be worse to actually address some pending issues. Perhaps the international state of affairs isn’t in our favour? N. KOTZIAS: For three decades I have been hearing that inertia is the best foreign policy. The result is that our country’s influence has waned in the region, while the influence of other countries – including Turkey and member states of the European Union – has increased. It is in practise that we see whether a policy choice is right or wrong. Our foreign policy has two components in 2018. One is the further promotion of our positive agenda. We will take a major step, I hope, in Rhodes this June, at the 3rd Conference for Security and Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We launched this about three years ago -two and a half- with the participation of eleven Arab and European states. Twenty-three countries will be participating this year, the two international Arab organizations, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, and for the first time we will have three observers – Indonesia, Colombia and Vietnam – who are watching our foreign policy and the experience we are gaining very closely. We already have five trilateral cooperation schemes with countries to our south-east, and we will be adding a sixth, Greece and Cyprus with Armenia, which is a step forward in the intensification of our relations with Armenia. I would like to say that, all in all, we have created fifteen new international organizations that function in an exemplary manner and are based on our positive agenda. In other words, how we can move forward together with other states in our region – or globally, as on the issue of forum of civilizations – in order to upgrade the issue we are handling and our country’s role. I also want to say that we handed on the Presidency of the Global Forum for Ancient Civilizations that still play a key role today – in my opinion, an exceptionally good initiative we took – and we will hold the next International Conference in Bolivia, with the aim of implementing what we have agreed on so far.JOURNALIST: Can you remind us what countries are participating in this initiative, because it is very interesting.N. KOTZIAS: China, India – we discussed this in depth a few weeks ago, when I was in New Delhi – Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Bolivia and Peru. What’s more, seven states have asked to observe or, if they can, join. Namely Chile, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Armenia. In general, our international initiatives have not only met with a very positive response, but are also attracting new member states, and we have seen greater interest than ever from states who want to be observers – and as the current Presidency we have granted these requests. This is our positive agenda. Elements of the positive agenda are our overcoming the unresolved problems of the past. The biggest of these problems are the Cyprus issue, what I would call historical holdovers with Albania, and the name issue with our neighbouring country fYROM.JOURNALIST: Let’s take them one at a time, and let’s look at the fYROM issue, the name issue, which has been the subject of domestic controversy of late.N. KOTZIAS: On the Skopje issue –which hasn’t begun yet, essentially– there will be negotiations between the two representatives of the two states, with Mr. Nimetz, the UN representative, in attendance. I would say this: our government is determined to contribute towards the resolution of this problem, because, as I have underscored repeatedly, history must be our great school and heritage, and in no way should it be our prison. We aren’t asking for third parties on the domestic political scene to resolve it for us. That is nonsense, because the party that created this problem, who for twenty-five years, together with their partner in government, were unable to resolve it, and who don’t appear to be able to provide even a basic response as the opposition, certainly can’t resolve it. They were tested as the government and as the opposition. These aren’t the right people for the job.JOURNALIST: I was going to ask you about that. But first, do we have the right conditions, do we have the right moves on the part of our neighbouring country, to open a substantial dialogue and address the substance of the issue?N. KOTZIAS: I need to tell you two things: as best it can, our neighbouring country has to de-escalate, to do away with the irredentism, just as our country showed and insists that we want this state to exist and we have no intention of undermining it. In other words, restoration of trust in the context of this course towards greater confidence. The confidence-building measures played a major role. When I introduced them two and a half years ago, many sides viewed my proposal with suspicion, including friends of ours in Skopje and in some international organizations. Yet, they proved to be very beneficial to our peoples, and we are preparing a major step in confidence-building measures: the opening of border-crossing points between Greece and our northern neighbour at Lake Prespa, which must and will be exploited for the economic