ATHENS NEWS

SALVADOR DALÍ = EXHIBITION -=20 Singularity and Myth
OCTOBER 24, 2002=20

OCTOBER 24, 2002 – JANUARY 23, = 2003

The=20 exhibition, presenting thirty paintings and a = piece of=20 sculpture by the surrealist master, is being = organized=20 in collaboration with the Gala – Salvador = Dalí=20 Foundation (Figueres, Spain) and the Museo Reina = Sofia=20 in Madrid. SALVADOR DALÍ; Singularity and = Myth focuses=20 on the artist’s idiosyncratic personality. = Dalí left his=20 palpable mark on 20th-century culture by means = of his=20 visionary art, which in effect changed the way = we now=20 view the world. Time and History, Love and = Sexual=20 frustration, Modern man and his anxieties are = some of=20 the perpetual topics of Dalí’s = work, mostly orchestrated=20 over the underlying theme of Humanity and its = myths,=20 ancient or contemporary. The title reflects = Dalí’s=20 painting Singularities (1935), in which the = artist makes=20 a tongue-in-cheek comment regarding his own = eccentric=20 personality and the myth that was surrounding it = already=20 in the 1930s.

With the generous grant of = the=20 Fundación Gala-Salvador Dalí and = in collaboration with=20 the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.=20

Author : Travelling-Greece.com=20

Ten Days for Architecture=20
29/11/2002 - 08/12/2002

The = Hellenic=20 Institute of Architecture, with the support of = the=20 Architectural Network of the Hellenic Ministry = of=20 Culture organizes a series of events from the = 29th of=20 November to the 8th December (10 days for = architecture).=20 Similar events take place in Thessaloniki, in = Chania, as=20 well as in many other countries, in order to = establish a=20 World Day for Architecture. The events, which = will take=20 place, aim to inform the public as far as the=20 importance, the substance, the utility and the=20 implications of the presence or absence of = architecture=20 in everyday life is concerned. It is an effort = to=20 present and make known to the public some = examples of=20 the contemporary Greek architecture so as to = begin a=20 further discussion about architecture in the = city. The=20 following events have been scheduled for the = city of=20 Athens: - Signaling and presentation of 30 = buildings of=20 high architectural quality in the center of = Athens. To=20 see a complete list of these building click = here. - Five=20 buildings open to the public, hosting an = exhibition=20 which presents the 30 selected buildings. - = Publication=20 of articles written by architects and = non-architects=20 referring to architectural and urban problems of = the=20 Greek cities. - Presentation of the events by = the media.=20 Television programmes and special issues at the = press,=20 have been scheduled. - Selection of certain = school=20 buildings of high architectural interest and = conducted=20 tours for groups of students. - Conducted tours = are=20 scheduled, on Sunday the 1st of December, as = well as, on=20 Sunday the 8th of December. On behalf of the = Hellenic=20 Institute of Architecture the event curators are = the=20 architects: V. Arapidis, H. Kokkinaki, L. = Manitsidou, G.=20 Papanastasiou, with the support of the architect = S.=20 Gyftopoulos member of the Hellenic Institute of=20 Architecture. Similar events are being organized = in the=20 city of Thessaloniki by the Architects = Association of=20 Thessaloniki and in Chania by the Center of Mediterranean = Architecture.=20

Author : Greek Ministry of Culture=20

Orlando Furioso by Vivaldi = at the=20 Greek National Opera
10 -19 Jan 2003 =

In=20 the marvellous baroque opera Orlando Furioso by = Antonio=20 Vivaldi, witchcraft, fantasy, and love get into = a tangle=20 when Angelica, Medoro and Orlando are destined = to meet=20 along at the enchanted island of the sorceress = Alcina.=20 Five unique performances are given -for the = first time=20 in Greece- at the Greek National = Opera.

Orlando=20 furioso occupies a central and very significant = place=20 among Vivaldi's works. Not only does the whole = score of=20 this opera demonstrate its composer's full, = creative=20 maturity, but its outstanding features are also = an=20 extraordinary musical beauty, an attractive = recitative=20 line, and a balance thus created between the = various=20 parts of the dramatic and musical whole. =

Orlando=20 Furioso was the name of an earlier opera with = music by=20 G. A. Ristori and a libretto by Grazio = Braccioli.=20 Vivaldi made modifications to that opera in = 1714, and in=20 1727 wrote completely new music to Braccioli's = libretto.=20 The story is based on Ludovico Ariosto's poem = under the=20 same title, Orlando Furioso.

Synopsis =
Antonio=20 Vivaldi's opera takes place on the sorceress = Alcina's=20 enchanted island. Although old and ugly, Alcina = has the=20 magical power to make herself appear beautiful = and to=20 bewitch courtiers who set foot in her realm. She = has=20 tried to make her power eternal by gaining = possession of=20 the invincible guard Arontes under the statue of = the=20 wizard in the Temple of Infernal = Hecate.

Brought=20 to the island by fate, the other main characters = of the=20 opera, namely the beautiful Angelica, her young = Saracen=20 lover, Medoro, and the jealous Orlando -a = Christian=20 knight and Charlemagne's nephew, who is in love = with=20 Angelica- are entwined in an intriguing love = story of=20 furious passion and despair.

The ID of = the=20 performance
Conductor: Vassilis=20 Christopoulos
Director: Maria Yiparaki
Set = and=20 Costumes design: Francesco Cito
Choreography: = Chrissiida Liatziviri
Light Designer: = Filippos=20 Koutsaftis
Cast: Marita Paparizou (Orlando), = Mata=20 Katsouli (Angelica), Margarita Singeniotou = (Medoro),=20 Mary Helen Nezi (Bradamante), Nikos Spanos = (Ruggiero),=20 Marina Fideli (Alcina) and = others.

Reservation:=20 +30-210-3612461
Communication: = +30-210-3614433,=20 3600697

Author : Greek Ministry of = Culture=20

Kroustofonia Ensemble at = the Athens=20 Concert Hall
12 Jan 2003 =

Kroustofonia=20 Musical Ensemble gives a concert at Friends of = Music=20 Hall at the Athens Concert Hall, in the context = of=20 Sunday mornings at the Concert Hall. The series = of=20 concerts, organized every year by the Athens = Concert=20 Hall, is addressed to a mostly young audience = and aims=20 to familiarize children and teenagers with the = wonderful=20 world of music.

Kroustofonia Musical = Ensemble=20 interprets works by Andre and Jacques Phillidor = (March=20 for two timpani), Camille Saint-Saens (Le = cygne), Henry=20 Mancini (The baby elephant walk), Heitor = Villa-Lobos=20 (Brazilian dance), Henry Hankock (Cantaloop = Island), Joe=20 and George Green (Xylophone), Karl Heinz Wiberny = (Ulla=20 IN Africa) and Aram Khatchaturjan (Sable=20 Dance).

The Ensemble continues its = concert by=20 presenting dances from Greek tradition (Suite on = Greek=20 dances), Mambo no 5 by Perez Prado, Freedom Jazz = Dance=20 by Eddie Harris and traditional Brazilian Samba=20 Batukata.

Krustofonia was founded in 1998 = and=20 since then it has given several concerts in = events=20 organized by the city of Athens. The ensemble = was=20 created in the context of the Panhellenic = Percussion=20 Instruments Association. It consists of: = Alexandros=20 Christidis, Athina Kapsetaki, Charalambos = Taliadouros,=20 Styliani Triantafyllou, Nikolaos Karatzas, = Panayiotis=20 Koliavassilis, Alexandros Yiovannos, Marinos=20 Tranoudakis, Petros Bynios, Vassilis = Panayiotopoulos,=20 Odysseas Stefanis and Dimos=20 Dimitriadis.

Alexandros Christridis is = the=20 artistic director of the Ensemble. His career = began in=20 Kievo, where he studied music. He has = participated in=20 many concerts and recordings in Greece and = abroad and in=20 numerous festival, too. From 1982 to 1987 he has = been=20 leading the Percussion Instruments Ensemble of = the=20 National Opera. From 1987 to 1992 he has been = member of=20 ERT television Symphony Orchestra, while from = 1992 he=20 has been leader at the Athens State=20 Orchestra.

