Greece Forums Blog

Diplomatic Thriller

The Inner Cabinet is holding a meeting at 11:00 this morning, just 24-hours prior to the crucial NATO Summit meeting in Bucharest. The Prime-minister met at 09:30 with George Papandreou at the initiative of the PASOK president. After the meeting, Mr. Papandreou stated “Greece is facing crucial deliberations. Even partners and allies are exercising pressure on Greece. Greece is receiving unfair treatment, adding that it is not time for criticism but time to strengthen Greeces voice in these crucial deliberations. The opposition leader told the Prime-minister that he was willing to fly to Skopje to further strengthen the countrys position as well as to indicate the common stand of the country. Mr. Papandreou also repeated that solution to the name issue is a compound name, including geographical term for all uses. In reference to Skopjes provocations, he condemned “any acts of extreme symbolism which offend our country and our national symbols”, he added, however, that these acts do not express the majority of the neigbouring countrys people. In an interview with MEGA television channel last night, Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyianni underlined that exercising veto right is a “big and difficult decision, but necessary”. As she said “NATOs door is open and Greece supports Skopjes Euro-Atlantic prospect but there must be a solution. A mutually acceptable name, including a geographical term for all uses”. Mrs. Bakoyianni will meet with the President of the German Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee at 10:15 to discuss NATO Summit meeting with focus on its enlargement.

Skopje New Provocation

In the meantime, after an offensive alteration of the Greek flag a wide circulation Skopjan magazine has a picture of Prime-minister, Kostas Karamnlis in nazi uniform. The Foreign Minister described as unacceptable the new provocative act while FYROM Foreign Minister, Antonio Milososki condemned the offensive depiction of the Greek flag. US ambassador to Athens also spoke of an offensive move. In the meantime, several Washington scenarios, aimed to admit the neighbouring country into the NATO alliance, have come to light. In a telephone contact with the American ambassador to Athens, PASOK President, George Papandreou expressed both his and in general the countrys strong resentment, stemming from Washingtons stand on Skopke name issue. “Decisions for a countrys admission to NATO are based on the grounds on whether they meet terms and credentials set by the alliance” said the State Department. NATO alliance general secretary described as unforeseeable the outcome of the NATO Summit meeting regarding both prospect of Skopjes admission as well as future prospect for Ukraine and Georgias admission to the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

Source: The Hellenic Radio (ERA)

Residents of the Greek islands Icaria and Fournoi staged a demonstration yesterday, protesting the lack of ferry services connecting them to Piraeus. Protesters charged that there have been no ferry services for a month.

Source: ekathimerini.com

At 03:00 on Sunday, Greece is going into summer time. Clocks will be set one hour ahead to read 04:00. The change of time has been set by a European Union directive ands will be in force until the last Sunday of October.

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted the island of Crete friday morning. No damage was reported.

The earthquake was recorded at 2:16 a.m., with its epicentre in the sea area south of Gaidouronissi islet in the Libyan Gulf. The quake was felt throughout Crete.

The 4.8 kilometers long road tunnel will open for traffic in April 2008.

The two-way tunnel at Driskos (Egnatia Motorway’s) that took seven years to complete, cuts through Mount Mitsikeli linking the Ioannina plateau with the Arachthos River valley.

Meanwhile the larger (9 kilometers long) road tunnels in the Tempi Valley, central Greece, are expected to be ready five years after their construction also gets underway.

A total of 76 two-way road tunnels have been constructed within the framework of the Egnatia Motorway network, most of them along the Igumenitsa-Veria section.

The Greek Civil Protection agency declared a state of emergency on the island of Skopelos in the northern Aegean on Tuesday after a major and uncontrolled wildfire that broke out on Monday ran into its second day.

The fire originally broke out in the region of Agnonta, far from inhabited areas on the island, but took on major dimensions due to strong winds blowing overnight, incinerating landscape of great natural beauty.

Local fire-fighters were reinforced by a 12-man forest fire-fighting unit from the town of Volos on the mainland, who were transferred to the island in a Super-Puma all-weather helicopter during the night, while water bombing aircraft and helicopters joined fire-fighting efforts at first light but were hampered by the strong winds blowing in the area.

Later on Tuesday morning there was a force of 70 firemen from all Thessaly on the ground, while the Air Force General Staff announced that two Canadair CL415 water-bombing aircraft were fighting the flames from the air. These were later augmented by another two aircraft of the same type that had been sent to take part in the parade for the March 25 anniversary and two CL215 aircraft.

Firefighters in Hania had to quell four fires yesterday that broke out as a result of farmers burning brush. No injuries or damage was reported.

Meanwhile, a house was seriously damaged on Saturday in the area of Lagadas, near Thessaloniki but nobody was injured.

Source: ekathimerini.com