Greek Folli founders, executives charged with fraud, money laundering

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek prosecutor has laid felony charges against jewellery maker Folli Follie’s founders and seven other executives for fraud and money laundering, a judicial source told ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT in.reuters.com

Government swifts focus to the constitutional amendments in fYROM

Zoran Zaevs statements on the Macedonian language brought the strong retort of Alexis Tispras coalition partner and current Defence Minister and leader of Independent Greeks P

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT balkaneu.com

GREEK MPs Pass Thematic/Special Interest Tourism Bill by Majority Vote

GREEK MPs passed a bill covering thematic and special interest tourism, the upgrade of tourism training and the strengthening of entrepreneurship in ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT news.gtp.gr

Harris Teeter e-Vic deals: Wilton Sprinkles (FREE!), lunch meat, GREEK yogurt, cream cheese, sour ...

The Harris Teeter e-Vic offers in my e-mail this week include very good deals on Wilton Sprinkles (FREE!), lunch meat, GREEK yogurt, cream cheese, ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.wral.com

Name Dispute: Flaws in Prespes Agreement fuel new GREEK firestorm

To a GREEK listener, this implies that Skopje is asserting that the Prespes Agreement extends it new authority to protect its “Macedonian” minority in ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.neweurope.eu

GREEK resort in Zagori region named best eco-lodge in the world

A GREEK resort was named the World's Leading Eco-Lodge at the World Travel Awards Grand Final in Lisbon last week. Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

GREEK PM talks turkey with Russian media ahead of Putin meeting

The GREEK PM who is in Russia to strengthen bilateral ties said the Greece and EU countries must cooperate with Russia for the transportation of ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greekcitytimes.com

“SOS: GREEK population is decreasing and ageing”

The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) published its bulletin on Thursday with the alarming title: “SOS: GREEK population is decreasing and ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greekcitytimes.com

Greece wants extension of TurkStream over GREEK territory

GREEK Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his country was in talks with the European Union regarding the extension of the TurkStream natural gas ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT ahvalnews.com

The GREEK Players Union supports Giannis against the vice-president of GREEK opposition

Adonis Georgiadis, a controversial figure of GREEK politics, who is also the vice-president of “New Democracy”, the main opposition party in Greece, ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.eurohoops.net

60-Year-Old GREEK Orthodox Church Could Be Sold To Pay Off $8 Million Debt

Members of Holy Trinity GREEK Orthodox Church are praying for a miracle to prevent the church from closing. The church is about $8 million in debt, ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT chicago.cbslocal.com

WATCH Putin Holds Joint Presser With GREEK PM Alexis Tsipras

GREEK Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, 7 December. As a result of the ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT sputniknews.com

'GoFundMe' Navy? GREECE Wants Citizens to Crowdfund New Warships

GREECE has been battling a debt crisis for years, implementing harsh austerity measures, which fuelled public protests against the government's ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT sputniknews.com

GREECE Sea Arrivals Dashboard (November 2018)

GREECE Sea Arrivals Dashboard (November 2018). Infographic ... So far in 2018, a total of 29,567 refugees and migrants arrived in GREECE by sea.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT reliefweb.int

Interview of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexis Tsipras to the ITAR TASS News Agency with journalist Mikhail Gusman