Alexandros Christidis in the = first=20 Greek musician to interpret Psapfa for = percussion=20 instruments soloist by Ianis Xenakis.=20

Reservation: +30-210-7282333 =
Communication:=20 +30-210-7282000, 7282333, 7257601-2 =

Author :=20 Greek Ministry of Culture=20

The Last Greeks of Asia = Minor=20
2 Dec 2002 - 28 Feb 2003

On the = occasion=20 of the 80th anniversary of the Asia Minor = Disaster (the=20 uprooting of the Greek communities from the = region in=20 1922), the Directory of Folk Culture (Hellenic = Ministry=20 of Culture), the Center of Asia Minor Studies = and the=20 Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece, = organize=20 the exhibition The Last Greeks of Asia Minor at = the National=20 History Museum (Old Parliament Building) in=20 Athens.
With documents and reports, the=20 exhibition aims to recreate and highlight = various=20 aspects (religious, educational, social, = cultural) of=20 the late presence of the Greek population in = Asia Minor.=20 At the same time, it reconstructs the historic = framework=20 within which the developments that changed the = map of=20 the region unfolded.

The exhibits do not = limit=20 the thematic of the exhibition just in the = western,=20 coastal Asia Minor, but rather expand to other = important=20 geographical regions where Greek communities = developed,=20 like Pontus, Eastern Thrace and = Cappadocia.

The=20 exhibition is organized into units and attends = the=20 routes of Hellenism in the last few years before = the=20 Exodus from the lands of Asia Minor. A brief = historic=20 tour through time traces down the roots of Greek = dynamic=20 presence in the antiquity and documents the = changes that=20 happened as a result of the Ottoman = conquest.
The=20 daily life of enslaved Asia Minor Greeks, their=20 problems, the crucial for the community's = survival role=20 of the church and education, are some of the=20 exhibition's main concerns. Also presented are = the=20 military and political developments that played = an=20 important role in the first crucial years after = the end=20 of the first World War up until the 1922=20 disaster.

The various exhibits (historic = relics,=20 flags, engravings, documents, publications, rare = editions, personal objects, photographs, = traditional=20 folk dresses) are coming from the rich = collections of=20 the History Museum and the Center of Asia Minor = Studies.=20 These exhibits alone prove the great interest of = these=20 foundations in preserving the historic memory of = Asia=20 Minor.

From the material exhibited, what=20 impresses more is the series of photographs that = were=20 taken during the Asia Minor campaign by amateur = and=20 professional military photographers. These = pictures show=20 in a unique manner not just scenes of the = operations but=20 also snapshots of the soldiers' daily = life.

Of=20 special interest for visitors is also the great = number=20 of Karamanlite publications (meaning texts = written in=20 the Turkish language but with Greek letters), = that=20 manage to acquaint them with the unknown = intellectual=20 production of Cappadocia.

Relics of = Patriarch=20 Joachim III and Chrysostomos of Smyrna (today's = Izmir),=20 community codes, musical instruments and = manuscripts,=20 samples of folk art, are just some of the = exhibits that=20 attract the visitors.

The exhibition is=20 accompanied by rich printed material. = Institutions that=20 have also contributed to the exhibition are the=20 Association of Smyrnans from Asia Minor and the = Nea=20 Sinassos Association.

Communication:=20 +30-210-3226370, 3237315, 3237617, 3222266=20

Author : Greek Ministry of Culture=20

Translating ancient = philosophy...=20
14 Jan 2003

The European Center = for the=20 Translation of Literature and the Human Sciences = (EKEMEL) organizes an open discussion entitled = Ancient=20 Philosophy in Translation, which aims to analyze = the=20 special difficulties and peculiarities of the = work of=20 the translator when working on texts of great = ancient=20 philosophers.

The event is being hosted = by=20 EKEMEL's director of the Department of = Philosophy and=20 Human Sciences, Mr. Panayotis Poulos. Speakers = in the=20 open discussion are Mr. Paulos Kaligas, = co-director of=20 Deukalion literary magazine, and Mr. Vassilis = Kalfas,=20 professor of Philosophy in the University of=20 Crete.

The event takes place on Tuesday, = January=20 14, at 7:30pm, at the Logou & Technis Hall = of=20 Athens' Book Gallery.

Author : Greek = Ministry=20 of Culture =

SEA ROUTES
4 Jun - = 27 Oct=20 2003

This international archaeological=20 exhibition, whose full title is: Sea routes. = From Sidon=20 to Huelva. Inter-relations among the = Mediterranean=20 peoples. 16th 6th century B.C., was funded by = the=20 Cultural Olympiad 2001-2004 (Greek Ministry of = Culture).=20 The exhibition places its emphasis on the wealth = of=20 goods and ideas exchanged between the = Mediterranean=20 peoples, such as the Greeks, the Phoenicians, = the=20 Etruscans, the Iberians etc. These = inter-relations are=20 being demonstrated by material remains from = antiquity,=20 turning up at excavations throughout the = Mediterranean.=20

Author : www.travelling-greece.com=20

Great Opera Productions at = the=20 Athens Concert Hall
10/10/2003 - = 17/05/2004=20

Three grand productions form the unit = Great=20 Opera Productions at the Athens Concert Hall for = the=20 2003-2004 period. Starting from I Vespri = Siciliani by=20 Giuseppe Verdi on October 2003, then follows = Arthur=20 Honegger's Jeanne au Bucher. The marvellous = Traviata by=20 Verdi comes on May, directed by Ulrich Peter.=20

Here is the programme of the=20 performances:

October 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, = 17, 19,=20 20, 22 (2003) Giuseppe Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani = Stage=20 concept, sets, costumes: Nikos Petropoulos Stage = director: Rodolfo Craia Roles interpreted by: = Elena:=20 Susan Neves, Eliane Coelho, Arrigo: Janez = Lotric, Keith=20 Ikaia Purdy, Monforte: Vladimir Chernov, = Alexandru=20 Agache, James Johnson, Procida: Francesco Ellero = d'Artegna, Paata Burchuladze. The Athens State = Orchestra=20 participates conducted by Donato Renzetti.=20

February 26, 27 (2004) Arthur Honegger: = Jeanne=20 au Bucher (Dramatised Oratorio) Director: Thomas = Moschopoulos Sets: Dionysis Fotopoulos Nonika = Galinea=20 interpretes the main role. The Athens State = Orchestra=20 participates conducted by Nikos Tsouchlos. =

May=20 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 (2004) Giuseppe Verdi: La = Traviata Director: Ulrich Peter Sets - Costumes: = Nikos=20 Georgiadis Roles interpreted by: Violetta: Ruth = Ann=20 Swenson, Inga Nielsen, Alfredo: Charles = Castronovo,=20 Piotr Beczala, Germont: Jean-Luc Chaignaud. The = Athens=20 State Orchestra participates conducted by = Richard=20 Bonynge.

Athens Concert Hall The = inspiration for=20 a multifunctional culture centre can be traced = back to=20 the renowned soprano Alexandra Triandi, who = founded the=20 the Friends of Music Society. The society then=20 commissioned some top Greek and foreign = architects and=20 sound experts to design the Athens Concert Hall. =

In 1956 the Greek government donated a = site for=20 its construction. It should be noted that the = first=20 monies towards erecting the building came from = Dimitris=20 Mitropoulos, who donated the proceeds from the = New York=20 Philharmonic's Athens recitals, which he = conducted.=20

The design was completed in the 1970s. = The=20 building's foundations were laid following a = much needed=20 donation, which covered the project's financing, = by the=20 great benefactor and president of the = Dekozis-Vouros=20 Foundation, Mr Lambros Eftaxias.

After a = hiatus=20 of some years, construction resumed in 1981. A = new=20 governing body was formed, this time with the=20 cooperation of the Greek government, which, = through a=20 number of substantial donations, contributed=20 considerably towards completion of the project. = This new=20 body is the the Athens Concert Hall = Organisation, which=20 has been jointly governed from 1981 to the = present day=20 by representatives of the Friends of Music = Society and=20 the state.

Since it opened its doors to = the=20 public in 1991, the Athens Concert Hall has been = regarded as one of the most comprehensive = culture=20 centres in Europe. Its superb acoustics has been = acclaimed both by the public and by renowned = performers=20 of the music and art world.The Athens Concert = Hall has=20 welcomed and still welcomes top class artists, = music=20 ensembles, composers, conductors and performers = in an=20 artistic trajectory that has left its mark in = the=20 country's culture scene.

