Griechenland News

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki held Friday a working breakfast with ambassadors of EU member-states, also attended by Christian Danielsson, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission, MIA reports from Brussels. FM Poposki stressed that a repeat of the Greek blockade in the European Council would not improve the state of Union enlargement, whereas European Commission officials stressed that Greece is expected to help the advancement of Macedonia’s Euro-integration process. “We presented our arguments, saying the Commission has recommended the launch of accession talks for the sixth year running, while the Council has delayed the decision under the influence of a bilateral issue of a member-state. The repeat of this recipe does not lead to progress and start of the negotiations, whereas a decision for the launch of such talks is a necessity”, Poposki told MIA after the meeting.

Erst die Medien, dann Flug-, Bahn- und Fährverkehr: In Griechenland wird gegen die Sparpolitik der Regierung gestreikt. Bis Donnerstag soll der Streik der Gewerkschaften andauern. Mit einem umfassenden Streik gegen die Sparpolitik der Regierung wollen die griechischen Gewerkschaften den Flug-, Bahn- und Fährverkehr an diesem Donnerstag lahmlegen. Die Journalisten traten bereits am Mittwoch aus Protest gegen Gehaltskürzungen und den Abbau des Sozialsystems in einen eintägigen Streik. Die Gewerkschaft der Fluglotsen teilte am Mittwoch mit, der griechische Luftraum werde am Donnerstag ganztägig geschlossen bleiben (von 23.00 Uhr MEZ am Mittwoch bis 23.00 Uhr MEZ am Donnerstag). Sämtliche Flüge fielen deshalb am Donnerstag aus. Auch einige Flüge am Mittwochabend müssten verschoben werden, teilten Fluggesellschaften in Athen mit. Passagiere von und nach Griechenland wurden aufgerufen, umgehend ihre Fluggesellschaft zu kontaktieren. Die beiden größten Gewerkschaften des privaten

Greek TV personality turned member of European Parliament Eva Kaili launched a verbal tirade against United States Congress representatives, for their use of the constitutional name Republic of Macedonia during a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in The Hague. MIA correspondent in Athens reports that Kaili has taken to the Greek media to explain how she put the Americans in their place, after they used Macedonia to refer to the Republic of Macedonia. “I myself come from Macedonia and I don't think I have to explain which one,” Kaili said after Congressman Mike Turner spoke about the need to continue NATO and European Union enlargement in the Balkans, including for Macedonia, which is blocked by Greece over the name issue Athens imposed in the 1990s. Kaili, who is born in Thessaloniki to Greek parents who fled Turkey in the population transfer between the two countries, told Turner that Greece will reserve its right to block Macedonian entry into NATO and the

Greek authorities got scared of the progress made in the cases of return of properties to Macedonians, which were taken away from them after the 1949 Civil War, says Trendafilka Sandeva for daily Dnevnik, the lawyer hired to handle the real estate cases of the exiled Macedonians from Greece. "The Greek authorities dislike the seriousness of my work approach and were filled with disbelief that we would get this far," the lawyer adds, who was denied access to Greece.  The explanation given by Greek customs services was the same that was provided to all the journalists and other Macedonians who are denied access into Greece - that the country's national register says that "they are a danger for the public order and safety, the public health and the international relations". "I was never part of the Macedonian associations in Greece, nor have I participated in their events in the region of Florina and its surroundings. But my engagement represe

Ein Professor in Thessaloniki, der 2010 wegen Bestechlichkeit angezeigt und vom Dienst suspendiert worden war, wurde am Montag endgültig auf die Straße gesetzt. Trotz einer rechtskräftigen Verurteilung zu 18 Monaten Haft will er vor Gericht auf Wiedereinstellung klagen. Er argumentiert dabei nicht etwa, dass er zu Unrecht seinen Hut nehmen musste, sondern, dass er finanziell nicht über die Runden komme, seit er auf sein Professorengehalt verzichten muss. Apart war auch die Methode, mit der er von seinen Studenten an der Universität von Nordgriechenland Schmiergelder für bessere Noten verlangte. Der Professor hatte nach Presseberichten eine richtiggehende Preisliste für seine Leistungen, wonach die Studenten je nach gewünschter Note zwischen 250 und 400 Euro zahlen mussten. Mit sich handeln ließ der Professor, den seine Kollegen angeblich den „Krämer“ nannten, nicht. Er flog 2010 auf, als eine Studentin ihn anschwärzte – allerdings nachdem sie mit der gekauften Note ihren Abschlu