growth of the region. The European Union has promised significant funding that will contribute to the creation of the necessary infrastructure for the development and upgrading of the region.JOURNALIST: Are we going to the negotiations with a red line? Is there a red line?N. KOTZIAS: There are no negotiations without a red line. But these red lines aren’t made public, of course. I want to underscore that I am surprised at the statements made by a number of parties and leading figures who are demanding – before the negotiations have even begun – that I publicly state what the red lines are, where the negotiations are heading, what the objectives are, etc. I don’t think it is rational, notwithstanding a party-politics outlook, to want the Greek negotiating team to reveal its negotiating tactics and strategy before the negotiations have even begun. We don't make mistakes like that, Mr. Skouris, because I and our government exercise foreign policy based on the needs of the country, securing the best possible future for the country; a future of peace and stability in the region. A solution with compromises, certainly, but not, as I often say, rotten compromises. Creative and positive compromises. And we are certainly not looking at foreign policy from a standpoint of the country’s domestic politics or the interests some opposition parties have.JOURNALIST: Will a meeting of political party leaders be needed when the decision has been taken? N. KOTZIAS: We’ll see. And in any case this is something that is up to the President of the Republic, in consultation with the country’s Prime Minister.JOURNALIST: Could there be an issue of stated intention for the government on this issue? Because the opposition ...N. KOTZIAS: There is no such issue. I’ll explain it to you. Listen to this incredible argument: the government should step down because a portion of the parliamentary majority disagrees, has another opinion. First, the government has its way of discussing and resolving the issues. There will certainly be a cabinet meeting in the coming days so we can discuss the matter, and I will present the aspects of the negotiations. But in no way are we crippled in the way that New Democracy was under the then prime minister, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who was forced to abandon his political line on the ‘macedonian’ issue because, first, Antonis Samaras left with a group of MPs and, second, Evert, Kanellopoulos and Dimas prevented him from having the majority necessary for making decisions. The party that created this problem, that essentially –in reality and formally– split over this issue, is now saying that the government should step down because there is another opinion within the governing majority. I don’t remember Konstantinos Mitsotakis stepping down during the two major and failed efforts that were made to solve the problem. And it really makes one wonder to hear these things coming from his son, who may not have an adequate knowledge of Greek history, but who should at least know the history of his family and of Konstantinos Mitsotakis.JOURNALIST: Do you think there is any possibility of the government’s having a unified, single position? Of there not being disagreement with ANEL, I mean? Disagreement between the partners in the government?N. KOTZIAS: I am certain that there will be a majority in Parliament and I realise that some people are bothered because I said the majority will be a majority of MPs, and not a majority of parties. Pardon me. Decisions aren’t taken in Parliament by a majority of parties. We don’t have a party-controlled democracy, where there are seven parties and at least four have to agree. A majority of MPs decides in a democracy. And I think this majority exists. And may I tell you something else? What if this majority didn’t exist? The decision wouldn’t come, and what would we do? The problem remained unresolved for twenty-five years. We would add another two.JOURNALIST: You’re saying that if the proposal were rejected ...N. KOTZIAS: We will never show such irresponsibility. The matter will come before Parliament, the proposal will be extremely good and will be supported by the majority of MPs who think patriotically and responsibly on national issues.JOURNALIST: You’re saying that the government won’t step down if this majority doesn’t materialise.N. KOTZIAS: There will be a majority. There is no question of the government’s resigning or not. I find this demand ridiculous, because New Democracy should have learned from its history, having splintered over this issue. It is the party that created the issue and it can’t wag its finger at us, the ones resolving it. The same thing happened with the economy. They created the catastrophic economic situation in the country. It’s the same with the national issues. Not only did they fail to resolve them, but they created additional problems during their time in government. Those who created the problems and were incapable of solving them shouldn’t call to account the people who are solving them.JOURNALIST: Let’s go to the Cyprus issue now, Minister. Under what conditions do you think the