Author :=20 www.travelling-greece.com=20

Bridges series at the = Athens Concert=20 Hall
05/11/2003 - 26/05/2004 =

Bridges=20 with young people, world music, and other arts. = This=20 year's cycle at the Athens Concert Hall brings = the=20 audience close to the artistic creation of Zulfu = Livaneli, Dulce Pontes, Chronis =C1idonidis, = Orlando Valle=20 and Dino Saluzzi. Also, Bridges present the = stunning=20 balalaikas by the Andreyev Russian Imperial = Orchestra,=20 guitar works and the famous Derevo Theatre = Company.=20

Here is the programme of the = performances:=20

November 5 (2003) A Tribute to Zulfu = Livaneli=20 Vocalist Maria Farandouri performs Livaneli's = New Age=20 Rhapsody and songs. Soloists from Greece and = Turkey, as=20 well as the Volos Symphony Orchestra, = participate.=20 Conductor is Semyon Kogan.

December 11 = (2003)=20 Dulce Pontes in concert The famous Portuguese = vocalist=20 of fados and her ensemble.

December 14 = (2003)=20 Balalaikas: The Andreyev Russian Imperial = Orchestra A=20 festive Christmas event. Soloist in saxophone is = Theodore Kerkezos.

December 15 (2003) = Melos=20 Brass wind ensemble in concert A festive = Christmas=20 event. The organist Nicolas Kynaston = participates.=20

December 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, = 28, 29,=20 30 (2003) Music tales Periklis Koukos: Merlin = the Wizard=20 on Poetry Island. A festive Christmas event, a = musical=20 extravaganza. The Camerata- Friends of Music = Orchestra=20 conducted by Alexandros Myrat participates.=20

January 22 (2004) Guitar Festival The = soloists=20 John Williams and Kostas Kotsiolis interpret = works by=20 Guiliani and Brouwer. The Camerata - Friends of = Music=20 Orchestra conducted by Leo Brouwer participates. = The=20 artistic supervision is by Kostas Kotsiolis.=20

February 4 & 5 (2004) Ensemble = Accentus=20 conducted by Thomas Wimmer.

February 6 = (2004)=20 Guitar Horizons Works by Brouwer, Rodrigo, = Takemitsu,=20 Papageorgiou are performed by the soloists = Kostas=20 Kotsiolis, Eduardo Fernandez, Sinitchi Fukuda. = The=20 Athens State Orchestra participates conducted by = Leo=20 Brouwer.

Date pending Chronis Aidonidis: = 50=20 years dedicated to Greek tradition =

February 20,=20 21 (2004) Derevo Theatre Company presents the = play Once=20 Upon a Time It's a tale of love, tears and = broken hearts=20 enacted by clowns.

March 1 (2004) = Orlando Valle=20 in concert The famous Cuban flute virtuoso along = with=20 the Maraca - Otra Vision ensemble.

March = 9=20 (2004) Serenades and music from the Ionian = Islands Music=20 programme in collaboration with the Ionian = University.=20

May 26 (2004) Dino Saluzzi & the = Rosamunde=20 String Quartet Between folk music, jazz and = tango:=20 chamber music for string quartet and bandoneon = played by=20 the soloist Dino Saluzzi.

Athens Concert = Hall=20 The inspiration for a multifunctional culture = centre can=20 be traced back to the renowned soprano Alexandra = Triandi, who founded the the Friends of Music = Society.=20 The society then commissioned some top Greek and = foreign=20 architects and sound experts to design the = Athens=20 Concert Hall.

In 1956 the Greek = government=20 donated a site for its construction. It should = be noted=20 that the first monies towards erecting the = building came=20 from Dimitris Mitropoulos, who donated the = proceeds from=20 the New York Philharmonic's Athens recitals, = which he=20 conducted.

The design was completed in = the=20 1970s. The building's foundations were laid = following a=20 much needed donation, which covered the = project's=20 financing, by the great benefactor and president = of the=20 Dekozis-Vouros Foundation, Mr Lambros Eftaxias.=20

After a hiatus of some years, = construction=20 resumed in 1981. A new governing body was = formed, this=20 time with the cooperation of the Greek = government,=20 which, through a number of substantial = donations,=20 contributed considerably towards completion of = the=20 project. This new body is the the Athens Concert = Hall=20 Organisation, which has been jointly governed = from 1981=20 to the present day by representatives of the = Friends of=20 Music Society and the state.

Since it = opened its=20 doors to the public in 1991, the Athens Concert = Hall has=20 been regarded as one of the most comprehensive = culture=20 centres in Europe. Its superb acoustics has been = acclaimed both by the public and by renowned = performers=20 of the music and art world.The Athens Concert = Hall=20 haswelcomed and still welcomes top class = artists, music=20 ensembles, composers, conductors and performers = in an=20 artistic trajectory that has left its mark in = the=20 country's culture scene.

Author :=20 www.travelling-greece.com=20

Genee International = Competition 2004=20 of the Royal Academy of Dance in Athens=20
06/06/2004

The Genee = International=20 Ballet Competition is one of the most = prestigious=20 events in the dance calendar -The Olympics of = the Ballet=20 world. So, it is perfectly fitting that this = year, young=20 dancers, aged from 14 to 19 years old, compete = in=20 Athens, home to the 2004 Olympic Games, to win = the=20 coveted gold, silver or bronze medals on the = stage of=20 the Odeon of Herod Atticus. On June 6, admire = the young=20 artists' talent and technique demonstrated in=20 choreographies by Antony Dowson and Christopher = Hampson,=20 in a grand production that bears the signatures = of the=20 Royal Academy of Dance and the Cultural = Olympiad.=20

Since its inception in 1931, the Genee=20 International Ballet Competition has become one = of the=20 world's leading ballet competitions and the = annual=20 flagship event of the Royal Academy of Dance. It = was=20 named after Dame Adeline Genee, the famous = dancer with=20 the long and illustrious career. It is only the = second=20 time that the Competition has been held outside = of the=20 UK. (The first time was at the Sydney Opera = House, in=20 2002).

Procedure
The long = procedure=20 for the selection of the best candidates began = just=20 after the closing date for applications on April = 27,=20 2004. Only 46 dancers were successful in = achieving the=20 required examination result. All these obtained = a ticket=20 for travelling to Athens and have the unique = experience=20 to work with the world-renowned teachers and=20 choreographers Antony Dowson and Christopher = Hampson,=20 from May 29 May to June 2, under the guidance of = Lynn=20 Wallis, Artistic Director of Royal Academy of = Dance.=20

The selection criteria are indeed tough. = Only=20 few out of the 46 dancers can get the once in a = lifetime=20 opportunity to battle for a medal at the Final = on June=20 6, in front of an international audience of = 5,000 people=20 and a jury led by the world-famous former prima=20 ballerina, Dame Antoinette Sibley, President of = the=20 Royal Academy of Dance .

Repertoire=20
Under the stars on the stage of the = Herod=20 Atticus Odeon, the stunning venue which hosted = in the=20 past great dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev, = Margot=20 Fonteyn, Maya Plisetskaya and Mikhail = Baryshnikov, each=20 finalist dances 2 solos (male - female) by = Antony Dowson=20 and Christopher Hampson, as well as the 19th = century=20 classical repertoire variation of his/her = choice.=20

Antony Dowson's Formal Allusion (solo = for men)=20 and Tread Lightly (solo for women) are performed = in=20 world's premiere. See the detailed program of = the=20 evening here.

Medals
The = competition=20 is extremely hard and the medals, accompanied by = Prize=20 money, only 6: three for men and three for = women:=20

Gold medal € 7,500=20

Silver medal € 4,500=20

Bronze medal € 3,000

The Gold = medal is only=20 awarded when a candidate, in the judges opinion, = demonstrates exceptional technical skills, an = inate=20 response to music, outstanding performance = qualities and=20 charisma. The Silver medal is awarded to a = candidate who=20 is proficient in technique, musicality and = performance.=20 Worth to be mentioned is that in 1997 winner of = the=20 silver medal was the Greek dancer Pantelis = Zikos. The=20 Bronze medal is awarded to a candidate who is = proficient=20 in technique, musicality and performance = although some=20 areas of the work may be less strong than = others.=20

Author : Culture guide=20

Great Travelers in Athens, = 15th-19th=20 cent
17/03 - 31/12/2004

The most = important travellers to Athens from the 15th to = the 19th=20 century and their famous Itineraries with their = most=20 wonderful etchings are displayed in this very=20 interesting exhibition of the Museum of the City = of=20 Athens of the Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation in=20 collaboration with the Organizing Committee of = the=20 Athens Olympic Games. The exhibition Great = Travelers=20 in Athens, 15th-19th cent. makes part of the = official cultural program of Athens 2004 and = runs=20 through the end of the year.

