RSS 2.0 http://www.mfa.gr/uk Sat, 25 May 2013 06:18:30 +0200 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.mfa.gr/uk/images/M_images/mfa_rss.png http://www.mfa.gr/uk RSS 2.0 http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/pm-samaras-we-will-follow-the-example-of-ireland.html Greece is turning a new page, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday said after meeting with his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny in Maximos Mansion, government headquarters in Athens. The Irish prime minister conveyed the solidarity of the Irish people and noted that Prime Minister Samaras has changed Greece's image abroad during the past year. In statements made after the meeting, Samaras highlighted the efforts with the Irish prime minister "for a more balanced policy in the EU that combines fiscal and recovery measures. At first, we were the only ones to talk about it, but now we are not alone.... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/if-necessary-we-will-give-more-time-to-greece-dijsselbloem-said.html Eurogroup Chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem in an interview with Athens newspaper “TA NEA” left open the likelihood of a new “haircut” for the Greek debt.In an interview published in Thursday's issue ahead of his visit to Athens, he said that it has been agreed that additional measures will be taken if Greece meets all its commitments but still the financial situation and the size of the debt are not improved as satisfactory as anticipated. Dijsselbloem said that it will be examined if the programme is as effective as expected in terms of structural reforms, economic recovery and debt deescalation. He added... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/public-unites-with-amazon-to-offer-50000-books-cds-and-dvds-in-greek.html Public stores, one of the largest retailers in Greece, are entering a significant cooperation with the online store Amazon, with the objective to promote Greek culture abroad. This cooperation includes the sale of a full range of Greek books, CDs and DVDs through Amazon’s platform. The launch of the cooperation, which promotes the Greek language around the globe, was officially announced today during a Press Conference. Specifically, the 6,000,000 Greek expatriates, students and foreign residents in 37 countries throughout the world, will have access to 50,000 Greek books, CDs and DVDs, since through this partnership with Amazon, Public will... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/presveia/news/ambassador-bikas-participates-in-round-table-discussion-at-kings-college-conference.html "Bridging the Balkans: A centenary of diplomatic relations since the London Peace Conference May 1913 – May 2013" HE Ambassador Konstantinos Bikas attended the Ambassadorial Round Table at King’s College on the 17th of May 2013. Attending with Mr Bikas were the ambassadors of Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey along with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Greece, Mr Kittmer. The conference, which was organized by King’s College and sponsored by Mr A.C. Laskaridis and the Anglo-Hellenic League, was focused on the historical and political realities of the Balkans during the last hundred years. The discussions covered a... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/ambassador-bikas-participates-in-round-table-discussion-at-kings-college-conference.html "Bridging the Balkans: A centenary of diplomatic relations since the London Peace Conference May 1913 – May 2013" HE Ambassador Konstantinos Bikas attended the Ambassadorial Round Table at King’s College on the 17th of May 2013. Attending with Mr Bikas were the ambassadors of Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey along with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Greece, Mr Kittmer. The conference, which was organized by King’s College and sponsored by Mr A.C. Laskaridis and the Anglo-Hellenic League, was focused on the historical and political realities of the Balkans during the last hundred years. The discussions covered a... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/presveia/news/ambassador-bikas-attends-oxford-university-seminar.html Redefining Greece’s Foreign Policy Priorities – Oxford University Seminar. HE Mr Konstantinos Bikas, Ambassador of Greece to the United Kingdom attended the SEESOX Seminar entitled “Redefining Greece’s Foreign Policy Priorities”, on Monday the 20th of May 2013. The seminar was part of the South Eastern European Studies at Oxford Series of Seminars that are organised by the by the Centre of International Studies of Oxford University. Ambassador Bikas attended the seminar, which was chaired by Othon Anastasakis, as the keynote speaker. http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/ambassador-bikas-attends-oxford-university-seminar.html Redefining Greece’s Foreign Policy Priorities – Oxford University Seminar. HE Mr Konstantinos Bikas, Ambassador of Greece to the United Kingdom attended the SEESOX Seminar entitled “Redefining Greece’s Foreign Policy Priorities”, on Monday the 20th of May 2013. The seminar was part of the South Eastern European Studies at Oxford Series of Seminars that are organised by the by the Centre of International Studies of Oxford University. Ambassador Bikas attended the seminar, which was chaired by Othon Anastasakis, as the keynote speaker. http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/pm-addresses-eu-council-on-energy.html The European Council meeting ended in Brussels Wednesday afternoon, with its conclusions stressing the need for research and development of local land and sea energy resources in Europe. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had raised the issue earlier during his address at the summit. Samaras said that economic powers in the rest of the world are currently racing to expand their own energy sources and to reduce their energy dependence. The most notable examples, as he put it, were the big steps taken recently by the U.S. and Japan in the exploitation of hydrocarbons from schistolithic deposits... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/pm-samaras-briefs-president-on-results-of-china-azerbaijan-trip.html Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday paid a visit to President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias in order to brief him on the results of his trip to China and Azerbaijan. Receiving Samaras, Papoulias noted that the Greek premier had had "a very good trip," with Samaras replying: "There will be more." "We must create an opportunity for Greece and Greeks. In this way it is made clear that Greece is dynamically returning to areas where it is worth having contacts in order to create investment opportunities to reduce unemployment, especially among the young," the premier... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/china-greece-glamorous-romance.html Tourism cooperation was at the top of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ agenda during his five-day visit in China, aspiring to boost the number of Chinese visiting Greece. In Beijing, Samaras attended the premiere of the 3-episode documentary by Chinese channel CCTV Glamorous Greece and expressed hope that the documentary would enhance understanding and communication between the two peoples. The CCTV documentary, filmed exclusively in Greece in collaboration with Greece's Public Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), is a tribute to ancient as well as modern Greek civilization. According to its director Xu Xiaohui , it aspires to acquaint the Chinese... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/lefkada-island-features-in-austrias-kronen-zeitung-daily.html A feature in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung highlights the beaches of the Ionian island of Lefkada, which are considered among the most beautiful in Europe. In "Lefkada, a visit to Greece's pearl", the top-selling daily noted that the island has no massive tourism on the island and the locals are very hospitable and welcoming. The article also noted that in 2012 all tourist accomodations on Lefkada were renovated, without changing the island's traditional architecture. http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/greece-in-final-sprint-to-make-tap-first-choice-for-shah-deniz-natgas.html  Greece is now in the "final sprint" of the race to ensure that the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is the one selected by Azerbaijan in June as its first choice for transporting natural gas to Europe, the foreign ministry's general secretary for international economic relations Panagiotis Mihalos said to the ANA-MPA on Monday. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' working visit to Baku, during which he underlined the Greek government's determination to support the project, took place in the framework of this effort, he added. Referring to premier's trip to Azerbaijan on Sunday, the head of the TAP consortium in Greece Rikard Scoufias stressed... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/cove-after-cove-and-hidden-treasures-in-halkidiki.html The coast around Halkidiki is close to 500 kilometres in length. It is home to countless superb beaches, almost all of them blue flag winners. The area also has other hidden gems for you to discover. • Cosmopolitan Kassándra According to mythology, Kassándra, the first peninsula of Halkidiki, was the site of the mythical Clash of the Titans. Today, Kassándrais one of Greece’s most modern tourist resorts. You can find some of the largest hotel complexes in the country here, with amenities of the highest quality, such as golf courses, marinas and spas. You can also... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/stephen-fry-in-greece.html “I would prompt my compatriots to visit Greece” It was on the last week of April that Stephen Fry visited our country. Apart from just being here and constantly tweeting about that on his densely populated twitter account (over 5.730.000 followers already!) the famous Brit did us an extra honour: he gave an exclusive interview to Visit Greece about his impressions of his visit. “It was much more “Greece as normal” than I expected. I know things have been difficult, that unemployment has been running high (which is one of the many reasons I wanted to come... http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/pm-greece-can-be-chinas-gateway-to-europe.html Greece, given its geographic location, can be China’s gateway to Europe and Europe’s to China, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told an event on Monday evening at Athens’ Intercontinental hotel, hosted by the Union of Greek Ship Owners and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, on the occasion of the European Maritime Day and Hellenic Maritime Day. Samaras said Greece could play this role as it has a pioneer commercial fleet worldwide. He reiterated that there should be interest in investing in this sector and referred to the successful investment model of China’s Cosco in the port of Piraeus....