negotiations should start again, and do you really think they will start again?N. KOTZIAS: I remind you that in 2016 I underscored the need for preparatory talks so that we could be fully prepared for a conference on the Cyprus problem. I underscored this to Mr. Eide many times, and he didn’t listen because he saw things differently. I underscored it to all sides. Today I am very happy to see that the UN, the United Kingdom and Turkey, and of course the Cypriot government, with whom we share a common course, want talks to be held on the key subject that has not been discussed in adequate depth and that concerns the guarantees and the withdrawal of the occupation force from Cyprus. And I regard it as a major success of Greek diplomacy – and this fact was accepted by everyone on Parliament – that Greek diplomacy changed the agenda of the Cyprus problem and put the real problem on the table. This real problem –guarantees and the occupation force– has to be discussed by those who violated the guarantees and who have the occupation army – the Turks, in other words – with the other Guarantor Powers and with us in particular. Most certainly, to ensure a chance of success – we don't hold conferences for the sake of holding them, we want the resolution of the Cyprus problem – we need a well-prepared Conference.JOURNALIST: Do you think the negotiations will begin by Easter?N. KOTZIAS: I don’t know, because – when the negotiations begin between the two communities and at the UN, and in the manner and at the time they decide to hold them – we hope to hold concurrent talks on the issues I mentioned.JOURNALIST: Are you optimistic about our relations with Turkey, Minister, or do you think tensions will escalate in the coming time?N. KOTZIAS: Mr. Skouris, we aren’t prophets and we don’t make decisions for the Turkish government. What we are doing is ensuring stability and peace in the region, creating and forming the largest alliances possible with those who understand the need for stability and peace in the region, and, through our stance and the capabilities we have, influencing Turkey so that its restlessness isn't exported towards the Aegean.JOURNALIST: I say this because, of late, we have heard mainly the Turkish opposition, but also leading figures threatening even war, or putting The Hague on the table for the first time.N. KOTZIAS: It is very interesting that the secular opposition in Turkey is raising issues concerning Greek-Turkish relations in a very ultra-nationalist and extremist manner, and this shows that, unfortunately, despite the problems that exist with the current Turkish leadership, this same leadership is showing greater rationalism than its secular opposition.JOURNALIST: And I say this because we are seeing, in contrast, European powers closing or trying to close off Turkey’s European perspective; mainly extreme right forces that are now participating in their countries’ governments.N. KOTZIAS: That’s true, but you will also see that many powers that were at odds with Turkey in the past, in recent months, will attempt to restore relations with Turkey, and what Greek foreign policy took care to ensure was that, when these powers restore their relations with Turkey, we won’t be alone and exposed to an unnecessary hostility.JOURNALIST: But this is the first time Turkey has tabled the issue of The Hague. I heard top officials in Ankara raise the issue of the International Court in The Hague. Do you believe this is a real prospect?N. KOTZIAS: Anyone who supports international law is welcome.JOURNALIST: In 2018 we also have the meeting in Himara between you and your Albanian counterpart. Do you believe there can be a package solution?N. KOTZIAS: The steps we foresaw and requested have been taken, the Albanian side has complied. I mean three things: That whereas the derelict structure used as the church of St. Athanasios was torn down two years ago, today the Albanian government has taken a decision –strongly symbolic, and this has been decided upon– to fund the construction of a duly imposing church in its place. At long last, it issued implementation laws on the issue of the cemeteries where the souls of our soldiers can find rest, and it has granted citizenship to the Archbishop of Durrës and All Albania, a saintly person in my opinion. I would like to add the following: some people say these things had to be done anyway, these were self-evident moves. Yes, but the self-evident was not done for 25 years. They shouldn’t try to call into doubt the improvement in Greek-Albanian relations and how beneficial this is. And I thanked the Albanian government and the Albanian President for the good will they showed, and I want to say here, publicly, that on the biggest problem we feel the Albanians have, that the status of war has not been abolished officially, Greece will certainly respond and there cannot be even a formalistic intimation or an implication that there is a state of war between the two countries. This is historical nonsense and has to end.JOURNALIST: And what might 2018 bring for the Balkans as a whole, Minister?N. KOTZIAS: Look, in the Balkans I hope that we resolve