Among the = items on=20 display are some masterpieces of the kind, like = the four=20 volumes of the work of J. Stuart and N. Revett = (1792),=20 as well as the works by J.D. Le Roy (1758), = Edward=20 Dodwell, Hugh William Williams, William Cole, Du = Moncel,=20 A. Gasparini, and others.

It aims to = show that=20 travelers were those who discovered Athens and = made it=20 known to the rest of Europe, since event in the = 16th=20 century, Athens was believed that it did not = exist by=20 then (Martin Crusius, 1575).

The most = important=20 exhibit is the larger painting on Athens ever = made that=20 shows Athens (260x520 cm), which is also Jacques = Carrey's (1649-1726) first oil painting. It = dates back=20 to 1674 and presents Charles Francois Olier = Marquis de=20 Nointel (1635-1685), ambassador of Louis the = 14th in=20 Constantinople, who visited Athens in November = 1674 with=20 his numerous escorts.

In the background, = one can=20 see Athens -under Turkish Occupation by that = time- with=20 Acropolis and Parthenon, still in one piece. = Thirteen=20 years later, in 1687, it was destroyed by = Morosini's=20 attack. Lycabettus Hill is portrayed surrounded = by=20 numerous mosques -shown by the rising over = minarets,=20 while Parthenon is shown as it was turned into a = mosque.=20

The significance of Carrey's oil = painting lies=20 on its exact topography. No other portrayal of = Athens=20 (apart from a sketch, dated from 1670, which is = kept at=20 Bonn's Museum) that shows Athens before the = destruction=20 of the Parthenon is known today. The exhibition, = based=20 mainly of the collection of the Museums and = accompanied=20 by a bilingual (Greek and English) catalogue, is = a great=20 contribution to the Olympic Year 2004.

Museum of the City of Athens, = Vouros-Eutaxias=20 Foundation=20

Address 5-7 Paparigopoulou St., 10561 Athens = (Klathmonos Sq.)=20

Telephone +30-210-3231397, 3230168, 3246164=20

Author : Culture guide=20

To the people of Greece: = We=20 apologize
26 August 2004

ATHENS = - The=20 Greeks could sue for defamation of character. = They could=20 demand an apology from the world. Instead they = just=20 shrug and order another frappe. Their Olympics = are going=20 beautifully. Just like they expected. After all, = they=20 invented this business. For years, we heard how=20 miserable these Olympics would be, how = dangerous, how=20 choked with traffic, how polluted, how = unfinished. After=20 just a couple of days, some observers turned in = an=20 instant thumbs-down on the Games. No atmosphere. = No=20 crowds. The horror – gymnastics wasn't = even sold out!=20 Such rips are ridiculous. For one thing, you = can't judge=20 the Olympics until they start. And, in reality, = the=20 Athens Games didn't start until Friday, when = track and=20 field got under way. Olympic atmosphere comes = from=20 160,000 people streaming into the park every = day. And=20 that can only happen when track starts. Until = then, the=20 Olympic park seems deserted even with 30,000 = people=20 inside it. Saturday night, the upper bowl of = Olympic=20 Stadium was filled with rippling blue and white = Greek=20 flags and fans cheering for runners and discus = throwers.=20 The roar of the crowd rose into the Athens = night. You=20 couldn't convince anyone there that these Games = have no=20 atmosphere. So far these Games get a huge = thumbs-up from=20 this corner. And not just because I set my = personal bar=20 so low - my goal was to come home alive. I swore = I=20 wouldn't whine about slow buses or hot weather. = I'm=20 still alive and feeling sheepish about all my = worries.=20 The heightened security is evident but not = oppressive.=20 The fear-mongering has dissolved into a happy = Olympic=20 atmosphere where Canadian fans wander around in = togas=20 and olive wreaths drinking Mythos beer. The = Games aren't=20 over, but so far, Athens feels very safe. And = there=20 hasn't been much to whine about. The buses run = on time.=20 The taxis are cheap. The phones work. Even the = weather=20 has cooperated, with temperature mostly in the = 90s=20 during the days, but not the 100-plus heat that = had been=20 advertised. Are they as great as the Sydney = Summer=20 Olympics, which drew rave reviews? So far, = they're not=20 far behind (and gymnastics wasn't sold out there = either=20 – not everyone loves the little pixies as = much as=20 Americans). The scene at Darling Harbor was = terrific -=20 but the crowded cafes of the Plaka, in the = shadow of the=20 Acropolis, are almost as lively. Are these Games = as=20 great as Barcelona, which I didn't attend but = many=20 veteran Olympic writers say is their favorite? = They're=20 not far behind – and they're beating = Barcelona in ticket=20 sales. And how do they compare to Atlanta? There = is no=20 comparison. The United States hosted the worst = Summer=20 Olympics of the modern mega-Games era. = Everything people=20 feared would happen here actually did happen in = Atlanta:=20 There was a bombing, the buses didn't run on = time, the=20 computer system didn't function, the crowds were = suffocating and the weather was oppressive. = Greece, the=20 smallest country to host an Olympics in 52 years = and one=20 of the poorest countries in the European Union, = is=20 outperforming the world's super power. On = Saturday,=20 Athens was abuzz. The efficient new metro system = was=20 packed with fans heading to every venue. Inside = the=20 Olympic park every event except trampoline was = sold out=20 (and you're not going to hold it against the = Athenians=20 if they don't support trampoline, are you?). On = Friday,=20 244,144 fans went to 47 events. Ticket sales = have=20 reached 3.2 million – close to the target = of 3.4 million=20 – and they're not done yet. The fact that = most Athenians=20 were on vacation until last week is part of the = Games'=20 new energy. Not only were the Greeks = underestimated,=20 their capital city has been mistreated. For = those of us=20 who haven't been here before, Athens is a = surprising=20 delight. Yes, it's crowded and poorly laid out. = But it=20 has dazzling historic sites around almost every = corner,=20 restaurants and bars that stay open until almost = dawn,=20 and wonderful, gracious hosts. It also has a = terrific=20 coastline along the Saronic Gulf. A new tram = runs along=20 the water, and Saturday it carried both Olympic=20 spectators and sunbathers. The beaches were = packed and=20 Athenians bobbed in the sparkling water. The = first eight=20 days have been a success. I told my cabdriver = how=20 impressed I was. "Of course," he said and = shrugged. What=20 did you expect from the folks who came up with = idea in=20 the first place?

Author : By Ann = Killion, San=20 Jose Mercury News =

Accounting for Athens!=20
2/2/2005

In the Athens Concert = Hall=20 which was full of people, Athens Mayor Dora = Bakoyannis=20 presented the account of the first two years of = her term=20 in the Athens City Hall and the plans of her=20 administration for the following two years on = Monday=20 evening. She also presented the data for the = City's=20 finances and her proposals for the future = development of=20 Local Government in Greece.

The Mayor's = speech=20 was divided in three separate parts: the account = of the=20 first two years, the planning of works and = projects for=20 the next two years and the proposals for changes = in the=20 status of Local Government. Mayor Bakoyannis = presented=20 in detail the projects implemented by the City = of Athens=20 during 2003 and 2004. These projects aimed to = improve=20 both the functioning and the image of the city, = to=20 improve the services offered to citizens, to = promote=20 social welfare and to highlight the identity of = Athens=20 and its particular character abroad. =

During the=20 past two years, the investments of the City of = Athens=20 increased by 505%, since the investment program = raised=20 from 18 million euros in 2002 to 91 millions in = 2004.=20 During the same period, the City's revenues = increased by=20 15% per year and the expenses of the functional = budget=20 were reduced by a percentage smaller than the = raise of=20 salary expenses.

Athens Mayor also = presented the=20 five priority areas of the City Administration = for the=20 two following years. The priority areas are: the = establishment of a greenery network citywide, = the=20 restoration of residential areas, the promotion = of=20 social cohesion structures, the intervention in = the=20 city's traffic management and the development of = the=20 already established infrastructures. The = implementation=20 of a complete recycling program is one of the = projects=20 that the City will put forward during this year, = along=20 with a new parking system in the historical = center and=20 in other central areas of Athens.

Dora=20 Bakoyannis also requested from the central = Government to=20 attribute to the City the responsibility for all = of the=20 city's squares and to put an end to the = dispersal of=20 responsibility for free and green spaces to = other=20 organizations. The beginning has already taken = place=20 with the attribution of the National Gardens and = Lycabettus Hill and the same should happen for = other=20 places, such as the city's squares and parks.=20

Mayor Bakoyannis concluded her speech = with three=20 fundamental suggestions to the Greek government = for the=20 development of the role of Local Administration = in=20 Greece. The first strategic choice is the = establishment=20 of elected government in Regional level, as it = is the=20 case in most European countries. The second = suggestion=20 concerns the establishment of metropolitan = structures=20 for the large city complexes of the country. The = third=20 suggestion involves the reinforcement of City=20 Governments, which should be viewed by the = Government as=20 bodies which have a social and developmental = character.=20 The transfer of funds to local government is the = moving=20 force which will alter the role of local = government in=20 Greece.

