With Chinese Gone, Samaras Presses Reforms

Fresh off a triumphant visit from Chinese peer Li Keqiang, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras now is going to turn his attention to domestic matters, including pushing through reforms he pledged to international lenders. Li and Samaras talked about developing closer relations between their countries and business was taken of too, with some 19 deals worth 6.5 billion euros ($8.83 billion) with a Chinese delegation the three-day stay that saw advances in trade and investments. The Chinese said they are interested in developing a new international airport near the Cretan port of Iraklio and are eying other state assets on the block as part of a long-delayed privatization drive insisted upon by the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) that put up 240 billion euros ($327 billion) in two bailouts. Samaras, who accompanied Li on a tour of the Crete’s archaeological sites, told reporters that the Chinese premier’s visit to the island would be a big boost. “The benefits for Crete will be very big and you will see them in the near future,” he said, anticipating more Chinese tourists, who already favor Crete. Samaras said growing cooperation with China in a number of sectors “will contribute to growth in Greece,” he said is needed to offset four years of harsh austerity measures that caused record unemployment and deep poverty. He’s hoping the Chinese will buy up state assets that have drawn little attention, even at rock bottom prices, which made the government far fall short of the privatization targets set by the Troika. Beyond that, Samaras – with the major opposition Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) nipping at his heels all the while, still has to sell more reforms to keep what’s left of the bailout money and hope the Troika will agree to debt restructuring. First up is finishing so-called “prior actions” agreed with the Troika but never completed including the abolition of third-party levies, a reduction in pharmacies’ profit margins and the introduction of a new ethics code for ministers and MPs. All that must be enforced by the end of next month if the country is to secure two installments of rescue loans worth 2 billion euros, about $2.71 billion. The IMF said it’s anxious and noted in its latest report the country was suffering “adjustment fatigue” after trying to do so much so fast, and with social unrest – waning as it has been – still a concern for the coalition of Samaras’ New Democracy Conservatives and his partner the PASOK Socialists, who are starting to resist worker layoffs. Samaras is also working with a revamped Cabinet he put in place quickly after New Democracy finished second in the European Parliament elections, but some of his ministers – particularly those from PASOK but also in his own party – are challenging some of the reforms. New Education Minister Andreas Loverdos has called for the rehiring of a larger number of public sector workers who have been put in a so-called mobility scheme. Interior Minister Argyris Dinopoulos has expressed understanding for local authority employees protesting the scheme and Health Minister Makis Voridis has called for a minimum guaranteed profit for pharmacists. Meanwhile Alternate Agriculture Minister Paris Koukoulopoulos has suggested that the part-privatization of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) can be renegotiated.

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The Wise Side of Greece; Aristotle’s Trail

Aristotle is one of the most famous Greek philosophers and scientists. He was born in Northern Greece in a town called Stagira, in 384 BC. When he was young he traveled to Athens where he studied at Plato’s Academy, with the great philosopher becoming his mentor. He stayed with him until his death and then returned to Northern Greece, specifically Macedonia, where he became the teacher of Alexander the Great, at the request of his father, Philip, King of Macedonia. In Macedonia, Aristotle founded the Peripatetic School (Wandering School), it was an informal institution the  members of which tried to answer difficult scientific and mostly philosophical questions. The name originally derives from the Greek word Peripatos which was a meeting place in the Lyceum of Athens. However, after Aristotle’s death, a legend traveled around Greece that he used to walk while teaching so the name changed to Peripatetis (peripatitikos in Greek) which means wandering. Now, almost 2,400 years later, the town of Stagira, the philosopher’s birthplace, has opened Aristotle’s Trail to the public. Visitors have the opportunity to wander around the different paths of Halkidiki, where allegedly Aristotle used to teach his students about philosophy. The main path is 12 miles long. It starts from the ruins of the old town of Stagira and reaches the modern village of the same name. It runs through an amazing part of Halkidiki. The view is always breathtaking and the trail is lined with various plants and flowers to pick and admire. There are various paths for visitors to choose from, depending on difficulty and length, while there are paths for mountain biking also. In addition to the trail, the local community recently opened an Aristotle theme park.

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China in His Pocket, Samaras Now Turns to More Troika Reforms

ATHENS - Flush with 19 deals worth 6.5 billion euros ($8.83) from a visiting Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Keqiang, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras now is going to turn his attention to domestic matters, including pushing through reforms he pledged to international lenders.

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Lawsuit: Nothing Greek about Chobani Greek Yogurt

Two New York men are suing yogurt brand Chobani for not being Greek enough and selling junk food marketed as healthy.

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Toures to Stay at World Cup After Death of Brother

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Ivory Coast players Yaya and Kolo Toure will stay at the World Cup despite the death of their younger brother. Team spokesman Eric Kakou said they were given the option of leaving the tournament after Ibrahim Toure died Thursday in England, aged 28. Kakou said Saturday that Yaya and Kolo chose to stay with the team for its entire World Cup campaign. The Ivorians play Greece in their final Group C game Tuesday and will qualify for the last 16 for the first time with a win. The Ivory Coast Football Federation said Ibrahim Toure died on the same day his older brothers were involved in the 2-1 loss to Colombia. The federation didn’t give a cause of death but British media reported he had been receiving treatment for cancer. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Mayor, Diplomats Join Gay Pride March

Police say more than 6,000 people have marched through the streets of Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, in its third gay pride parade.

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Cabinet Shake-up Rattles Bloggers

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' partially new Cabinet, shaken up after his New Democracy lost European Parliament elections, is drawing blogger talk.

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