PM @ OECD Roundtable

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• PM @ OECD Roundtable
• OECD Economic Outlook 2011
• RES? Yes!
• The Culture Agenda

PM @ OECD Roundtable Posted: 26 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT Speaking at a roundtable discussion during the OECD 50th Anniversary Week yesterday in Paris, Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed that Greece is responsible for getting itself out of its crisis and speculation over default and debt restructuring are hampering its efforts. "It is a Greek responsibility to deal with our own crisis" said Papandreou, adding that Greece is a victim of speculation in markets. The premier also underlined that despite press reports, Greece had "impressive results in a year: it decreased the deficit by 5 % and the primary deficit by 7.2 %, while there are forecasts for a primary surplus in 2012, thanks to the drastic measures." "We are changing Greece, we will be on track, we will do what is necessary. Leave us in peace to be able to bring Greece out of this crisis and we will do so," Papandreou said. Meanwhile, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou - participating in a debate on Greek Economic Crisis at the Institut de Relations Internationales et Strategiques (IRIS) yesterday in Paris - said that reforms are working and the economy is adjusting, while the country isn't contemplating leaving the euro. "Europe needs to give a clear response if it wants to preserve the euro-zone," Papaconstantinou said, adding that "what we've created is imperfect, but it is much better than what went on before." YouTube: OECD Roundtable "Riding the storm-Lessons from leaders" [VIDEO]

OECD Economic Outlook 2011 Posted: 26 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released yesterday its Economic Outlook 2011, which forecasts that global recovery is firmly under way but is taking place at different speeds across countries and regions, and it is surrounded by downside risks. According to the report, Greece's economy will return to growth in 2012, emerging from a three-year recession, in a recovery that remains "fraught with risks." After contracting 2.9 % this year, the Greek economy will expand 0.6 % next year, while the deficit will decline to 7.5% of GDP this year. Kathimerini Daily: OECD sees Greek growth in 2012 but lots of risks

RES? Yes! Posted: 26 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT € 250m in RES in 2011 Investments in renewable energy sources have more than doubled in the past year and it is estimated that in 2011 the figure will reach €250 million, while by 2020, the target is to reach € 16 billion. The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climatic Change is set on cutting back on electric power supply expenses for islands still not connected to the mainland grid. The present cost is estimated at € 500 million, due to lack of advanced infrastructure in interconnected electricity grids. Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change: National Renewable Energy Action Plan "Green" Projects Unveiled Meanwhile, the environment ministry has unveiled its 'Green Island' and 'Green Village' projects, which aim to have the eligible communities shortlisted and all necessary paperwork done before the end of November. A pilot 'Greek Island' programme is already underway on the small island of Aghios Efstratios, with the islet of Lipsoi considered as the next likely candidate. A village on the mountains of Arta has been earmarked for the 'Green Village' programme. "Green communities" projects aim at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and carbon emissions to effectively zero.

The Culture Agenda Posted: 26 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT EXHIBITIONS  The Book of Travels @ Benaki Museum As part of the programme Our Shared Europe the Benaki Museum is hosting, until July 26, the exhibition Evliya Çelebi: The Book of Travels aiming at fostering the dialogue for mutual respect and understanding with the Islamic communities of Europe. Evliya Çelebi was a 17th century traveler, who, inspired by a dream, set out on a journey that simultaneously became a spiritual quest through the Ottoman Empire. He gathered his adventures in The Book of Travels known as Seyahatname.  Tribute to Roma people The Roma people are taking a seat of honour at the Byzantine & Christian Museum, which is holding a series of events from May 23 to June 12, starting with the inauguration of a three-part exhibition showcasing paintings and photographs. The rest of the program consists of screenings of fiction and documentary films highlighting the culture of the Roma all across Europe. Moreover, on June 1 there will be a round-table discussion addressing the depiction of the Roma in the media    M U S I C Red Army Ensemble @ Badminton Theatre The Alexandrov Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army is coming to Greece, for 3 performances on June 1-3, at the Badminton Theatre in Athens. The Ensemble is Russia's largest military artistic team, founded in 1928. Today, it numbers more than 180 members: 9 soloists, 64 in the male chorus, 38 in the orchestra and 35 in the mixed dance group.  T A L K S & L E C T U R E S In Honour of food Determined to maintain a note of optimism in these difficult times, the Onassis Cultural Centre has decided to end this season's cycle of "Talks and Thoughts" with a feast of words, sounds and images in honour of food. The event, titled Stories around the dinner table: The art of food and relationships, will feature speakers who are intimately familiar with the art of food and its delights, culinary and otherwise.