A very large number of Athenians = filled=20 the Athens Concert Hall on Monday evening. The = turnout=20 was so great that the event moved at the last = minute in=20 a larger room, so that it could fit the people. = However=20 there were still many people who did not manage = to enter=20 the room and watched the event from the = video-walls in=20 the foyer. After her speech, the Mayor of Athens = honored=20 the firms that sponsored the project for the=20 refurbishment of the city's squares. The City of = Athens=20 Philharmonic opened and closed the event. =

The=20 event was attended by the Minister of Interior = Mr.=20 Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the Minister of Health and = Social=20 Cohesion Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Minister of = Employment and Social Protection Mr. Panos=20 Panayiotopoulos, the former Prime Minister Mr.=20 Constantine Mitsotakis, the General Secretary of = New=20 Democracy Party Mr. Vaggelis Meimarakis, the = Head of the=20 City's opposition and Parliamentarian of PASOK = Mr.=20 Christos Pappoutsis, Parliamentarians of the = Athens=20 District, Athens businessmen and artists and a = large=20 number of Athenians, who watch for the first = time their=20 Mayor render account for the City = Administration.=20

Click here to read the Mayor= 217;s=20 speech.

Author : City of Athens=20

Athens celebrates first = birthday of=20 2004 Olympics
14 August 2005 =

Greece on=20 Saturday celebrated the first anniversary of the = widely-praised opening ceremony of Athens 2004 = Olympic=20 Games.

More than 150 children celebrated = the=20 opening of the Athens Olympics, blowing out a = candle on=20 a festive birthday-cake and enjoying gifts and = games in=20 the event's luxury stadium.

These = stadium=20 open-days will be held next year with children = from all=20 schools, not only in Attica, that enjoy = athletics and=20 Olympic sports. Celebration of the Olympics will = continue, Deputy Culture Minister Fani = Palli-Petralia=20 told the children invited from summer camps. =

She=20 noted that the government had worked to repair = and=20 maintain sport facilities used in the games, and = was=20 proceeding well with a plan to turn them into = public and=20 private use in the future.

This was a = dream=20 Olympics we held, in which the sole sponsor was = the=20 Greek taxpaying public, which is why it is time = for=20 citizens to reap the benefit. Our approach is=20 people-centered, the minister said. =

Meanwhile,=20 to celebrate the opening of the Athens Olympic = Games, a=20 large-scale concert was held in the evening by = China's=20 Red Poppy Ladies Percussion and winner of Euro = Vision=20 Elena Paparizou in the Olympic Beach Volleyball = venue,=20 where an audience of nearly 10,000 attended the=20 performance.

Author : = www.Greece-Athens.com=20

Old Athens airport will = not be site=20 of F1 circuit
August, 25th 2005 =

After a=20 thrilling Olympic Games in 2004, Greece has been = vying=20 to host a round of the Formula One world = championship,=20 adding a round of the pinnacle of Motorsports to = their=20 already impressive sporting portfolio. =

However,=20 talk of building a track close to the Elliniko = Olympic=20 Complex near the old Athens Airport has been = dashed by=20 the country’s Environment, Town Planning = and Public=20 Works Minister, George Souflias, who confirmed = that=20 instead on an F1 track, the country’s = largest=20 Metropolitan park would be erected on the site = instead.=20

That said however, he hasn’t ruled = out the=20 possibility of building a circuit somewhere else = with=20 possible locations Patras, Orxomenos and=20 Santorini (the old mine quarries next to = Fira).=20 Well the last one can challenge Monaco... =

"I am=20 not against a Formula 1 race track being built = in=20 Greece, but not in a residential area and only = with the=20 appropriate infrastructure and facilities," he = told the=20 People Daily.

Author : GP2005.com=20

Eurovision Song Contest = Athens 2006=20
August 30, 2005

The recent = meeting of=20 the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group in = Athens=20 gave the green light to Greek broadcaster ERT to = continue with preparations for the 2006 contest. =

Svante Stockselius commented, The venue = will be=20 chosen by ERT. They have presented a suggestion = of a=20 venue that the European Broadcasting Union = Reference=20 Group visited and has approved. If this venue = will be=20 the one actually chosen for the ESC2006 is now = down to=20 negotiations between ERT and the venue owner. He = was=20 unable to confirm which venue was being = considered. Many=20 reports claim that ERT proposed the Olympic = Indoor Hall=20 as the venue for the contest. This sort of thing = has to=20 come from the Host broadcaster. It is their = decision on=20 which venue they want and how negotiations will = take=20 place with the venue owners. They will also = decide when=20 to officially announce the venue. The EBU is = only able=20 to either approve or disapprove of their = actions, he=20 clarified.

Ticket sales for the 51st = contest was=20 one point on the agenda for the two-day meeting. = In=20 recent years, fans have found getting hold of = tickets=20 troublesome. There had been calls for the EBU to = hand=20 the job of ticketing the contest to an = experienced and=20 reliable external company. This has been = rejected by the=20 group. When asked about how tickets will be made = available, Stockselius was unable to provide any = concrete answer, simply stating, This will be = one of the=20 issues for ERT to find a solution for. ERT has = now set=20 the budget for the show and in turn, the EBU has = been=20 able to let participating broadcasters know the = entrance=20 fees for next year. The exact figure is being = kept a=20 close secret for the time being.

Those = in Athens=20 also met to discuss the rules for 2006. Although = no=20 major changes are expected, the EBU plans to = hold off on=20 issuing the final version of the rules until the = end of=20 September. When asked if there would be any new = entrants=20 this year, the contest supervisor admitted that = it was=20 too early to tell.

Greek TV plans to = broadcast a=20 number of shows leading up to the contest that = will take=20 place in May 2006. Elisavet Filippouli will host = the=20 programmes that will allow viewers a look behind = the=20 scenes of the organisation of the event. =

Author=20 : EBU

Kenenisa, Meseret Get = Honourable=20 Citizenship of Athens
September 8, 2005=20

The Athens Olympics 10,000 and 5,000 = meters gold=20 medallists, Kenenisa Bekele and Meseret Defar = were given=20 the honourable citizenship of Athens on = Wednesday in a=20 ceremony held at the Greek club.

The=20 Charge'd'Affaires of the Greek Embassy in = Ethiopia Mr.=20 Michael Karabalis didn't conceal his pleasure = when=20 handing over the certificate of the honourable=20 citizenship of Athens sent by the Mayor of = Athens Ms.=20 Dora (Thewodora) Bakoyanni to the great = Ethiopian=20 duo.

"I got Olympic gold medal in Athens. = This is=20 the first big achievement in my life. And now I = am the=20 honourable citizen of Athens. This is great. For = me=20 Athens is everything," the joyful Meseret=20 said.

"My primary wish was to take gold = in the=20 Olympics. For an athlete, there is no greater = award than=20 winning gold in Olympics. I got it. I didn't = expect to=20 get this great opportunity. It is an honour for = me to=20 receive such grandiose gift. I would like to = thank them.=20 I am now a natural Ethiopian. Plus, citizen of = Athens,"=20 she added.

On his part Kenenisa said that = he is=20 delighted by this unexpected offer.

"This = is my=20 first time to be a citizen of another city. My = home is=20 Ethiopia. This is a great addition. I didn't = expect I=20 would get such honour from the capital of = Greece. I am=20 happy about it," he said.

Mr. Michael = Karabalis=20 stressed the importance of sports in Greek=20 tradition.

"In ancient Greek, studying = basic=20 education like philosophy would not make you = complete in=20 education. Sports and music are indispensable = parts of=20 education. The belief was that one has to be = physically=20 and mentally sound," he said during a chat with = Kenenisa=20 and Meseret. He expressed his respect for the = strong=20 Ethiopian athletes. The national coach Tolosa = Kotu said=20 that this is very encouraging.

"I would = go so far=20 as to say that this would reside in this soul of = all=20 Ethiopian Athletes. It should be categorised or=20 rationally understood as special gift," he=20 said.

Kenenisa and Meseret will = participate in=20 the golden league and grand prix in Monaco = scheduled for=20 Friday and Saturday. Kenenisa said that he is = happy in=20 his world record breaking performance in = Brussels a=20 couple weeks ago.

