Παρασκευή 15 Απριλίου 2011

New Investment Law Launched

New Investment Law Launched

Link to GREEK NEWS AGENDA

New Investment Law Launched

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 02:50 AM PDT


A new investment law was presented by Regional Development and Competitiveness Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis on April 13. At the presentation, Chrissohoidis invited prospective investors to submit their plans by May 31 and announced that the selection and approval procedures would be completed within six months.

The minister also announced the launch of a new National Fund for Business and Development (Etean) which is expected to contribute to supporting enterprises, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), export-oriented and innovative companies.

Regional Development and Competitiveness Ministry: Press Conference on the new Investment Law and the ETEAN Fund (In Greek)

Strauss- Kahn: "Greece will make it"

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 02:50 AM PDT


Briefing the press yesterday, ahead of an IMF-World Bank spring meeting in Washington, IMF Managing Director Strauss-Kahn stressed that "Greece can make it" provided the government carries on with the necessary reform programme and that Europe comes up with a more integrated plan. "As I have repeatedly said, I understand how painful it is for the Greek people, but I think Greece will make it. But to do this there is a programme to be implemented," he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at a Brookings Institution seminar, also in Washington, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn said that "we do not see debt restructuring as an option. Instead we are engaged in a revised and updated debt sustainability analysis, which we will do with the IMF and present in due course."

Stolen Icons Return Home

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 02:50 AM PDT


The British Police handed over to the Greek Embassy in London six icons which had been stolen from Greek churches in the past 6 years.

Yesterday, a ceremony for the return of the 6 icons took place at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Yeroulanos who attended the event said that the return was a great success and the result of cooperation between prosecuting authorities and the Culture ministry with the Greek embassy in London.

The British and Greek police investigated the case and, together with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Ioannina, traced the icons at London's Temple Gallery.

The retrieved icons included: Candlemas (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple), St. George, Sts. Peter & Paul, Virgin Mary, Genesis and Epiphany.

The works had been stolen from churches in the broader area of Ioannina and Mt. Pelio. According to the Embassy of Greece in London, the Greek and British authorities have successfully cooperated in the past in recovering stolen icons traced in the British antiquities market through illicit trafficking.

Discover Zagori - The Land Behind the Mountain

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 02:50 AM PDT


At the heart of Epirus prefecture, perched like eagles' nests on the slopes and ridges of Tymfi and Mitsikeli mountains, the Greek mainland reveals the wild beauty of the 46 stone-built villages of Zagori, also collectively known as 'Zagorohoria.' [see Photo Gallery]

The name Zagori means "the land behind the mountain" and stems from the Slavic word "Za-gori." Geographically, the area is divided into three parts: eastern, central and western.

Throughout the settled area of Zagori the wealth of past times is still reflected in the stone mansions, the school buildings and the imposing churches, most of which were built with donations by affluent expatriate Zagorians.

Each one of the 46 villages may offer different things but all of them share an incomparable beauty that captivates even the most demanding visitor. Built amphitheatrically on the mountain slope and sheltered from the wind, the village of Monodendri welcomes the visitors in its central square where an enormous old plane tree (platanus) stands.

From there, after a few minutes walk on a stone-cobbled path, the Aghia Paraskevi Monastery pops up nestled on a rock overlooking the Vikos Gorge-said to be the deepest in the world.

Also known as the balcony over the gorge, this Monastery has the oldest preserved church in Zagori, built in 1412.

In Monodendri, there is also the Rizareios Exhibition Centre, featuring mostly photographic exhibitions and the Rizareios Craft School.

At the foot of Timfi Mountain lies one of Greece's most delightful and unblemished villages, Papigo, which consists of two districts: Megalo (large) and Mikro (small) Papigo. In Mikro Papigo, WWF Hellas has established an Information Centre for nature and culture in Zagori, housed at the old primary school of the village.

Imposing rocks hang over the village, known as the "towers of Papigo" and on a mountain terrace lies Drakolimni, one of the three alpine lakes in the Pindus mountain range, which according to local legends used to be inhabited by dragons.

The small village of Vikos is also a must-see, as it offers a breathtaking view to the Vikos Gorge and gives access to the Voidomatis River springs - the cleanest and coldest river in Europe.

Take a rest at the only café in the village, taste the traditional Zagorian pies, chat with the very friendly locals or buy some Zagori herb plants, the same that the famous Vikos Doctors were collecting to prepare remedies.

No words can describe Zagorochoria. It is a natural and cultural wonder to be discovered and an experience that undoubtedly will not let you down.

Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:

Δημοσίευση σχολίου