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I am happy to meet with you again! It is now 10:00 o’clock in the evening, and you are still working. I understand that this is a difficult day, and we are meeting a few hours before your visit to Moscow. This is not the first time you will visit our country. They are waiting for you in Russia, and you have talks ahead of you with Russian President Vladimir Putin. What do you expect out of this visit, and how exactly is your personal dialogue with the Russian President shaped. AL. TSIPRAS First of all, thank you for the effort you made to travel to Greece. This is the second time I have the honour of granting you an in interview. And it is a great pleasure for me to be able to communicate, through your station, with the friendly Russian people. This is my third visit to Russia in my capacity as Prime Minister. My first visit to Moscow took place approximately a few months following my election in 2015. The second took place to St. Petersburg in 2015, at the St. Petersburg Forum. It was a difficult time then for Greece. We took over the country’s government at a very critical period, through difficult negotiations and faced with bankruptcy. We succeeded, though in overcoming this crisis, I believe. Our choice of strategy, from the beginning, when I took over my duties, was to deepen Greek-Russian relations, to thaw them I would say, because a long period existed where, despite the lasting friendship between our peoples and the long-standing diplomatic relations - we are now celebrating 190 successive years of diplomatic ties - these ties were, nonetheless, not always so constructive. So I visited Russia twice,; President Putin came to Greece in 2016. We had the Greece - Russia Year. Consequently, I hope, as a result of this visit, for this joint effort to continue. And of course, to answer your last question, all this time, despite the difficulties that our relations occasionally went through, I maintain with President Putin an honest and substantive relationship based on a sincere and honest dialogue. JOURNALIST: Αs you have just pointed out, we have a very long history of relations - 190 years. I could hardly find any domain in which our relations are not progressing very rapidly today. Both you and President Putin have made a great effort in this regard, and indeed progress exists in all fields. Despite this, in which fields do you believe that our relations are developing successfully and where is more effort required, where do prospects exist? (and I believe this is specifically what you will discuss with the Russian President over the days to come). Surely there has been substantial progress with regard to our relations in the field of culture. As I said earlier, there was the very fruitful Greece-Russia Year. There was also progress on the level of economic and commercial cooperation. There was investment from the Russian side, especially with regard to the purchase of property, in real estate. There was a very significant increase in Russian tourists who visited your country in recent years, and I trust they had a wonderful time. AL. TSIPRAS: Still, very significant possibilities exist. There are significant possibilities for investment of a strategic nature in Greece, especially now that Greece has overcome this economic turmoil of recent years and that very significant possibilities open up before Greece. There are, therefore, opportunities and possibilities for investment of a strategic nature, as I said, in infrastructure, ports, in manufacturing, in the agri-food sector. Especially, I would say, in the field of energy, as our strategic choice is for Greece to become an energy and transit hub, and I believe that all these things will be the focus of our talks with President Putin during my visit to Moscow in a few days. JOURNALIST: You recalled the cooperation between our countries in the field of energy. I know that Greece has shown interest in importing Russian natural gas through the “Turkish Stream.” What do you believe needs to be done so that the “Turkish Stream” can become the “Greek-Turkish Stream,” so that Greece is also involved in this pipeline? What are your arguments vis a vis Brussels, where I assume you must talk with your European partners? What arguments will you use vis a vis Russia in order for this project to materialise? AL. TSIPRAS: First of all, let me tell you that energy cooperation is a very important field in Greek-Russian relations. We consider Russia to be a very important partner in the energy sector, as it possesses substantial sources of energy. And, of course, it is well-known that, since 2015, since I took over the government, Greece’s stance is a stance of multidimensional and proactive foreign policy, including a multidimensional and active policy in the energy sector as well. As such, along with other European countries, we harbour the conviction that in the context of a multidimensional energy policy, differentiating energy sources and routes, Greece and other European countries should work with the Russian Federation also for the transport of Russian natural gas to Europe through the Turkish Stream; actually, we had the vision, from the beginning, that Turkish Stream must also become the European Stream, more than just the Turkish Stream. We have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the European Union. I believe we have strong arguments. We will persist, we have patience, and I believe that we could very well see positive results in the future. At the same time, of course, I must tell you that Greece has advanced, to a great degree, the so-called southern corridor and the TAP pipeline which passes from Turkey to Greece and ends up in Italy. Therefore, we feel that the possibility of one more pipeline, which would run parallel to this route, is a realistic possibility. This would also fit with the consensus in the European Union in favour of differentiation and a multidimensional strategy regarding multiple energy sources and energy routes, in order to strengthen what we call energy security of the European Union. JOURNALIST: I would like to pass now from the material sphere to the spiritual sphere, which I believe is more important than the material one. First of all, our countries may be tied by the fact that we as Russia, as well as Greece, are Orthodox countries with a very rich Christian history and a rich culture. Is it true that you really have your own relationship with the Church, as I am aware. In any case, when you were sworn in, you did not swear on the Bible, but