Author : Solomon = Bekele=20

NEKYIA – THE = ARCHETYPIC JOURNEY=20
September 18, 2005

The Greek = Dances=20 Theater "Dora Stratou" and the Research and = Artistic=20 Ensemble dr=D5os toPi – Drys Landscapes = invite you to an=20 evening dedicated to Homer's Odyssey with the = perfomance=20 NEKYIA – THE ARCHETYPIC JOURNEY. It is a = multimedia show=20 including dance, song and theatre using = audiovisual=20 means connecting traditional and contemporary = life.=20 Sunday, 18 September 2005, at 22.00 hours Dora = Stratou=20 Theatre, Philopappou Hill, near the Acropolis = Conceived=20 and directed by Anna Lazou, with the = participation of=20 singers, musicians and dancers A research = approach of=20 the homeric Odyssey and other ancient Greek = myths based=20 on the philosophical, historical and aesthetic = study of=20 ancient Greek dance. Entrance fee : 10 euros.=20 INFORMATION Anna Lazou, Philosophy School– = Panepistimiopolis Zografou 157 84 Athens Tel.:=20 2107277795 -7

Author : = www.Greece-Athens.com=20

Athens int'l Film Fest = opens=20 Thursday
September 19, 2005

The = 11th=20 Annual Athens International Film Festival, = titled=20 Premieres, will kick off on Thursday, featuring = 151=20 films of Greek and foreign filmmakers, both = established=20 and up-and-coming, Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis=20 announced on Wednesday.

According to the = mayor,=20 international film industry celebrities, among = them=20 actor Daniel Day Lewis, Korean director Kim Ki = Duk,=20 Greek directors Costas Gavras and Theodoros = Angelopoulos=20 will be attending the festival making it a truly = international, cultural event. =

Bakoyannis also=20 referred to the Athens festival's innovative = element,=20 which is that the panel of judges is made up of = young=20 adults.

This year, only students of = audio-visual=20 studies, film and drama schools from all over = Europe=20 will make up the panel.

Organisers hope = to=20 establish the festival as a dynamic 'workshop' = where=20 youngsters from throughout Europe will have the=20 opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and be=20 inspired.

The festival is being organised = by the=20 trade magazine Cinema with the support of the=20 Municipality of Athens.

Author : Athens = News=20 Agency =

Spain's Queen Sofia visits = Mitera=20 orphanage in Athens
September 29, 2005=20

Spain's Queen Sofia visited an orphanage = in=20 Athens on Wednesday (28.09.05).

The Queen = - who=20 is married to Spain's King Juan Carlos - went to = the=20 Mitera orphanage, where she had volunteered her = services=20 when it was as a nursery school in = 1956.

Queen=20 Sofia was met by the Health and Social = Solidarity=20 Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, Deputy Minister = George=20 Konstantopoulos and the institute's president = Maro=20 Kontou, when she arrived at the children's=20 home.

She admitted she was deeply moved = to find=20 herself among former teachers and=20 classmates.

After meeting with children = and staff=20 involved in running the orphanage, Queen Sofia - = who has=20 three children and several grandchildren of her = own -=20 gave the crowd a speech about the work the = organisation=20 does.

During her talks she referred to = the=20 institute's significant work and contribution to = society.

So far, the Mitera children's = home has=20 successfully found suitable families for more = than 100=20 orphaned children.

Author : Athens News = Agency=20

Athens Mayor Gives New = Look to Old=20 City
September 30, 2005

Cities = can=20 enhance their competitiveness by improving their = urban=20 quality, including aesthetic features and public = infrastructures, according to Athens Mayor Dora=20 Bakoyannis.

Bakoyannis, 51, the first = woman=20 mayor in the history of one of Europe's oldest = cities,=20 said urban development strategies aimed at = beautifying=20 Athens ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games have had = a=20 significant impact on the city's competitiveness = and=20 attractiveness.

``To confront economic,=20 environmental and cultural degradation in = metropolitan=20 areas, there is a need to update urban = management and=20 planning, transforming these areas into strong,=20 decentralized economic entities with access to = global=20 markets,'' Bakoyannis told The Korea Times. =

She=20 was taking part in the Seoul World Mayors Forum = at the=20 Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul yesterday. =

``As=20 the mayor of Athens, my two biggest challenges = were=20 giving the aging city a facelift ahead of the = 2004=20 Olympics and upgrading its outdated public=20 transportation system. Through the process, = Athens has=20 made important progress in solving many of its = major=20 problems, especially in urban environment and=20 transportation,'' she said.

Bakoyannis = was=20 elected mayor at the beginning of 2003 with the = largest=20 majority in the history of modern Greece. =

During=20 her tenure, she led Athens on its costly = preparations=20 for last year's Summer Olympics, which gave the=20 3,500-year-old city a more modern image. =

The=20 preparations, spanned out through an investment = of $130=20 million, included renovating and remodeling 277 = major=20 streets, cleaning and repainting the facades of = 3,000=20 old buildings and redeveloping the city's green = spaces.=20 Another 1,300 buildings are on the city's = renovation=20 list for 2006.

The city also spent over = $3=20 billion expanding its metro system, from 25 = kilometers=20 in 1999 to 75 kilometers in 2004.

``Our=20 face-lifting efforts had direct economic = results, with a=20 steady increase in direct foreign investment and = a 16=20 percent increase in tourists compared to the = pre-Olympic=20 days,'' she said.

Bakoyannis said her = city is=20 expects to strengthen its ties with the Seoul=20 Metropolitan Government to share ideas and = experience=20 for improving urban development strategies. =

The=20 Athens city government is expected to sign a = protocol=20 with the Seoul city government today, ensuring = future=20 cooperation in developing policies for public=20 transportation, deploying information-technology = services and improving cultural environments.=20

``This will mark a starting point for = both=20 cities to strengthen cooperation in a variety of = fields=20 in the future. We believe that the alliance will = have=20 immediate results in the cultural = sector,=A1=AF=A1=AF she said.=20

Bakoyannis said further developing = Athens' mass=20 transit system is a difficult challenge because = the city=20 is full of historical and cultural assets. =

The=20 Greek mayor said she was impressed by Seoul's = recent=20 revamping of its public transportation system, = which=20 strengthened the role of buses by making routes = more=20 direct and by simplifying fares. =

``Improving=20 mass transit is a difficult challenge in Athens, = as=20 every time we dig to build more Metro lines, = some hidden=20 marvel comes up,'' Bakoyannis joked. =

``There=20 will be lots of ideas and experiences to share = with=20 Seoul in both large-scale urban development = strategies=20 and in the details of effectively deploying = those=20 plans,'' she said.

Bakoyannis is the = daughter of=20 a former prime minister, Constantine Mitsotakis, = who=20 fled Greece's military dictatorship in the = 1960s, taking=20 his family into exile in France.

She is = also the=20 widow of former Greek lawmaker Pavlos = Bakoyannis, her=20 first husband, who was assassinated by = terrorists in=20 1989.

Bokayannis, who had spearheaded = the public=20 fight against terrorism in Greece in her years = in the=20 Parliament, survived an assassination attempt in = 2002=20 shortly after she was elected mayor of Athens.=20

By Kim Tong-hyung - The Korea Times =

Author : The=20 Korea Times =

Athens University and = Onassis=20 Foundation partner in promotion of Greek culture = abroad=20
October 28, 2005

The University = of=20 Athens and the Alexander S. Onassis Public = Benefit=20 Foundation announced on Wednesday a series of=20 initiatives aimed at promoting Greek = civilisation and=20 culture abroad.

University Dean Yiorgos=20 Babiniotis and Foundation President Antonis=20 Papadimitriou presented the measures proposed = during an=20 international conference organised by the = foundation in=20 the US and titled Hellenic Studies in the US, = Canada and=20 South America.

During a joint press = conference,=20 Babiniotis noted that measures proposed as a = means to=20 upgrade and further promote Greek studies=20 include:Student/professor exchange programmes = between=20 foundations abroad and Athens University; = informing=20 Greek universities of the possibilities for = cooperation=20 with foreign universities' Hellenic Studies = departments;=20 expansion of the US-based Onassis Foundation's = visiting=20 professors' programme and others.

On his = part,=20 Papadimitriou, accompanied by members of the=20 foundation's executive board, referred to the=20 foundation's work which includes university = chairs,=20 programmes and centres for Hellenic Studies; = donation of=20 books, educational material and school = equipment; and=20 the Onassis Library for Hellenic and Roman Art.=20

Author : Athens News Agency=20

Athens metro grows =
December=20 2, 2005

Expanded train system to offer = city=20 much-needed traffic relief.