The Remembrance Day ceremony and parade this year was as usual accompanied by a wreath laying for Australia's fallen soldiers, and was attended by many top dignitaries, international diplomats, and students, Neokosmos reports. But unfortunately, during the wreath laying, the announced made a mistake that arose an issue of protocol. The Republic of Macedonia whose temporary reference is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was announced as "Macedonia" over the loudspeaker to lay a wreath. The incident gravely disappointed the Greek community in Australia, as the name row has presented an ongoing bilateral and international relations issue. Fyr Macedonia is still the official name used by both the UN and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Neokosmos reads. Given there has been no resolution to the dispute, and with lack of geographical and historical qualifiers, Macedonia continues to appropriate ancient [sic] Greek Macedonian historical

Ein Mann hat in einer griechischen Bar mit einem Schnellfeuergewehr um sich geschossen, 15 Menschen verletzt und dabei folgende Worte geschrien. "Ihr werdet alle sterben", hat der Mann laut Augenzeugen in der griechischen Bar geschrien und dann um sich geschossen. Bei der Schießerei in einer Bar der griechischen Hafenstadt Piräus nahe Athen sind am Samstag 15 Menschen verletzt worden. Mann schießt in griechischer Bar um sich Wie Augenzeugen gegenüber der Polizei berichten, sei ein etwa 30 Jahre alter Mann am frühen Morgen mit einer Frau in die Bar im Ausgehviertel Microlimano gekommen. Er sei dann später hinausgegangen, kurz darauf aber mit einer Kalaschnikow zurückgekehrt. Dann schoss er mit dem Schnellfeuergewehr um sich. Anschließend sei er in einem Taxi geflohen. 15 Verletzte bei Schießerei Die Polizei erstellte ein Phantombild und nahm Ermittlungen auf. Ihren Angaben zufolge mussten drei der 15 Verletzten zur Behandlung im Krankenhaus bleiben. Ersten

The "Neos Kosmos" reports that Australian memorial center apologized that at the celebration of the "Day of fallen soldiers," before many dignitaries and diplomats repeatedly used the word Macedonia. . Macedonian community in Australia denied that on the request of the Greek Diaspora the authorities in Canberra had to apologize that instead of the interim reference, at the marking of the fallen soldiers, they used the constitutional name of Macedonia. Expats react that Greek media grossly manipulated to show that Australia is with Greece on the Macedonian question. -The news in the Greek newspaper is not true. If there was a letter the newspaper would have published it. Greeks do the same thing every year, but without a positive result for them. It's about celebrating the Day of the fallen soldiers of Australia - Ico Najdoski said, Macedonian activist in Australia. According to the newspaper, the Australian authorities were forced to apologi

Das hochverschuldete Griechenland muss dringend sein Problem mit der Müllentsorgung lösen. Am 2. Dezember will der Europäische Gerichtshof eine Strafe in Höhe von 22 Millionen Euro über Griechenland verhängen. Grund dafür ist, dass etwa 50 illegale Mülldeponien im Lande noch immer in Betrieb sind. Zusätzlich muss das Land wegen dieser Müllhalden 54.450 Euro pro Tag zahlen. Nun versucht das Umweltministerium, den Schaden so gut es geht zu begrenzen. Aus diesem Grund sollen ab sofort alle Deponien in Zentralgriechenland sowie in Nordgriechenland und Thrakien schließen.  Mit dem größten Problem ist jedoch die Peloponnes konfrontiert. Hier existieren mindestens 18 illegale Müllhalden. Den Gemeinden stehen keine Alternativen zu Verfügung, wo sie den Müll anderweitig entsorgen könnten. Auch auf den kleineren Inseln bekommt das Thema der Müllentsorgung neue Dimensionen. Die dortigen Gemeinden müssen allem Anschein nach ihren Abfall auf in der Nähe liegende Großinseln transportieren u