the issues with our northern neighbours, as I described, and that we all support their course towards integration into the European structures, their economic development and better cooperation all round. We have begun two major cooperation initiatives – three, I would say – two as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one on the level of Prime Ministers and Presidents in the Balkans: there is the Greek Prime Minister’s initiative for cooperation between Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece; there is what we call the cross-border cooperation between Albania, fYROM, Bulgaria and Greece; and there is the cooperation between the four Balkan EU member states, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. These cooperation schemes are exceptional, and I had the pleasure of adding another at the end of last year – and there will be a major conference in Greece – between the Balkan EU member states, the Visegrad countries, and the countries that are candidates for EU membership; that is, the Western Balkan countries and Turkey. And we will hold a major conference here in Athens on the future of Europe, because it is my firm conviction that the countries that are candidates for EU membership must have these opportunities to learn about what we are debating and express an opinion that we take into serious consideration regarding the future of Europe, our common home.JOURNALIST: And one last question, Minister. Do you think there is potential for the delimitation of the EEZs with Egypt, Italy and Albania within the new year, within 2018?N. KOTZIAS: We'll see.JOURNALIST: You don’t rule it out?N. KOTZIAS: We'll see.JOURNALIST: Thank you very much. Happy New Year!N. KOTZIAS: Thank you.
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JOURNALIST: Minister, good day, many happy returns, happy New Year!N. KOTZIAS: Mr. Skouris, many happy returns to you, and to the women and men in the audience.JOURNALIST: You put the women first. N. KOTZIAS: It’s a matter of courtesy and esteem.JOURNALIST: Right! Minister, for many people 2018 is the year when critical issues will open up in our foreign policy. You don’t like the ideology of sitting on one’s hands with regard to national issues, but many people insist that it may be worse to actually address some pending issues. Perhaps the international state of affairs isn’t in our favour? N. KOTZIAS: For three decades I have been hearing that inertia is the best foreign policy. The result is that our country’s influence has waned in the region, while the influence of other countries – including Turkey and member states of the European Union – has increased. It is in practise that we see whether a policy choice is right or wrong. Our foreign policy has two components in 2018. One is the further promotion of our positive agenda. We will take a major step, I hope, in Rhodes this June, at the 3rd Conference for Security and Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We launched this about three years ago -two and a half- with the participation of eleven Arab and European states. Twenty-three countries will be participating this year, the two international Arab organizations, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, and for the first time we will have three observers – Indonesia, Colombia and Vietnam – who are watching our foreign policy and the experience we are gaining very closely. We already have five trilateral cooperation schemes with countries to our south-east, and we will be adding a sixth, Greece and Cyprus with Armenia, which is a step forward in the intensification of our relations with Armenia. I would like to say that, all in all, we have created fifteen new international organizations that function in an exemplary manner and are based on our positive agenda. In other words, how we can move forward together with other states in our region – or globally, as on the issue of forum of civilizations – in order to upgrade the issue we are handling and our country’s role. I also want to say that we handed on the Presidency of the Global Forum for Ancient Civilizations that still play a key role today – in my opinion, an exceptionally good initiative we took – and we will hold the next International Conference in Bolivia, with the aim of implementing what we have agreed on so far.JOURNALIST: Can you remind us what countries are participating in this initiative, because it is very interesting.N. KOTZIAS: China, India – we discussed this in depth a few weeks ago, when I was in New Delhi – Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Bolivia and Peru. What’s more, seven states have asked to observe or, if they can, join. Namely Chile, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Armenia. In general, our international initiatives have not only met with a very positive response, but are also attracting new member states, and we have seen greater interest than ever from states who want to be observers – and as the current Presidency we have granted these requests. This is our positive agenda. Elements of the positive agenda are our overcoming the unresolved problems of the