The = government=20 unveiled plans yesterday to extend the reach of = the=20 capital’s popular metro system as serious = traffic=20 problems continue to plague Athens. =

Environment=20 Minister Giorgos Souflias said yesterday that a = fourth=20 line will be added to the train network and that = existing routes will be extended by 2009. =

The=20 new line, which is expected to transport some = 400,000=20 commuters per day, will run through the = capital’s=20 northern districts. It will serve many of = Athens’s new=20 densely populated areas and important = facilities, such=20 as hospitals and the university campus. It will = also=20 help ease the passenger traffic at existing = metro train=20 stations, the minister said.

More on Kathimerini

Author : = Kathimerini =

Final preparations being = made ahead=20 of festive events in Athens
December 12, = 2005=20

Workers use a crane to put the finishing = touches=20 on the giant Christmas tree in Syntagma Square, = central=20 Athens, on Saturday. Athens Mayor Dora = Bakoyannis is due=20 to switch on the tree’s lights on = Thursday, as part of a=20 1.3-million-euro program which will include a = Gift City=20 in Kotzia Square, an ice-skating rink at = Zappeion Hall=20 and carousels in Omonia Square.

Author : = e-Kathimerini =

Iberia launches new flight = from=20 Athens to Madrid
December 21, 2005 =

Five=20 additional non-stop weekly services connecting = Athens=20 and Madrid.

Athens International Airport = welcomes Iberia’s new scheduled flight = 3885, which, as=20 of January 9th, 2006, will connect directly = Athens and=20 Madrid, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, = Thursday, and=20 Saturday, with Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. = Iberia=20 operates already two daily services from Athens, = to=20 Madrid and Barcelona.

The new services = will=20 provide Iberia’s passengers the = opportunity to optimise=20 their connections with 34 destinations in Spain, = 21 in=20 America, and 8 in Africa, enjoying the benefits = offered=20 by the airline’s broad network. At the = same time, within=20 the framework of providing an excellent = travelling=20 experience, Iberia provides its overseas = passengers the=20 choice of the new ?Business Plus? class, = offering new=20 levels of comfort and luxury.

Welcoming = Iberia’s=20 new flight, the CEO of Athens International = Airport, Mr.=20 Alfred van der Meer, stated: ?We have the = pleasure to=20 welcome to ?Eleftherios Venizelos? the new = flight to be=20 launched by Iberia, the leading airline for = Spain and=20 Latin America. These five additional frequencies = connecting Athens and the Spanish capital, = reflect the=20 dynamic development of the Spanish market, which = is one=20 of the fastest growing for our airport in the = European=20 region?.

Author : www.Greece-Athens.com=20

JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH IN = ATHENS=20
December 21, 2005

Hellenic = Republic=20 President Karolos Papoulias met at noon today at = the=20 Presidential Building in Athens with King = Abdullah II of=20 Jordan who is on a working visit to Greece = accompanied=20 by his wife, Queen Rania in the picture. =

The=20 talks held concerned the strengthening of = bilateral=20 economic relations and were sealed with the = signing of=20 two agreements on tourism and investments.=20

Author : MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY=20

Experts prepare excavation = on Greek=20 island
January 10, 2006

British = and=20 Greek archaeologists are preparing a major = excavation on=20 a tiny Greek island to try to explain why it = produced=20 history's largest collection of Cycladic = flat-faced=20 marble figurines. Artwork from barren Keros = inspired=20 such artists as Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore = but also=20 attracted ruthless looters. Now experts are = seeking=20 insight into the island's possible role as a = major=20 religious center of the enigmatic Cycladic = civilization=20 some 4,500 years ago. Excavations will run April = through=20 June.

Keros is one of the riddles of = prehistoric=20 archaeology, said Peggy Sotirakopoulou, curator = of the=20 Cycladic collection at the Museum of Cycladic = Art in=20 Athens. Of the more than 1,400 Cycladic = figurines that=20 have survived, only 40 percent are of known = origin, as=20 looters destroyed all evidence on the rest. But = more=20 than half the documented artifacts are from = Keros. What=20 is particularly impressive is not just the bulk = of the=20 finds, which is larger than the total from the = rest of=20 the Cyclades, but also that they were = intentionally=20 broken during ancient times, Sotirakopoulou = said.=20 Therefore, this is a very important, a unique = site.=20

The Cycladic culture - a network of = small,=20 sometimes fortified farming and fishing = settlements that=20 traded with mainland Greece, Crete and Asia = Minor - is=20 best known for its elegant artwork: mostly = naked,=20 elongated figures with their arms folded under = their=20 chest. The seafaring civilization was eclipsed = in the=20 second millennium B.C. by Crete and Mycenaean = Greece.=20

Currently inhabited by a goatherd and = his flock,=20 Keros lies near the eastern rim of the Cyclades = island=20 chain - which includes the humming resorts of = Mykonos=20 and Santorini - between the larger islands of = Naxos and=20 Amorgos.

Keros was extensively pillaged = during=20 the 1950s and 1960s for its marble figurines, = hundreds=20 of which were illegally exported to fill museums = and=20 private collections in Europe, the United = States,=20 Australia and Japan.

Evidence from = excavations=20 in the '60s and 1980s failed to explain why the = barren=20 islet was so much more important in the 3rd = millennium=20 B.C. than its bigger, more hospitable neighbors. =

The prevailing explanation is that this = was a=20 sacred repository, a sort of pan-Cycladic = sanctuary=20 where people left objects within the framework = of=20 rituals which included their intentional = smashing, said=20 Sotirakopoulou.

She will participate in = the=20 summer's excavation together with Cambridge = University=20 professor Colin Renfrew and other experts. =

Past=20 digs - legitimate or otherwise - were carried = out on the=20 islet of Dhaskalio, just off Keros, and the = Kavos area=20 opposite. This year's work will focus on virgin = ground.=20

We hope the forthcoming excavations will = clarify=20 further the nature of the occupation and = activities at=20 Dhaskalio and Kavos, Renfrew said.

It is = clear=20 Kavos was an important site where high prestige=20 artifacts were deliberately broken and left. It = is=20 possible, but not yet certain, these were ritual = actions=20 relating to ceremonies in honor of the dead.=20

Experts agree that the elegant marble = figurines=20 were highly prized in the early bronze age = Cyclades but=20 still don't understand for what purpose they = were made.=20 The figurines have been variously interpreted as = depicting gods or venerated ancestors, serving = as=20 replacements for human sacrifice - or children's = toys.=20 One thing is certain: They were not abstract = works of=20 art pared down to the barest representational=20 essentials.

Visitors say, 'Oh how pure, = how=20 white the figurines are,' Sotirakopoulou said. = But in=20 fact they had details_ hair, eyes, eyebrows, = jewelry -=20 painted on. In most cases, the paint has = vanished.=20

More by Associated Press =

Author :=20 NICHOLAS PAPHITIS =

Campaign against human = trafficking=20 opens in Athens
January 21, 2006 =

An=20 international campaign titled End Human = Trafficking Now,=20 kicked off in Athens on Monday bringing royalty, = politicians and artists to the Greek capital.=20

Attendees included Sweden s Queen = Sylvia, Queen=20 of Bahrain Sabika, former UN Secretary General = Boutros=20 Boutros-Ghali, Interpol Secretary General Ronald = Noble,=20 French composer Jean Michel Jarre and others.=20

The campaign, organised by the Suzanne = Mubarak=20 Women's International Peace Movement, aims to = send the=20 message that step by step, atrocious crimes = committed in=20 the name of corporate profits must be stopped.=20

UNESCO's Good Will Ambassador and board = member=20 of the Women's International Peace Movement = organisation=20 Marianna Vardinoyannis described Monday's = meeting as one=20 of historical importance and an honour for the = country,=20 since it is from Greece that the message aimed = at=20 rallying the international business community in = the=20 fight against human trafficking is being sent.=20

On her part, Mubarak urged the business=20 community to put an end to this horrific = phenomenon,=20 which according to her, is not only unethical = but one of=20 the greatest crimes against humanity. =