on the Constitution. But this is a personal choice. Yet, the Church of Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church share a long historical relationship, a difficult proximity. What is your appraisal of the relationship between the two churches, the interfaith ties between Russia and Greece, what is their role in the relations between Greece and Russia? AL. TSIPRAS As you are aware, Greece is a country which has a long tradition as regards the parallel course of great and historical moments for the Greek nation with the Christian faith, and especially the Orthodox faith, since the establishment of the Greek State up to the present. Nonetheless, it is a country which permits, based on its Constitution, all its citizens to worship and believe in any God and in any faith they wish. It is a country with freedom of religion. And at the same time, a country, of course, where the dominant religion is Orthodoxy. Despite this, there are Greek citizens of different religions. As such, I would say that Greece is a religion-neutral country, with the Christian Orthodox faith being the dominant religion, of course. I was saying earlier that, precisely, the history of the Greek State, of the Greek nation, and the struggle of the Greek people for independence and liberty go hand in hand with important moments that were encouraged and inspired by religious faith. This culture and this tradition are very important for Greece and, regardless of the personal beliefs of each one of us -including the person who happens to be Prime Minister- must be seriously taken into consideration; they should be taken seriously into consideration not only as regards the course of events within society, but also as a significant factor which also affects diplomacy and foreign policy. This, I believe, is an element which, as you will have realised, has represented an important factor in the shaping of our policy as a country, and of my government recently. Nonetheless, I must say that state affairs belong to the remit of the state. In other words, the issues that pertain, to state relations are dealt with by the Government and those pertaining to the Church concern the Church. Therefore, all issues that pertain to the Church and to our churches are ecclesiastical issues that must exclusively be dealt with by the leaders of our Churches. JOURNALIST: I heard that Greece, and you personally, have taken the initiative to make 2019 a year of “Language and Literature” for our countries. From what I am aware of, this initiative was heard in Moscow and you may discuss it with President Vladimir Putin. What inspired you to envision such idea and what do you expect from this commemorative year on language and literature for our countries? AL. TSIPRAS: I believe it is a very creative idea because the profound friendship and the mutual respect which unite our people are based to a great degree on respect and appreciation for each other’s cultures. Equally very important are the affinities in religious faith that we mentioned earlier, but so are also the respect and affection we have for each other’s civilizations. It is in this way that we can, I think, create the opportunity for a substantial deepening of what we call friendship and respect between Greece and Russia. You probably know that Greeks have long nurtured a deep appreciation for Russian culture and literature, during both its pre-revolutionary and avant-garde eras, and later periods. I am certain that the Russian people appreciate deeply the ancient Greek language, civilization and literature, and that this appreciation also extends to Greek modern literature. Therefore, I believe that the initiative to offer reciprocally Russian and Greek studies in our respective universities with an emphasis on the teaching of language and the translation of great writers represents a very positive development. For it can be a means to increase contacts between each other, and above all, for the new generations to discover Dostoevsky, Plato and Aristotle. JOURNALIST: You said quite rightly, Prime Minister, that these cultural and human bonds could only influence positively Russia’s foreign policy, and Russian attitudes towards Greeks. My hope is that Greeks will have the same positive attitude towards Russia. Building on the deep-rooted relations and the rich history we share; what role does Russia play in Greece’s foreign policy? We must recall that from now on you are not just Prime Minister since you have also assumed responsibility of the portfolio of the Foreign Minister. What are the general priorities of Greece’s foreign policy and what role Russia plays in them? AL. TSIPRAS: The truth of the matter is that Greece is situated in a region of the planet that has great geostrategic importance. At the meeting point of three continents, at a crucial point on the map, one would add, and as such, it plays an extremely important role. However, in recent years... JOURNALIST: Is Greece’s geographical position at the meeting point of three continents a reason for rejoicing or grieving? Do you think it represents an advantage or disadvantage for Greece? AL. TSIPRAS: The truth is that it is both a great blessing and a big difficulty for us. And that is because our region was always a bone of contention between great and regional powers which coveted it, in order either to conquer it, in the past, or to turn it into a sphere of their own influence, in the modern world. That said, this may also be an aspect which differentiates the current situation from the one three and a half years ago, when I first visited the Kremlin. It is not just that Greece is now out of the crisis. It is that Greece has upgraded its geopolitical role in the region to that of a power capable of bringing about stability, security and cooperation. Greece is a country that, as everybody knows, is a member of the EU and NATO. It is a country which honours its commitments. However, it reserves its right to have relations based on mutual respect and cooperation with other powers, always within the framework of a multidimensional foreign policy, for the benefit of our own national interests and, as I said, also for promoting stability, growth and cooperation in the area. As you can see, we are very interested indeed, first of all, as an EU member, to look at the more comprehensive developments in the domain of security over the entire continent. I happen to be one of those leaders who during European summits has stressed on many occasions the need to see security in our region as a single framework, from which