past. The biggest of these problems are the Cyprus issue, what I would call historical holdovers with Albania, and the name issue with our neighbouring country fYROM.JOURNALIST: Let’s take them one at a time, and let’s look at the fYROM issue, the name issue, which has been the subject of domestic controversy of late.N. KOTZIAS: On the Skopje issue –which hasn’t begun yet, essentially– there will be negotiations between the two representatives of the two states, with Mr. Nimetz, the UN representative, in attendance. I would say this: our government is determined to contribute towards the resolution of this problem, because, as I have underscored repeatedly, history must be our great school and heritage, and in no way should it be our prison. We aren’t asking for third parties on the domestic political scene to resolve it for us. That is nonsense, because the party that created this problem, who for twenty-five years, together with their partner in government, were unable to resolve it, and who don’t appear to be able to provide even a basic response as the opposition, certainly can’t resolve it. They were tested as the government and as the opposition. These aren’t the right people for the job.JOURNALIST: I was going to ask you about that. But first, do we have the right conditions, do we have the right moves on the part of our neighbouring country, to open a substantial dialogue and address the substance of the issue?N. KOTZIAS: I need to tell you two things: as best it can, our neighbouring country has to de-escalate, to do away with the irredentism, just as our country showed and insists that we want this state to exist and we have no intention of undermining it. In other words, restoration of trust in the context of this course towards greater confidence. The confidence-building measures played a major role. When I introduced them two and a half years ago, many sides viewed my proposal with suspicion, including friends of ours in Skopje and in some international organizations. Yet, they proved to be very beneficial to our peoples, and we are preparing a major step in confidence-building measures: the opening of border-crossing points between Greece and our northern neighbour at Lake Prespa, which must and will be exploited for the economic growth of the region. The European Union has promised significant funding that will contribute to the creation of the necessary infrastructure for the development and upgrading of the region.JOURNALIST: Are we going to the negotiations with a red line? Is there a red line?N. KOTZIAS: There are no negotiations without a red line. But these red lines aren’t made public, of course. I want to underscore that I am surprised at the statements made by a number of parties and leading figures who are demanding – before the negotiations have even begun – that I publicly state what the red lines are, where the negotiations are heading, what the objectives are, etc. I don’t think it is rational, notwithstanding a party-politics outlook, to want the Greek negotiating team to reveal its negotiating tactics and strategy before the negotiations have even begun. We don't make mistakes like that, Mr. Skouris, because I and our government exercise foreign policy based on the needs of the country, securing the best possible future for the country; a future of peace and stability in the region. A solution with compromises, certainly, but not, as I often say, rotten compromises. Creative and positive compromises. And we are certainly not looking at foreign policy from a standpoint of the country’s domestic politics or the interests some opposition parties have.JOURNALIST: Will a meeting of political party leaders be needed when the decision has been taken? N. KOTZIAS: We’ll see. And in any case this is something that is up to the President of the Republic, in consultation with the country’s Prime Minister.JOURNALIST: Could there be an issue of stated intention for the government on this issue? Because the opposition ...N. KOTZIAS: There is no such issue. I’ll explain it to you. Listen to this incredible argument: the government should step down because a portion of the parliamentary majority disagrees, has another opinion. First, the government has its way of discussing and resolving the issues. There will certainly be a cabinet meeting in the coming days so we can discuss the matter, and I will present the aspects of the negotiations. But in no way are we crippled in the way that New Democracy was under the then prime minister, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who was forced to abandon his political line on the ‘macedonian’ issue because, first, Antonis Samaras left with a group of MPs and, second, Evert, Kanellopoulos and Dimas prevented him from having the majority necessary for making decisions. The party that created this problem, that essentially –in reality and formally– split over this issue, is now saying that the government should step down because there is another opinion within the governing majority. I don’t remember Konstantinos Mitsotakis stepping down during the two major and failed efforts that were made to solve the