Theater network NETA neither have asked nor intends to seek to become a member of the Union of European Theatres. Hence, Greece could not have vetoed the admission because such thing does not exist, argues Blagoj Stefanovski, founder of the New European Theatre Association (NETA), reads daily Dnevnik. He is amazed that yesterday the Greek media published information that theater network NETA, headquartered in Bitola, was vetoed its accession to the Union of European Theatres at the General Assembly which was held from November 13 to November 16 in Tel Aviv, Israel. “Our network includes 20 members - theaters and we have no need for networking in larger Union because it would be only additional cost for fees. I really do not understand where that information comes from. We have worked with Greek theaters on several occasions and never had problems. Last year the Macedonian language echoed in the center of Thessaloniki, when we performed the play "The Chairs", and al

Greece's stance is unacceptable, unreasonable and in breach of the basic principle of honoring international law, said Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki at the round table which took place in Skopje on Tuesday, focusing on Macedonia's prospects for NATO membership in the wake of the latest summit of the Alliance. "Many decision-makers in the NATO and EU member states cannot remain indifferent to this kind of arguments," he said in reference to Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos' latest statement according to which Greece has no intention of changing anything in its position and will carry on demanding that Macedonia's new name be both for external and internal use. On the one hand, he said, this is demonstration of power by a country that is inside the club and on the other hand this is a serious handicap for the leadership of a country that considers itself the cradle of democracy.

Upper Macedonia is an acceptable solution to the naming dispute: Greek analystPicture: Focus Information AgencySkopje. The Director-General of Greek think-tank ELIAMEP Thanos Dokos announced that the proposed new name “Upper Macedonia” was a good basis for future cooperation in the Greek-Macedonia naming dispute, website NOVA reports. Mr Dokos describes the solution as acceptable for the Greek side. However, he still does not think that consensus on the issue would be reached.  Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, on the other hand, rejected recent media claims that such a proposal had been put forth. According to Mr Poposki, the party in power, VMRO – DPMNE, would never agree to change the constitutional name of the country or to any proposal that endangers the Macedonian people, their identity, language, or culture.

Die Europäische Union ist keine homogene Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft. So viel war uns schon länger klar. Wie ungleich aber der Wohlstand in der EU wirklich verteilt ist, zeigt diese Statistik. Einmal im Jahr erhebt das britische Legatum Institute einen Wohlstandsindex. Dafür werden Staaten in acht verschiedenen Kriterien gemessen. Dazu gehört die Wirtschaftskraft eines Landes, aber ebenso seine Sozialsysteme - Gesundheit und Bildung - die Regierungsverwaltung, die Voraussetzungen für Unternehmer, die persönliche Freiheit, die Sicherheit und die Kultur eines Landes. Weltweit führt Norwegen dieses Ranking seit fünf Jahren an, Deutschland liegt auf Platz 14. Interessant ist es aber, sich einmal die ganze Europäische Union zu betrachten. Dass die keine homogene Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft ist, wussten wir auch schon vorher. Doch wie eklatant die Unterschiede zwischen den wohlhabenden und den armen Ländern sind, das wird mit obiger Karte gut deutlich. ....

Die Flüchtlinge des griechischen Sammellagers Amygdaleza sind nach dem Tod eines Leidensgenossen in Hungerstreik getreten. Nach Informationen der antirassistischen griechischen Organisation KEERFA vom Dienstag verstarb Mohamed Asfak bereits am 6. November, kurz nachdem er aus dem Lager ins Krankenhaus gebracht worden war. KEERFA zufolge litt der 26jährige Pakistaner seit Monaten an den Folgen schwerer körperlicher Misshandlungen: Er war bei einem Aufstand im Sammellager von Korinth von der eingesetzten Polizei brutal zusammengeschlagen worden. Nach seiner Verlegung ins Lager von Amygdaleza, einen Vorort von Athen, habe Asfak über schwere Atembeschwerden geklagt und verlangt, in ein Krankenhaus gebracht zu werden. Die Lagerverwaltung habe jedoch erst reagiert, als der Kranke bereits »im letzten Stadium« lag, so die Organisation. Mohamed Asfak ist nicht der erste Flüchtling, der sein Leben wegen fehlender medizinischer Hilfe in griechischen Sammellagern verlor. Erst im vergangen