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PM in Paris for OECD Anniversary

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• PM in Paris for OECD Anniversary
• Diplomatic Corner
• Conferences & Symposia
• 11th European Jazz Festival
• Taste of Greece Down Under

PM in Paris for OECD Anniversary Posted: 25 May 2011 02:42 AM PDT Prime Minister George Papandreou is travelling to Paris today to attend the 50th Anniversary Week of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The organisation's 50th Anniversary Week will combine the annual OECD Ministerial Meeting and Forum, taking place from May 24 to 26. Accompanied by Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou and Regional Development and Competitiveness Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, the premier will participate today in a roundtable discussion on Riding the Storm - Lessons from Leaders which is part of the session Public Commemoration of OECD's 50th Anniversary. This evening, Papaconstantinou will participate in a debate on Greek Economic Crisis: the Foundations for a new Beginning, which is organised by the Institut de Relations Internationales et Strategiques (IRIS), in collaboration with the Press Office of the Greek Embassy in Paris. The event is open to the public and will take place at the Maison de l'Europe in Le Marais district.

Diplomatic Corner Posted: 25 May 2011 02:42 AM PDT FM in Rome Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas met yesterday in Rome with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini. Droutsas underlined that Italy "stood by Greece from the first moment," adding that Italy's confidence in Greece was underscored in the meetings he had in Rome. He also said that Greek experts will visit Italy very soon to present investment opportunities to Italian companies, as they have expressed interest in investing in Greece. "This is a very important result and message coming from the meeting. It is a tangible proof of Italy's confidence in Greece, its economy and its potential," Droutsas stated. The two foreign ministers also discussed developments in North Africa, in particular, the crisis in Libya, an issue on which Athens and Rome are closely cooperating. On illegal migration, Droutsas said that an EU political approach on the issue will be discussed at the European Council in June. "It is important to take advantage of this opportunity so that the concerns shared by Greece and Italy will be conveyed to the other EU partners focusing on the need for tangible European solidarity and shared responsibility," he noted. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Joint communiqué of the Greek and Italian FMs following their meeting in Rome; Interview of FM Droutsas in the Italian daily La Repubblica

Conferences & Symposia Posted: 25 May 2011 02:42 AM PDT SEESOX International Conference The South East European Studies (SEESOX), St. Antony's College and the University of Oxford are hosting on May 27 & 28 an international conference titled Whose crisis? Greece's politics, economics and society in an era of uncertainty. The two-day conference will address key aspects of the current Greek crisis through panel discussions and individual session presentations with international experts drawn from academia, and the public and private sectors. Specifically, the conference will analyse the main causes of the crisis, its domestic significance, and regional consequences. See Conference Programme Hellenic Observatory PhD Symposium The 5th Biennial Hellenic Observatory PhD Symposium at the London School of Economics is taking place on June 2-3. This year's keynote speakers are Professor Herakles Polemarchakis, Department of Economics, University of Warwick and Economic Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister and Professor Alexis Heraclides, Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens. The Symposium is a meeting of young scholars working on issues related to Greece and Cyprus that serves as a forum for discussion and reflection upon the changes that have taken place in contemporary Greece and its wider neighbourhood. Building upon the success of previous LSE PhD Symposia, the aim of this Symposium is to establish new collaborative links between disciplines, test the ground for innovative ideas, and help 'engage' the wider academic community. See Conference Programme

11th European Jazz Festival Posted: 25 May 2011 02:44 AM PDT The 11th edition of the European Jazz Festival kicks off at the City of Athens Technopolis Cultural center on May 24 running through to May 29. The festival welcomes some of the most creative European musicians. Participating in the festival are ensembles from 12 European Union countries. For the first time in its history the festival is hosting a small tribute to Balkan jazz with guests such as Albania's Fanfara Tirana and local acts such as the Martha Mavroidi Trio, Pantelis Stoikos and the Trio Balkano, the GoJam Group and the City of Athens Big Band. Running parallel to the festival is an exhibition of photographs by Christos Kopsachilis and Lefteris Arvanitis. The festival's program will feature three concerts every day with the last gig ending at midnight. Admission is free of charge.

Taste of Greece Down Under Posted: 25 May 2011 02:42 AM PDT Tomorrow, May 26, Australia's TV channel SBS One will air Lyndey & Blair's Taste of Greece premiere. Seeking culinary delights, adventure and antiquities, mother and son, Lyndey and Blair, toured the fascinating Peloponnese with a film crew in 2010. The result, Lyndey & Blair's Taste of Greece, showcases the cuisine, culture and beautiful landscapes of this region, which is so close to Athens. While the cuisine of the Peloponnese has a starring role, the historic heart of Greece is not overlooked as ancient sites are explored with an adventurous edge, full of humour and insight. The seven-part series are being aired earlier than expected, as a tribute to Lyndey Milan's 29 year old actor Blair, who passed away. Photo Gallery: Peloponnese