Russia cannot be absent. There can be no security architecture without the inclusion of Russia. This is my point of view and I have been voicing it for the last three and a half years since I started participating in European fora as prime minister. At the same time, we have seen that what we call regional security has been deteriorating lately. There are risks, which become more and more threatening. These are dangers which need to be overcome only through dialogue and realism. Russia is a very important country, which has recently upgraded its role in the Mediterranean, from Libya, Syria, the Middle East to Afghanistan and therefore it is a country to be reckoned with. No one can afford not to discuss with Russia. And I firmly believe that through dialogue, debate and mutual respect we can build a unified security architecture in our region. As for Greece, it is a country which has gone through a serious crisis. Yet it has emerged stronger. It has regained a very substantive, even leading role, I would say, in the Balkans, as a country that contributes to the stability of the region. We reached a very important agreement with our northern neighbours. An agreement on the prospect of cooperation and peace in the region. We look to solve problems that have remained unresolved for years. I am not in favour of inertia, I am an advocate of a bold, proactive and peacebuilding foreign policy. Therefore, I see this agreement as a historic step, which as far as Greece is concerned, has nothing to do with our neighbours’ choice to join or not an international organization, but more with the settlement of an outstanding historical dispute regarding the official name of our neighbour, which I believe will change from now on to enable dozens of countries across the globe, including Russia, to stop calling it with its current constitutional name of Republic of Macedonia. Instead, they will add the geographical qualifier ‘Northern Macedonia’, because Macedonia is a very important element of our own ancient cultural heritage. That’s why there must be a clear and honest distinction. So, for me, this is an important step. Another important step which we hope to take soon is in the area of dialogue with Turkey, as well as in our steadfast effort to solve the Cyprus issue, on a just and viable basis. And a solution of the Cyprus issue on a just and viable basis implies acceptance of the fact that the island must be reunified, that there cannot be occupation forces there, or anachronistic arrangements of guarantees by third powers. And I think that on this issue Russia has always had a positive attitude and role. But, of course, a crucial issue for our foreign policy is also cooperation, the dialogue in the South East Mediterranean region, the securing of energy resources, and the safe transport of energy resources from the South East Mediterranean to Europe. So, these are the top priorities we are presently focused on, as far as our foreign policy is concerned, and I will be very pleased for an opportunity to discuss them with President Putin in the coming days. JOURNALIST: A few years ago, Mr Prime Minister, you said you would wear a necktie when Greece is free of debt. Given that you are still not wearing a tie, does this mean that Greece has yet to free itself from some debt? It is true that you have assumed control of the country during a difficult situation, but the situation is improving, and in this respect, of course, you have played a crucial role. First, how did you succeed up to this point? And second, what do you think needs to be done further for you to be able to wear that tie? AL. TSIPRAS: Actually, I must tell you that I did put on a tie. I wore it when we reached a very important agreement with our European partners which made it substantially easier for us to repay these debts... JOURNALIST: I’m trying to retrieve this footage for our own show... AL. TSIPRAS: I wore it, but I took it off the same day, during the same speech; I explained that, to me, a suit is a work outfit. I have managed to be perhaps the only European leader who has attended the most important meetings and the most important government headquarters, from the Kremlin to the White House, from the Vatican to Downing Street and all over the world, and in Beijing and everywhere, without wearing a tie. So, one could say this is a certain achievement... JOURNALIST: You also did not wear a tie recently in Beijing. AL. TSIPRAS: Indeed, but it was easier in Beijing. I want to say, however, that regardless of the symbolism, what is particularly important is that our success felt like we removed a noose from our neck. I’m referring to the success regarding the Greek debt. We may have not succeeded in cancelling the debt. Yet, with the extension of maturities and the grace period we have secured for our country a comfort zone for 15 years, which investors recognize and which creates a very positive climate for investment in Greece. And investment has increased significantly. We have the best record of the last decade, with the prospect of attracting even more investment in the next few years. Because for us investment means growth and growth means jobs. And, of course, I want to emphasize this, since I am addressing the Russian people, that Greece has a long and strong tradition of friendship towards Russian and the Russian people. This friendliness between the two countries does not only boost tourism but also investment since Greece has become an attractive investment destination. So we have in place both a friendly climate as well as important economic opportunities. So we ought to take this into account, because, the truth is, during the years of the crisis very few countries offered even moral support or sympathy. And we appreciate both. Today, even those who did not stand by us see Greece as an opportunity for investment. It would be a shame if this opportunity is not seized by Russian investors too. JOURNALIST: Investments are great of course but you chose, quite rightly, to stress tourism. As far as I know, more and more Russian tourists are coming to Greece. Greece is a popular country, there is history here, wonderful places. To put it simply, in Greece there are niches of paradise. Yet, I understand the government must do more in order to increase the flow of Russian tourists to Greece. Perhaps some additional arrangements so that Russians can visit Greece as tourists more easily. AL. TSIPRAS: First of all, I believe that the flow of Russian tourists to Greece has already increased. Nonetheless, possibilities exist, especially