A new coalition government under Prime Minister Lucas Papademos was sworn in during a ceremony at the Presidential Mansion on November 11. The new cabinet of 48, is broadly based on the previous PASOK government and includes six members from the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party and four from the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party.
From ND, its two vice presidents have joined the government: former EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is the new Foreign Minister while Dimitris Avramopoulos has taken up the post of Defence Minister.
"We have a difficult period ahead of us to carry out a difficult task and the contribution of all is necessary," the new Prime Minister said, addressing the first cabinet meeting, following the swearing-in ceremony.
He stressed that over the past two years a great effort has been made which resulted in deficit reduction but today a credit problem has appeared concerning the disbursement of the 6th tranche and restoring the country's credibility. Papademos further informed the members of the cabinet that he plans to establish a Government Committee in the coming days.
The Parliament is expected to hold a vote of confidence in new government on November 14, after a three-day debate which begins today with the Prime Minister Lucas Papademos's policy statement.
Government Vice President and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, speaking after Friday's cabinet meeting, outlined the new government's economic priorities: the timely disbursement of the 6th tranche of an EC/ECB/IMF bailout loan, amounting to € 8 billion, before December 15, the beginning of negotiations with the troika on the new programme and the new loan contract, the tabling in Parliament of the 2012 budget by November 21 and the completion, by early 2012, of the legal framework for the 50% "haircut" of the Greek debt which is in the hands of the private sector.
source:http://www.greeknewsagenda.gr
Europeans, mainly French offer their suport to Greeks by submitting their applications to obtain Greek citizenship. This movement, known as the "Movement of Nantes," was launched after the Cannes Summit with the slogan "I am myself a Greek".
The head of the Press and Communications Office of the Greek Embassy in London, Press Counsellor Spyros Diamantis, was elected Vice-President of the Diplomatic Press Attachés’ Association of London.
Greece and the United States of America finalized the agreement to protect Greece’s cultural heritage, in a ceremony which took place in the Parthenon hall of the Acropolis Museum, overlooking the sacred hill of the Athens Acropolis.
U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden was received by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos yesterday at the Maximos Mansion, conveying the United States’ solidarity with Greece in the latter’s efforts to emerge from the financial crisis.
Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed optimism over the pending approval of the sixth tranche of an EC-ECB-IMF bailout package, speaking after a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, in Luxemburg yesterday.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, on his first trip abroad since the assumption of his duties, went to Brussels yesterday where he met with EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
A single, undivided Cyprus is a top priority for Greek foreign policy, National Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said on November 17, during a visit to Cyprus.
The new government under Lucas Papademos secured an overwhelming majority in Parliament, winning a vote of confidence, following a three-day debate.
Opening a three-day debate in Parliament yesterday Prime Minister Lucas Papademos outlined the coalition government’s policy platform, describing his administration’s term as a bridge towards economic recovery.
European Council President Herman van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso hailed the agreement for an interim unity government in Greece as a "new chapter" for the country.
National Geographic Magazine ranked Sifnos in the top ten of the most prefered global destinations, among other famous holiday hot spots such as the Bahamas, Seychelles, French Polynesia, the Netherlands Antilles and other exotic islands.
The “independent” revealed the best and worst places to be a woman in the world; and Greece came first as the best place to give birth
The tourism campaign «Up Greek Tourism», which began on February 15 and will last until the first week of March, aims to support Greek Tourism.
The Environment, Energy and Climatic Change Ministry announced an international open-door call for hydrocarbon exploration in three areas of Greece.
Despite the grim headlines and the overall economic crisis, Greek companies continue to invest and prosper both abroad and at home.
Zagori is an area of great natural beauty and unique architecture in the Pindus Mountains in Epirus in Northwestern Greece. The area is of about 1.000 square kilometers and contains 46 villages. Zagoria villages is called by Greeks “Zagorochoria” meaning the villages behind the mountain.
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In 1989, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Helen Ahrweiler is appointed Chairman of the Cultural Centre Pompidou in Paris