After perfecting their economic model, Greece has revolutioned the way a country takes care of its handicapped children. A BBC reporter was stunned during a visit to one of Greece's Government run "institution" where disabled children are locked up in cages - staff say they want to improve conditions but money is short!   Nine-year-old girl stands and rocks backwards and forwards, staring through the bars of a wooden cage. When the door is unlocked she jumps down on to the stone floor and wraps her arms tightly around the nurse. But a few minutes later she allows herself to be locked back in again without a fuss. As in medieval time, she is used to her cage. It's been her home since she was two years old. This girl, who has been diagnosed with autism, lives in a state-run institution for disabled children in Lechaina, a small town in the south of Greece, along with more than 60 others, majority of whom are locked in cells or cages.

The Greeks have been accused of a cultural theft, from a different nation this time, after stealing an image of one of Australia's most famous natural landmarks for a promotional video, reads "The Telegraph". The video, produced by the Greek national tourism board, featured images of the Twelve Apostles, a spectacular cluster of rock stacks which lie off the coast of Victoria in southern Australia. The footage of the Twelve Apostles, which are frequently used in Australian tourism campaigns, was taken by an Australian photographer, Alex Cherney. He said he found it “preposterous” that a 15-second clip of his time-lapse footage was used to publicise a tourist destination in the northern hemisphere, several thousand miles away.

Greek officials prevented the New European Theater Association - NETA to become a member of the Union of Theatres of Europe (UTE), report Greek media today. From November 13 to 16, a general assembly of the UTE was held in Tel Aviv. According to Greek media, when the discussion came to proposals for new partnerships and new members, "NETA network based in Bitola, Macedonia, chaired by the former Minister of Culture Blagoj Stefanovski came into sight ". “Artistic director of the National Theatre of Northern Greece Yannis Vuros immediately reacted and noted that he is committed to openness and cooperation, adding that he could not collaborate with theater from Skopje who steals the name of Macedonia, which is not recognized by the United Nations and Greece”, read the Greek media. After Vuros intervention the proposal for cooperation with NETA was allegedly withdrawn.

Ganz schön peinlich fiel eine neue Werbekampagne der nationalen griechischen Touristikagentur aus, als Motiv bediente man sich in Australien und das Motiv der " Zwölf Apostel " wurde für die Kampagne verwendet. Das griechische Touristenministerium versuchte sich zu rechtfertigten und wies darauf hin, dass die Konstellationen über den 12 Aposteln "griechische Namen tragen würden".

Kanal 5, Macedonia: Athens unwilling to resolve the name dispute, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki saysPicture: AFPSkopje. Greek request to find a solution to general use of the name is unacceptable, unreasonable and beyond the principles of international law. That said Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, cited by Kanal 5 television. "Many people from the EU and NATO will not remain indifferent to this type of requests. I think it is not supported in many places outside of Macedonia," Poposki said. Poposki made the statement commenting on a statement of his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos who said that Greece would back a name of a geographical concept with general use.

The last round of talks in New York has once again proved that Greece does not want to settle the name issue, but rather to prolong the dispute as much as possible, said the first mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute, Robin O'Neill, for the Voice of the People program. Matthew Nimetz' efforts should be put to an end because his mediation is unsuccessful, and the name dispute should be returned before the UN General Assembly, O'Neill added. "The meeting in New York last week, showed once again that the Government of Greece does not want this issue solved, but to leave it unsolved for as long as possible. Primarily, Greece admits that the only long-term solution is Macedonia to be internationally recognized under its constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia, thus it wants to prolong that as much as possible. Secondly, each Greek government is afraid of the domestic political unpopularity if it is defeated in the name dispute for which they fought for s