in what we call theme tourism, religious tourism, where we could try to encourage Russian citizens to visit Greece. And I believe that we are already moving in this direction, and we will move with even swifter steps in the near future. It must be understood, and this is the message that I wish to convey to the Russian citizens who are watching us, that Greece is something more than just a tourist destination. Greece is not just about the beauty of nature, which truly is something unique, as witnessed by those who have visited, especially the Greek islands. But it is also its history, its culture, its philosophy, its flavours. And I believe, precisely because this history and culture have a tradition that goes back centuries, a parallel course with that of the Russian people, it is something unique for one to visit Greece, to prefer it for example over some other country which may also be very beautiful. I am aware that the natural beauty is the same on the Turkish coast, because we are located in the same region. But what one gets by visiting Greece is something unique, unrivaled. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I would like to broach one of your hobbies, which is shared by millions of Russians, and this is football. I know that this is your favourite sport, that you yourself played football, and that you generally have the walk of a footballer. You had the idea of submitting a joint bid with Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia for the 2030 World Cup. Now we in Russia, of course, after the World Cup, closely follow who will be next, who will follow... We are keen. I understand you intend to declare the World Cup open as Prime Minister in 2030. What are your plans with regard to this bid? AL. TSIPRAS: First of all, let me congratulate Russia for successfully organising the World Cup this past summer. It truly was an extraordinary event, and also very high in quality, I would say, because I watched the majority of the matches. Russia's national football team was very exciting to watch and had a very good tournament, with your fantastic goalkeeper who also saved a penalty, but you were unlucky in the last match. Nonetheless, I would like to say that sports, and especially football, unite nations. It must unite nations. It is the sport of the poor, that's what they say. The entire planet watches football. I therefore, took the initiative and proposed to my partners... JOURNALIST: Judging from how much footballers are paid, not so poor. AL. TSIPRAS: It is the sport that poor people love, and the rich take advantage of it. But I was telling you, precisely because I believe that sports can unite, that we had an idea. I proposed it to friends, the Prime Ministers and Presidents of the three Balkan countries with which we cooperate very closely - Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania - our idea of a joint candidature. By the way, try to picture this: For very many years, we have been accustomed to the Balkans being the powder keg of our region. World War I began in the Balkans. The Balkans were a focal point during World War II. Immediately after, there was nationalism, the war in Yugoslavia, conflicts, hate. This continues even today. Now the message we send, from four Balkan countries, is that we leave behind this period of strife and we join forces for a good purpose, to be awarded a great sporting event. This message is invaluable, regardless of whether we succeed or not. If we have your support as well, we may succeed. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I know that in the past you rode a motorbike as a means of transportation, now it’s a car. Which do you hold more dear, the motorbike of your youth or the Prime Minister's car? AL. TSIPRAS: Surely motorbikes. You know, driving safely is one thing, but speeding on a motorbike gives you a great sense of freedom. It is a feeling that cannot be replaced, which I have unfortunately missed these past few years. JOURNALIST: Moving on. Prime Minister, I remember our previous meeting. Since our program is entitled “Formula of Power,” I had asked you what type of power you prefer. You had just taken over and you had responded, in all fairness, that you had not tried it out yet. Nonetheless, being familiar with your CV, I believe that you gave your first order when you served in the Navy. As far as I know, you were in the Navy, is that not so? AL. TSIPRAS: I had the chance and, at the same time, the misfortune, of becoming Prime Minister during a historic and difficult period. Perhaps the most historic and most difficult period, at the same time, of the modern post-Junta democracy of Greece. As such, I would say this taste is mixed, it's bitter-sweet. Sweet of course, because whenever you are in a position of making historic decisions and having the trust of your citizens, the love of your citizens, of your people, this is of course very important. I feel that I have experienced the most riveting moments compared to those experienced by all my predecessors, excluding perhaps the moments of the period right after the restoration of democracy. At the same time, though, bitter as well, in the sense that the difficulties were humongous, and the decisions very difficult. The implementation of those decisions was also very difficult. But today Greece has exited the MOUs, has exited the economic crisis, it looks towards the future with more optimism; we have 300,000 less unemployed. Moments were very difficult, and the effort we made to exit the crisis very difficult, with difficult decisions. Consequently, what is important, I believe, is that in the end, the balance is positive and that one has a clear conscience knowing that one made difficult decisions for the benefit of the majority of the people. I can claim, honestly, that this is how I felt, this is my experience and, therefore, I can say it was well worth the effort. JOURNALIST: You know, Prime Minister, the beautiful ancient capital of Athens, today, just days before Christmas and New Year's, is decorated with bright lights, and soon Greeks and Catholics will celebrate Christmas, and literally only a few days are left before the New Year. May I ask you, Prime Minister, to your wishes to the Russian people for the New Year, whatever you feel like wishing to them.AL. TSIPRAS: I wish for happiness, prosperity, peace and more optimism for the Russian people for 2019. For 2019 to be a year of prosperity and progress for the Russian people as well as for all peoples.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.mfa.gr

