Greece @ OECD Meeting on Social Policy

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• Greece @ OECD Meeting on Social Policy
• Transport: The EU Connection
• Greece- China Affairs
• Farewell to a Kind Man

Greece @ OECD Meeting on Social Policy Posted: 04 May 2011 03:20 AM PDT Labour and Social Security Minister Louka Katseli was in Paris on May 2-3 to attend the Social Policy Ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The meeting focused on the role of Social Policy in building a fairer future, with ministers discussing the social impact of global economic crisis and comparing their approaches to recovery through adapting social policy. Prior to the ministerial meeting, a Policy Forum on Tackling Inequality took place. Addressing the event, Katseli outlined the social priorities of the Greek government which include a social security system reform, labour market flexibility, incentives for young entrepreneurs and the setting up of a Social Economy Fund. On the sidelines of the meeting, Katseli told reporters that a cooperation agreement will be signed with OECD this week aimed at "reforming our social policy to make it more effective." OECD, in cooperation with the ministries of Labour and Social Security, Health and Social Solidarity, as well as ministry of Interior, Decentralisation and e-Governance, will evaluate all social programmes currently implemented in the country - a process that will be completed by the end of 2011.

Transport: The EU Connection Posted: 04 May 2011 03:21 AM PDT A review of the trans-European transport network programme was discussed in Brussels yesterday between Greece and the European Commission. The government aims at including Greek transport network projects to trans-European Transport Networks, securing EU funding for infrastructure projects and improving the efficiency of the Greek transport system, thus highlighting Greece's geo-strategic position and its potential for developing into a cargo hub for Southeastern Europe. Greece promotes road projects connecting Greece with other Balkan countries, including a road project extending in northern Crete and the development of road networks in the Peloponnese by upgrading Patras into a central hub and exit gate to Italy and Europe. The two sides also discussed railway, ports and airports projects. Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks: Press Release (in Greek); Greek News Agenda: Int'l Motorway Project

Greece- China Affairs Posted: 04 May 2011 03:25 AM PDT 40 Years of Diplomatic Relations Greece and China celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations in an event taking place in Beijing on April 16. During the event, the president of Sun & Sea International Cultural Communication Co and director of InterChina Cultural Centre in Athens Tonia Luo presented the framework of an interchange programme for the promotion and deepening of cultural relations between Greece and China under the title Olive Branch, as well as the project of the first Sino-Greek film collaboration titled Acropolis Love Story. Tonia Luo is the grand-daughter of distinguished academic and Hellenist Luo Niansheng and daughter of the vice-dean of the Chinese Academy of Drama Luo Jinlin – an Ambassador of Hellenism for 2009. She promised to dedicate her life, just like her family has done, to the promotion of the Greek culture. Ambassador of Greece in China Theodore Georgakelos and Ambassador of China in Athens Luo Linquan also addressed the event, stressing the common values and the long history between the two peoples. Secretariat General for Communication: A publishing Sino-Greek Trip ; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Greece-China Bilateral Relations; Press and Communication Office in Beijing: grpressbeijing.com Air China to Inaugurate Beijing-Athens Route A new and highly anticipated air route linking China with Greece (via Munich) will be launched on May 11 by Air China. The new route is expected to boost tourist arrivals from the Far East, as more and more Chinese nationals express interest in travelling to Greece. The new route will be serviced by Airbus A330 planes, with two flights scheduled every week - on Wednesday and Saturday. The flight is estimated to last 13 hours and 25 minutes. Greek News Agenda (15.2.2011): Athens-Beijing: Landed

Farewell to a Kind Man Posted: 04 May 2011 03:18 AM PDT Thanassis Veggos, one of the most prolific and popular comedians of the "golden era" of Greek cinema, died yesterday at the age of 84. Unlike most movie stars of his era, Veggos did not study acting at all. In fact, his film debut was accidental. During the Greek civil war (1946-9) he was forced to do his military service on the island of Makronissos - a place of exile for thousands of soldiers and citizens with leftist tendencies. There he met director Nikos Koundouros, who, in 1953, offered him a role in his film Magic City. Veggos created a unique comic persona, which made him recognisable and lovable to wider audiences, irrespective of age or cinematic sophistication. This persona, based in no small part on his actual personality, combined something of a jester, a mime and a veritable karaghiozis. His acting was characterized by a blend of surrealism, melancholy and popular wisdom. During his long career, he made more than 120 films and participated in few TV series. Prime Minister George Papandreou described the veteran actor in affectionate terms: "He expressed, in the roles he played and in his own outlook, the very essence of human life, the daily struggle we all face, the difficulties we must tackle, which is what makes us human and what unites us, in the end." You Tube: Thanassis Veggos in action - Movie "Secret Agent Thou Vou" & "Atsidas-('witty' in english)" [VIDEO]

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