Tausende standen Schlange, als Bauern auf Athener Wochenmärkten kostenlos Obst, Gemüse und Fisch verteilten. In mehreren Stadtteilen kam es unter den Hilfsbedürftigen dabei zu Tumulten und Rangeleien. Tumulte und Streit bei der Vergabe kostenloser Lebensmittel in Griechenland: Bauern und Lebensmittelhändler der Wochenmärkte haben am Mittwoch in zahlreichen Armenvierteln Athens kostenlos Obst, Gemüse und Fisch an hilfebedürftige Menschen verteilt. Tausende Menschen standen Schlange und rissen sich um die Gratis-Lebensmittel. Im einigen Stadtteilen, wie in Kolonos in Westathen, kam es dabei zu Tumulten und Rangeleien, wie das Fernsehen zeigte. Wochenmarkt-Händler hatten die Aktion organisiert, um darauf aufmerksam zu machen, dass sie selbst keine Gewinne mehr machen können. Zudem protestieren sie gegen geplante Änderungen bei der Vergabe von Lizenzen für den Verkauf von Lebensmitteln auf Wochenmärkten. Quelle/Artikel ganz lesen

Greece has shown no signs of interest regarding the fresh round of talks in New York tomorrow in the frames of the negotiation process on solving the name row. It is a usual practice in the days prior to meetings with Matthew Nimetz Greek media to speculate on possible outcomes, publishing various "exclusive" information from "reliable sources", but this time, there are no articles on the matter. The latest information on the subject were published a month ago, when Macedonian media as well reported that Skopje and Athens have not received an official new proposal on the name from UN Special Envoy Matthew Nimetz.

The headmistress of the school where I taught openly told me that my views create problems, and colleagues warned me that I better go to Macedonia or in one of the European countries, explains S.K. from Drama who is awaiting asylum for almost 4.5 months at the reception center for asylum seekers in Skopje’s village of Vizbegovo, reads daily Dnevnik. The last six years I was under pressure that was no longer possible to endure. I left Greece for good and I am decisively determined to find my joy in Macedonia. Greek torture was no longer bearable, begins his story the 46-year-old S.K., Macedonian by origin, who has been living at the reception center for asylum seekers in Skopje’s village of Vizbegovo for four and a half months. He made the decision on June 15. Then he came to the country and applied for asylum the next day, stating that "He was persecuted in Greece and suffered severe political pressure because he was Macedonian." We are not allowed to reveal th

Griechenland und das kleine Mazedonien werden ihren Namensstreit jetzt auf höchster Ebene austragen. Der Sondergesandte von UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki Moon, Matthew Nimetz, will die Vertreter beider Länder nächste Woche in New York erst einzeln und dann gemeinsam empfangen, teilten die Vereinten Nationen am Mittwoch mit. "Ziel ist es, durch unsere Vermittlung eine beiderseits akzeptable Lösung der "Namenssache" zu finden", sagte Nimetz. Griechenland stört sich seit Jahrzehnten an dem Namen "Mazedonien" der einstigen jugoslawischen Teilrepublik, weil die Region - nach Darstellung Athens - kaum etwas gemein habe mit dem antiken Mazedonien, Heimat von Alexander dem Grossen. Zudem führt Athen stets Befürchtungen um Gebietsansprüche des Nachbarn wegen der gleichnamigen Region im Norden Griechenlands an. Mit Mazedoniens Unabhängigkeit 1991 brach der Streit offen aus. Das kleine Mazedonien mit zwei Millionen Einwohnern wurde zwar rasch UN-Mitglied. Im offizie

As far as I am familiar, there is not a planned official visit of the leader of SYRIZA to Skopje, said Alexis Tsipras spokeswoman for foreign media. The Greek newspaper "Parapolitika" reported that "in order to show that national issues will be put highly on the Greek government agenda," the leader of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras is planning to visit Macedonia. According to the newspaper's sources, the organization of the visit has already started, aimed at presenting SYRIZA's stance on the name issue.