New Albanian provocation: Proto Thema journalist declared “persona non grata”!

The Greek journalist was on his way to Northern Epirus for Katsifas' memorial service

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.protothema.gr

Lost Opportunities for Greece – Cyprus

Many heads of state, prime ministers, and high-ranking representatives of various governments, attended the funeral of the 41st President of the United States George H.W. […] The post Lost Opportunities for Greece – Cyprus appeared first on The National Herald.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

“Greek” Opera Based on Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex at BAM

BROOKLYN – Mark-Anthony Turnage’s groundbreaking and profane 1988 two-act opera, Greek, is now a cult classic in the modern chamber opera repertoire. Composed and set […] The post “Greek” Opera Based on Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex at BAM appeared first on The National Herald.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

GREECE keen to keep bilateral ties on even keel, Tsipras says in Moscow

In July, Athens expelled two Russian diplomats claiming that they had sought to undermine GREECE'S name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Returns from GREECE to Turkey

Overview. The majority of those returned to Turkey are Pakistani nationals (39 percent of total). Syrians constitute 19 percent of the total number of ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT reliefweb.int

Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos’ interview for the newspaper “IZVESTIA” with journalist Ekaterina Postnikova

JOURNALIST: You are visiting Moscow in order to attend the Russian-Greek Intergovernmental Committee. The agenda mainly consisted of economic issues. What is your assessment of the results of these meetings? G. KATROUGALOS: Our discussion focused not only on the economy but also on other directions of Greek-Russian relations. As a result, we signed agreements concerning not only customs issues but also the sector of sports. We consider Russia a country to which we are linked not just by friendship, but by brotherly relations. We enjoy very close historical and cultural ties which we plan to further develop. More specifically, a considerable part involves relationships between Russian and Greek entrepreneurs - it is necessary for them to pursue joint activities. JOURNALIST: In this sense, I have to ask - what is the effect of EU sanctions, which Greece supported, on these activities and the implementation of bilateral initiatives? G. KATROUGALOS: The sanctions naturally affect our bilateral relations. In general terms, we consider the imposition of economic sanctions counter-productive for the resolution of political differences between Brussels and Moscow. We are members of the European Union and we respect all its decisions. However, we are certain that political dialogue under the rules of international law is the most effective approach to resolving disagreements. JOURNALIST: At this stage, is the EU in general and Greece in particular willing to initiate such a dialogue? G. KATROUGALOS: The European Union is heterogeneous. We are living in a politically turbulent time, when various types of occurrences are taking place throughout the European continent. More specifically, there is increased tension in the Sea of Azov which must be analysed calmly and, as I previously mentioned, resolved in compliance with the rules of international law. That is what we’re talking about in the European Union: one of our main goals is the reintegration of Russia in the European security system through political dialogue. JOURNALIST: This year, Greek-Russian relations were overshadowed by the expulsion of Russian diplomats and the commensurate response by Moscow. In September, Alexis Tsipras stated that Greece and Russia are working towards restoring relations following the crisis. How is this work progressing, and what is your assessment of Greek-Russian relations in 2018? G. KATROUGALOS: We consider the incident that occurred this summer as an isolated incident that is unrelated to the overall development of relations. We respect the sovereignty of other countries and expect our partners to treat Greece in the same manner. That was the meaning of our message. With Russia having taken this into consideration, we can return to our general interaction and consider how to improve our great relationship. JOURNALIST: On 7 December, Alexis Tsipras and Vladimir Putin are to meet in Moscow. What do you expect from this meeting? G. KATROUGALOS: This visit is an expression of the political will of Athens to continue the dialogue with Moscow and maintain its good level. The starting point is a discussion of economic, more technical issues that may take on a political dimension tomorrow. At this level, leaders touch upon a broad range of topics. This does not just concern bilateral relations, but has an international political dimension. JOURNALIST: Are bilateral events expected to take place next year? G. KATROUGALOS: Of course. During the current meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee, we agreed that the next such event will take place in April 2019 in the city of Thessaloniki. JOURNALIST: Russia covers a considerable part of natural gas needs in Greece. Athens insists on joining the ‘TurkStream’ project. How will Greece benefit from this project, given that the country is such an active proponent on the margins of the European Union? How does Brussels react to Greece’s position? G. KATROUGALOS: Indeed, Russia covers 43% of our country's natural gas needs. At present, Greece is in a process of recovery following a severe economic crisis - we have achieved a growth rate of approximately 2%. One of the comparative advantages of our new economic model is the transformation of Greece into an energy hub. As such, both ‘TurkStream’ and other energy projects in the Caspian Sea and the Middle East are important to us. Naturally, there are those in Brussels who opposed the Russian plan. Our view is that the standards applicable to Nord Stream must now also apply to ‘TurkStream’. We are in active discussions with Brussels on the matter. However, to be fair, I must say that we are not the only ones engaged in such discussions: Germany is also in active discussions with the European Commission. JOURNALIST: In 2014, under pressure from the European Commission, Bulgaria abandoned ‘South Stream’ and the implementation of the planned project was postponed. Would a similar scenario concerning the construction of ‘TurkStream’ be likely at present? G. KATROUGALOS: Our argument in favour of the project is that there is no difference between ‘Nord’, ‘Turk’ and ‘South’ Streams. The uniform law of the European Union should apply equally for all parties. JOURNALIST: In 2017, at the request of the United States, Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik was arrested in Greece. He stands accused of laundering billions of dollars through bitcoins. Apart from Russia, his extradition was requested by both United States and France. The courts issued a ruling ordering his extradition to Russia, yet Alexander Vinnik remains imprisoned in Greece. What is hindering his extradition to his homeland? G. KATROUGALOS: Firstly, I must underline that the Court judgement ordering the extradition of Alexander Vinnik to Russia, the United States and France is not political in nature. Greece respects the principle of rule of law and intends to make a final decision on the basis of that principle. JOURNALIST: Under that principle, doesn't the extradition request of the country of which the defendant is a citizen take priority? G. KATROUGALOS: It depends on each case. At times, extradition takes place as you described; at others, requests submitted by numerous countries may be examined. For the time being, the Court decided to satisfy the requests of three countries - Russia, the USA and France. And the Greek government must respect the Court judgement. JOURNALIST: The referendum on the renaming of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) failed due to low voter turnout. The lack of a new name is mainly an obstacle to fYROM’s joining NATO. How is Athens currently interacting with Skopje on this matter? G. KATROUGALOS: I wouldn’t say the referendum failed. Indeed, fewer than 50% of citizens voted. However, 90% of voters were in favour of changing the name of fYROM, which, in terms of registered voters, is similar to the corresponding percentage of registered voters who voted in favour of Brexit. However, the main point is that the agreement between Greece and fYROM concerning a change to the name of the Republic is beneficial for both countries: it would resolve the issue pending since the 1990s in such a way as not to undermine the interests of either side. Thus, the document is a key diplomatic achievement on both sides. Under this agreement, fYROM would have to amend its Constitution - more specifically, it would have to change the name of the country and renounce any elements that could make Greece doubt its respect for borders. This procedure would likely have to be completed by late January 2019; afterwards, the agreement would have to be ratified by our Parliament. I have no doubt that this will come to pass. JOURNALIST: So, was the referendum pointless? G. KATROUGALOS: I repeat, 90% of voters were in favour of changing the country's name, and their opinion was heard. JOURNALIST: Tourism is a key revenue for Greece. What is your assessment of the percentage of Russians in the overall flow of tourists visiting your country?G. KATROUGALOS: Hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists visit Greece every year, and I believe this is a positive trend. I wish the same number of Greeks could visit Russia, a truly beautiful country. Tourism is an important part of our country's economy. Thanks to tourism, we succeeded in mitigating the effects of the economic crisis. However, it also helps people from different countries better understand one another. We have already had good indicators, but we are trying to improve them. JOURNALIST: What precisely is Greece doing to attract tourists, including Russian tourists? G. KATROUGALOS: Firstly, we facilitated the visa issuance procedure and increased the number of employees at our consulates in order to keep waiting lists short for citizens. Secondly, we are trying to make our country more attractive, so that tourists feel right at home. JOURNALIST: Visa issuance is a truly important issue when it comes to tourist exchanges. Until 2014, Russia and the EU were in discussions concerning the removal of visas between them. Do you believe these negotiations could be repeated? G. KATROUGALOS: This is not within our remit - the issue of the visa regime must be resolved in Brussels, where, at the moment, there is no desire for a liberalisation of the visa regime with Russia. It is my hope that in the future the EU and Russia will be able to initiate a dialogue on the matter - but this greatly depends on the general improvement of their relations. We are working in this direction. As I said, the European Union is our home, but we would like to become a mediator for the resolution of issues between Brussels and Moscow.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.mfa.gr