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Bold Measures to Achieve Deficit Target for 2011

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• Bold Measures to Achieve Deficit Target for 2011
• Liberalizing Professions
• Humanitarian Aid to Libya
• Extended Visiting Hours for Museums & Archaeological sites
• "A Painter in the Wehrmacht Uniform" @ Benaki Museum

Bold Measures to Achieve Deficit Target for 2011 Posted: 24 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT During a cabinet meeting held yesterday, the government reaffirmed its determination to continue with the fiscal consolidation programme by taking additional measures of over € 6 billion or 2.8% of GDP in order to achieve the 7.5% deficit target for 2011. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the detailed measures together with the full Medium-term Fiscal Strategy framework aimed to bring the deficit close to 1% of GDP by 2015 will be announced once the ongoing current review of the programme by the EU-ECB-IMF team is concluded and following consultations with the other political parties. In addition, the Cabinet decided to immediately proceed with the sale of stakes in OTE, the Postbank, the Athens and Thessaloniki ports, and the Thessaloniki water company in order to frontload its ambitious privatization programme, while the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund composed of privatization and real estate assets was also decided in order to accelerate the process. Kathimerini Daily: Midterm economic program eyes taxes, pensions

Liberalizing Professions Posted: 24 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT The Finance Ministry has made public a list of 136 professions that will be liberalized as of July 2 as part of the economic reforms the government has been implementing. The reform means that those seeking to enter these professions can do so freely, without restrictions on the number of people in the sector or limits on where they can set up their businesses.

Humanitarian Aid to Libya Posted: 24 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT An Air Force C-130 aircraft arrived in Benghazi, Libya, on 22 May, carrying diplomatic and medical personnel, as well as a mobile first aid unit and significant quantities of medical supplies. The mission, consisting of three Foreign Ministry personnel and seven medical personnel – including two general surgeons, a general practitioner and a psychologist – will undertake the distribution of the medical supplies as well as the preparations for the arrival of humanitarian aid to be sent on a ship chartered by the Greek government.

Extended Visiting Hours for Museums & Archaeological sites Posted: 24 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Yeroulanos announced new extended visiting hours of a number of museums and archeological sites in Greece on May 18. The ministry said that the list will be further enriched in the future weeks, depending on the availability of staff. The list includes some of the most popular sites and museums in Greece such as the Acropolis of Athens – Archaeological Site, which will be open from 8.00-19.00, all year round; the Thessaloniki Museum of Byzantine Culture; the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki; the Archaeological Site of Philippi; the Archeological Museum and site of Mycenae; the Archeological Museum and site of Epidaurus; the Archaeological site of Mystras; the Archeological site and Museum of Afaia, Aegina; the Archeological Museum of Messenia; the Archeological site of Ancient Messene; the Catacombs on Milos island; the Herakleion Archeological Museum; the Archeological site of Knossos and the Spinalonga island on Crete. The list also includes the Archaeological Museum of Drama; the Church of Panagia Kosmosoteira (Our Lady, Saviour of the World), in Ferres; the Grevena Archaeological Collection; the Museum of Asian Art, Corfu; the Archaeological Collection of Arta; the Byzantine Museum of Ioannina; the Ioannina Treasury; the Fortress of Ioannina; the Igoumenitsa Archaeological Museum; the Nekromanteion of Acheron; the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum in Volos; the Archeological site of Nea Aghialos, Magnesia; the Byzantine Museum of Fthiotida at Ypati; the Monastery of Osios Loukas; the Corinth Archeological Museum. Ministry of Culture & Tourism:  Brief Guides to Archaeological Museums in Greece Part I & Part II; YouTube: Culture in Greece [VIDEO] [Photo 3: The Nekromanteion of Acheron - Oracle of the Dead]

"A Painter in the Wehrmacht Uniform" @ Benaki Museum Posted: 24 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT The Benaki Museum is hosting until May 29 an exhibition of works by Rudo Schwartz titled Rudo Schwartz, Crete, 1943 : A Painter in the Wehrmacht Uniform. Rudo Schwartz (1906-1983) was an artist who served in the German army, during World War II, but continued with his artistic output. In January 1943 he was transferred to Crete, where he remained for over a year. This period gave rise to a 388-page journal with dozens of inset drawings, approximately 460 photographs and 18 larger painted pieces that are now part of the Historical Museum of Crete. "It is during dusk that I enjoy the view at most, when people go out and gather around tables drinking coffee or raki and begin to chat. […] Their body figures stand out as they sit on the colourful porch, while the shadows created from the light that beams from the oil lamps coming from the shops, slips on the road. This image reminds me of the effect of light depicted on Rembrandt's paintings," Schwartz wrote on his diary.

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