problem. And it really makes one wonder to hear these things coming from his son, who may not have an adequate knowledge of Greek history, but who should at least know the history of his family and of Konstantinos Mitsotakis.JOURNALIST: Do you think there is any possibility of the government’s having a unified, single position? Of there not being disagreement with ANEL, I mean? Disagreement between the partners in the government?N. KOTZIAS: I am certain that there will be a majority in Parliament and I realise that some people are bothered because I said the majority will be a majority of MPs, and not a majority of parties. Pardon me. Decisions aren’t taken in Parliament by a majority of parties. We don’t have a party-controlled democracy, where there are seven parties and at least four have to agree. A majority of MPs decides in a democracy. And I think this majority exists. And may I tell you something else? What if this majority didn’t exist? The decision wouldn’t come, and what would we do? The problem remained unresolved for twenty-five years. We would add another two.JOURNALIST: You’re saying that if the proposal were rejected ...N. KOTZIAS: We will never show such irresponsibility. The matter will come before Parliament, the proposal will be extremely good and will be supported by the majority of MPs who think patriotically and responsibly on national issues.JOURNALIST: You’re saying that the government won’t step down if this majority doesn’t materialise.N. KOTZIAS: There will be a majority. There is no question of the government’s resigning or not. I find this demand ridiculous, because New Democracy should have learned from its history, having splintered over this issue. It is the party that created the issue and it can’t wag its finger at us, the ones resolving it. The same thing happened with the economy. They created the catastrophic economic situation in the country. It’s the same with the national issues. Not only did they fail to resolve them, but they created additional problems during their time in government. Those who created the problems and were incapable of solving them shouldn’t call to account the people who are solving them.JOURNALIST: Let’s go to the Cyprus issue now, Minister. Under what conditions do you think the negotiations should start again, and do you really think they will start again?N. KOTZIAS: I remind you that in 2016 I underscored the need for preparatory talks so that we could be fully prepared for a conference on the Cyprus problem. I underscored this to Mr. Eide many times, and he didn’t listen because he saw things differently. I underscored it to all sides. Today I am very happy to see that the UN, the United Kingdom and Turkey, and of course the Cypriot government, with whom we share a common course, want talks to be held on the key subject that has not been discussed in adequate depth and that concerns the guarantees and the withdrawal of the occupation force from Cyprus. And I regard it as a major success of Greek diplomacy – and this fact was accepted by everyone on Parliament – that Greek diplomacy changed the agenda of the Cyprus problem and put the real problem on the table. This real problem –guarantees and the occupation force– has to be discussed by those who violated the guarantees and who have the occupation army – the Turks, in other words – with the other Guarantor Powers and with us in particular. Most certainly, to ensure a chance of success – we don't hold conferences for the sake of holding them, we want the resolution of the Cyprus problem – we need a well-prepared Conference.JOURNALIST: Do you think the negotiations will begin by Easter?N. KOTZIAS: I don’t know, because – when the negotiations begin between the two communities and at the UN, and in the manner and at the time they decide to hold them – we hope to hold concurrent talks on the issues I mentioned.JOURNALIST: Are you optimistic about our relations with Turkey, Minister, or do you think tensions will escalate in the coming time?N. KOTZIAS: Mr. Skouris, we aren’t prophets and we don’t make decisions for the Turkish government. What we are doing is ensuring stability and peace in the region, creating and forming the largest alliances possible with those who understand the need for stability and peace in the region, and, through our stance and the capabilities we have, influencing Turkey so that its restlessness isn't exported towards the Aegean.JOURNALIST: I say this because, of late, we have heard mainly the Turkish opposition, but also leading figures threatening even war, or putting The Hague on the table for the first time.N. KOTZIAS: It is very interesting that the secular opposition in Turkey is raising issues concerning Greek-Turkish relations in a very ultra-nationalist and extremist manner, and this shows that, unfortunately, despite the problems that exist with the current Turkish leadership, this same leadership is showing greater rationalism than its secular opposition.JOURNALIST: And I say this because we are seeing, in contrast, European powers closing or trying to close off Turkey’s European perspective; mainly extreme right forces that