Greek defense minister makes crowd-funding plea to afford new warships

COLOGNE, Germany – Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos has asked wealthy citizens to help fund new warships for the country’s navy. “We now need the great donors and benefactors of our country,” Kam...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.defensenews.com

The United States, Russia, the EU and GREECE

GREECE'S future depends on Europe's stability and prosperity. Without a strong European Union, GREECE, with its great problems unsolved, will be like a ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Tsipras says Greece is bridge between Russia & EU

Putin states 2018 diplomatic incident is closed

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.protothema.gr

Danone North America unveils Two Good Greek lowfat yogurt

Danone North America is shaking up the yogurt aisle by introducing its latest innovation. The company is launching Two Good, a Greek lowfat yogurt by its Light & Fit brand. Each 5.3-oz. serving of the ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.drugstorenews.com

GREECE a laggard in venture capital funds too

GREECE has a very poor record as far as the amounts invested in startups by venture capital funds are concerned: Since 2013, no more than 220 ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Putin does not rule out connecting South Europe to Turkish Stream via Greece

Putin noted that energy is an important area of cooperation between the two countries

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT tass.com

Putin hopes strains in relations with Greece following expulsion of Russian diplomats over

According to the Russian leader, what matters is "stability of the economy, the reliability and sustainability of the political system and guarantees of investments in big projects"

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT tass.com

Tsipras tells Putin Greece is concerned over Turkey’s purchase of Russian weapons

Earlier, Russia concluded a contract with Turkey to provide air defense systems S-400 Triumf by the end of 2019

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT tass.com

Greek PM believes it is impossible to address global problems without Russia

Tsipras pointed out that he had expressed this idea many times at all international European forums he had attended in the capacity of Greek prime minister

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT tass.com

Danone Greek Yogurt Recall: How To Get Your Refund?

Danone North America has recalled 3,521 cases of Greek yogurt for a possible peanut allergy risk. The Light & Fit Greek Crunch Nonfat Yogurt & Toppings S’Mores Flavor may contain peanuts in the topper ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ibtimes.com

Russia and Greece want to make up after diplomatic row

MOSCOW/ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece and Russia are ready to put behind them a diplomatic row that troubled relations in July, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.msn.com

Greek Ombudsman: Poor conditions in several detention areas

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A report from Greece’s Ombudsman on detention facilities reveals cases of conditions so poor they constitute “inhuman and degrading treatment,” and continued ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT kristv.com

Russia and Greece say spat over diplomats expulsions is over

MOSCOW — The leaders of Russia and Greece say they have overcome a rift over the expulsions of diplomats that have strained their traditionally friendly ties. Greece in July expelled two Russian ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT lfpress.com

Putin says TurkStream gas pipeline could be extended via Greece

MOSCOW, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the TurkStream gas pipeline could be extended further into Europe via Greece, as he met Greek Prime Minister Alexis ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT af.reuters.com

Warriors vs Bucks NBA betting picks and predictions: Greek Freak has Dubs number

The Golden State Warriors don't seem overly concerned with their ho-hum regular-season performance – but there's a good chance they'll be up for Friday's encounter as they take on the host Milwaukee B...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.covers.com

Association of Clergymen Meets with Archbishop Ieronymos

ATHENS – A delegation of the Holy Association of Greek Clergymen met on Friday with Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos to discuss the […] The post Association of Clergymen Meets with Archbishop Ieronymos appeared first on The National Herald.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

Greek kiwi grower lands huge investment from EU

Happy days for the kiwi growers in Greece, as they’ve gotten approval for a long operational program. The EU was accepting applications from various producer organizations, and Zeus was one of the com...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.freshplaza.com

Greek PM says, after meeting Putin, diplomats expulsion row has ended

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece and Russia must look to the future following a diplomatic row in the summer that rocked the two countries’ relations, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said after meeting R...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.reuters.com

Greece's Tsipras tells Russia he's concerned by Turkish arms purchases

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday that he had expressed his concern during talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Turkey buying weapons from Russi...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.reuters.com

Relations between Russia, Greece create opportunities for providing regional stability

The Russian leader noted that the two countries' relations "remain intense historically"

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT tass.com

Greece becomes war zone as thousands of rioters hit streets on 10th anniversary of teenage ‘police brutality’ killing

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Athens in tribute to 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was gunned down by officers in 2008 Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Athens in tribute ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thesun.co.uk

Helen Greek Is Like a Miniature Honeymoon

Welcome to a weekly series at Gastronaut called Sorry I'm Late!. The premise: Our dining editor, Timothy Malcolm, is new to Houston. So much is happening here, so while he's reporting on and eating al...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.houstoniamag.com

Former Greek Minister Sentenced For Usury

Former Greek minister Yiannis Anthopoulos and three other defendants were sentenced to 15-year suspended jail sentences on Wednesday for the crime of loan-sharking. The crime took place in the ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, weaponises the dunk

He’s barely recognisable now from the teenager who crossed the ocean and came to the NBA when his name was spelled “Adetokunbo” and pronounced “Greek Freak”. If you weren’t an NBA general manager who ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT myaccount.news.com.au

Adonis Georgiadis, a controversial figure of Greek poli…

Adonis Georgiadis, a controversial figure of Greek politics, who is also the vice-president of “New Democracy”, the main opposition party in Greece, appeared on a TV show of a local station ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT hoopshype.com

PM Alexis Tsipras’s meeting with Putin underway (UPD)

The Greek PM is trying to reboot the relations with Russia

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.protothema.gr

Prespes Agreement is dead, Greek Defence Minister Kammenos says in parliament

Kammenos said the behaviour of FYROM has proved the country is not ready to join the international community

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.protothema.gr

SEV: Greece’s Population Declining, with Drop in Births Comparable to 1940s

The Greek population is decreasing for the first time since WWII, according to the weekly bulletin of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) that was […] The post SEV: Greece’s Population Declining, with Drop in Births Comparable to 1940s appeared first on The National Herald.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

In Moscow, Wary Tsipras Will Talk Energy, FYROM With Putin

Trying to cool down political heat after the ejection of two Russian diplomats that Greece said tried to scuttle a renaming deal with the Former […] The post In Moscow, Wary Tsipras Will Talk Energy, FYROM With Putin appeared first on The National Herald.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com