are now participating in their countries’ governments.N. KOTZIAS: That’s true, but you will also see that many powers that were at odds with Turkey in the past, in recent months, will attempt to restore relations with Turkey, and what Greek foreign policy took care to ensure was that, when these powers restore their relations with Turkey, we won’t be alone and exposed to an unnecessary hostility.JOURNALIST: But this is the first time Turkey has tabled the issue of The Hague. I heard top officials in Ankara raise the issue of the International Court in The Hague. Do you believe this is a real prospect?N. KOTZIAS: Anyone who supports international law is welcome.JOURNALIST: In 2018 we also have the meeting in Himara between you and your Albanian counterpart. Do you believe there can be a package solution?N. KOTZIAS: The steps we foresaw and requested have been taken, the Albanian side has complied. I mean three things: That whereas the derelict structure used as the church of St. Athanasios was torn down two years ago, today the Albanian government has taken a decision –strongly symbolic, and this has been decided upon– to fund the construction of a duly imposing church in its place. At long last, it issued implementation laws on the issue of the cemeteries where the souls of our soldiers can find rest, and it has granted citizenship to the Archbishop of Durrës and All Albania, a saintly person in my opinion. I would like to add the following: some people say these things had to be done anyway, these were self-evident moves. Yes, but the self-evident was not done for 25 years. They shouldn’t try to call into doubt the improvement in Greek-Albanian relations and how beneficial this is. And I thanked the Albanian government and the Albanian President for the good will they showed, and I want to say here, publicly, that on the biggest problem we feel the Albanians have, that the status of war has not been abolished officially, Greece will certainly respond and there cannot be even a formalistic intimation or an implication that there is a state of war between the two countries. This is historical nonsense and has to end.JOURNALIST: And what might 2018 bring for the Balkans as a whole, Minister?N. KOTZIAS: Look, in the Balkans I hope that we resolve the issues with our northern neighbours, as I described, and that we all support their course towards integration into the European structures, their economic development and better cooperation all round. We have begun two major cooperation initiatives – three, I would say – two as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one on the level of Prime Ministers and Presidents in the Balkans: there is the Greek Prime Minister’s initiative for cooperation between Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece; there is what we call the cross-border cooperation between Albania, fYROM, Bulgaria and Greece; and there is the cooperation between the four Balkan EU member states, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. These cooperation schemes are exceptional, and I had the pleasure of adding another at the end of last year – and there will be a major conference in Greece – between the Balkan EU member states, the Visegrad countries, and the countries that are candidates for EU membership; that is, the Western Balkan countries and Turkey. And we will hold a major conference here in Athens on the future of Europe, because it is my firm conviction that the countries that are candidates for EU membership must have these opportunities to learn about what we are debating and express an opinion that we take into serious consideration regarding the future of Europe, our common home.JOURNALIST: And one last question, Minister. Do you think there is potential for the delimitation of the EEZs with Egypt, Italy and Albania within the new year, within 2018?N. KOTZIAS: We'll see.JOURNALIST: You don’t rule it out?N. KOTZIAS: We'll see.JOURNALIST: Thank you very much. Happy New Year!N. KOTZIAS: Thank you.
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Arsenal set to sign Mavropanos with GREEK wonderkid due in London to discuss £2.2m move · LIVE: Transfer news... keep track of the latest moves in the Premier League and beyond ahead of January window · Players pushed to limit in training, a vibrant atmosphere and Zaha firing... how Hodgson got ...
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ATHENS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- As supermarkets across Greece reopened on Wednesday after the New Year's holidays, consumers were faced with a new charge. For each plastic carrier bag used at the counter from now on, GREEKS will have to pay four euro cents (five U.S. dollar cents) as part of renewed ...
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The Turkish Coast Guard prevented one GREEK battleship and two GREEK coast guard boats from approaching the disputed islets of Kardak on Jan. 3, DoÄŸan News Agency has reported. The two countries' boats were 30 meters apart and ran parallel to each other off the coast of Bodrum's Turgutreis ...
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