Same=20 report from Bahrain News agency

Her = Highness=20 Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of = His=20 Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended = in Athens=20 today the roundtable of business community = against=20 trafficking of human beings, organized by the = Suzanne=20 Mubarak Women International Peace Movement and = the=20 Global Coalition Women Defending Peace. The = roundtable=20 focused on the magnitude of the issue and = discussed its=20 ethical principles and raised recommendations to = combat=20 the phenomenon. The main outcome of the Athens=20 roundtable was issuing the ethical principles = against=20 trafficking in human beings, especially women = and=20 children, which will be presented in the World = Economic=20 Forum that starts in Davos on January 25. The = round=20 table was attended by the Queen of Sweden, Dr. = Boutros=20 Boutros- Ghali, former UN Secretary General = ,UNESCO=20 Goodwill Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis, = member of=20 the Board of Directors of the Movement and. Her = Highness=20 Shaikha Sabeeka, in a statement issued on the = occasion=20 highlighted the necessity of combating this = phenomenon=20 hoping that the business community on the = international=20 level and through this gathering would further = cooperate=20 with concerned parties to eradicate human = trafficking in=20 the world. Her Highness added that the ethical=20 principles issued in Athens could help bring an = end to=20 the misery and agony of the less fortunate, in = an=20 attempt to protect the rights of all. From the = business=20 community, participants included representatives = of=20 Chief executive officers from the private sector = and=20 other members of non governmental organizations = in this=20 field. The main aim of the gathering was for the = business community to launch a set of ethical = principles=20 to fight human trafficking, in particular that = of women=20 and children. At the world economic forum in = Davos on=20 January 25, CEOs will share the outcome of the = meeting,=20 namely the ethical principles, as an essential = means of=20 alerting the global business community. The = business=20 community expressed concern that the scourge of=20 trafficking in human beings inflicts enormous = suffering=20 in the world, adding that the community = considers=20 unacceptable that millions of people are treated = as=20 commodities and slaves and therefore denied = their basic=20 human rights and dignity. The business community = welcomed the efforts of the international = community to=20 eradicate human trafficking, through = public-private=20 partnership in addition to recognizing the = significant=20 potential of the business community to = contribute to the=20 global fight against human trafficking. The = business=20 community issued several ethical principles = which=20 explicitly demonstrated the position of zero = tolerance=20 towards trafficking in human beings, especially = women=20 and children ,develop a corporate strategy for=20 anti-trafficking policy, ensure the community's=20 compliance with the anti- trafficking policy and = encourage business partners to apply ethical = principles=20 against human trafficking. Mubarak said the = trafficking=20 of human beings is a problem that man has = inflicted on=20 other human beings ,similar to the endless = suffering and=20 pain caused by wars and conflicts. She added = that it is=20 a problem that should never have been and the = roundtable=20 was not just organized because the issue of = human=20 trafficking is immoral but because it is a crime = against=20 humanity. Her excellency added that the world = needs to=20 send a clear signal that the state of affairs = will not=20 be tolerated and it is by collective = responsibility that=20 human trafficking could be eradicated. = Trafficking in=20 human beings is considered to be the third = largest and=20 fast growing criminal activity in the world. The = international labor organization ILO estimates = that more=20 than two million people are trafficked across=20 international borders every year, the majority = being=20 women and children. Forced labour, according to = ILO=20 raises profits of $32 billion a year. Dr. = Boutros Ghali=20 praised the initiatives Bahrain has taken = through laying=20 a national strategy to prevent this phenomenon. = He added=20 that it is essential for both government and=20 non-government organization to work together to = combat=20 this phenomenon that impacts millions of people = every=20 year . Bahrain has taken major steps in = preventing=20 human- trafficking among which was the = establishment of=20 a task force of representatives from different=20 ministries that have laid down a strategy to = help=20 eliminate any causes that might lead to human=20 trafficking in the Kingdom. Other steps Bahrain = has=20 taken include a plan to launch the Safe Houses = project=20 as well as hotlines to receive and deal with = work=20 complaints. Governmental and non-governmental=20 organisations co- operate to increase awareness = on the=20 importance of respecting the rights of foreign = workers=20 and protecting them against abuse. The = authorities are=20 also looking into a law that criminalises=20 human-trafficking. In 2004, Bahrain acceded to = the UN=20 Convention Against Trans-national Organised = Crime and=20 the Protocol Against Trafficking in Persons, = reflecting=20 its international recognition of the issue and = its=20 belief in combating it.

Author : Athens = News=20 Agency =

Athens 2006: stage is = ancient=20 theatre
January 24, 2006

The = stage of=20 the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest will look like = a modern=20 version of an ancient Greek theatre. Earlier we = already=20 revealed that the concept would have strong = links with=20 Greece's ancient history. As in previous years, = lights,=20 monitors and most likely some moving elements = will give=20 each performance its own, unique atmosphere. The = Olympic=20 Indoor Arena, a huge venue with a capacity of = almost=20 18,000 people, brought a new challenge on the = table;=20 will everyone be able to see the show, even from = the top=20 rows? To solve this issue, the ceiling will = carry a=20 substantial amount of monitors. According to = widely=20 spread rumours, a blue shade will make the = audience look=20 like the sea. Tomorrow, host broadcaster ERT = will most=20 likely reveal more information about the = upcoming=20 Eurovision Song Contest.

Author :=20 www.Greece-Athens.com=20

Strolling through Athens=20
January 30, 2006

Athens Mayor = Dora=20 Bakoyannis announced the publication and release = on the=20 market of the new edition of the Strolling = through=20 Athens guide as well as an organised walking = tour=20 programme of the same name. Mayor Bakoyannis = also=20 presented the results of the City of Athens = Stray=20 Management Programme.

Mayor Bakoyannis = said in=20 her speech: “We are announcing two very = important=20 initiatives for the city which began in the = pre-Olympic=20 period and are forging ahead with the same = force. The=20 first initiative focuses on the promotion of = Athens. We=20 are happy to present you with the new edition of = our=20 popular guide, Strolling through Athens. =

A joint=20 publishing effort by the City of Athens and the = Athens=20 Tourism and Economic Development Agency, the = guide is=20 under the supervision the Foundation of the = Hellenic=20 World. We received positive comments about = Strolling=20 through Athens during the Olympic Games. These = comments=20 prompted us to proceed with the release of the = guide on=20 the market.

The Strolling through Athens = guide=20 is available in Greek at all bookstores. It will = soon be=20 available in English, French and German at = select sales=20 points throughout Greece and abroad.

At = this=20 point, I would like to thank the Erevnites = publishing=20 house, which has undertaken the printing and=20 distribution of the publication, and I am = confident that=20 their experience in the publishing sector will=20 contribute greatly to the successful promotion = of this=20 useful handbook on Athens.

The Strolling = through=20 Athens guide is a comprehensive publishing = endeavour=20 covering the historic wealth and the major sites = and=20 monuments of our city. Of high aesthetic value, = pleasant=20 to read, comprised of carefully researched text, = the=20 guide offers the reader a unique experience of = Athens’=20 history and culture via 12 historic routes. =

The=20 12 ‘walks’ underline the = city’s most important cultural=20 monuments and at the same time highlight a = number of=20 historic events that marked the history and = development=20 of the Greek capital.

However, for me, = the most=20 noteworthy part of the book has to do with the = fact that=20 the reader can - through its pages - discover = those=20 unique features of Athens that are still unknown = to our=20 visitors and perhaps to many of us. =

Prominent=20 figures, buildings, events and monuments of our = city=20 emerge via the suggested strolls through = Athens’ history=20 and are illustrated with a wealth of visual = material.=20

This guide forms the basis for the = design of a=20 comprehensive programme for the promotion of the = city=20 under the same name which involves 12 organised = walking=20 tours based on the recommended = ‘walks’ listed in the=20 handbook.

The successful promotion of = Athenian=20 culture requires close collaboration with all = city=20 agencies and careful planning of all related = projects=20 and activities. The publication of Strolling = through=20 Athens is another move in this direction. It = paves the=20 way for similar initiatives and opens a window = to=20 knowledge, serving as a valuable tool for every = visitor=20 to the city, Greek or foreign. I would lastly = like to=20 thank public broadcaster ERT, the communication = sponsor,=20 for their support in this worthwhile effort. =

The=20 second initiative we would like to speak about = is the=20 City of Athens Stray Management Programme. =

Three=20 years ago, we launched for the fist time at the = City of=20 Athens a far-reaching programme for the = management of=20 the city’s stray animals. This initiative = started from=20 scratch, with no available means, no = infrastructure or=20 trained staff, in a time of increased pressure = due to=20 the upcoming Olympic Games. Back then, many = thought it=20 was a one-off project, lacking in fundamentals = and=20 objectives.

Today the City of Athens:=20

Has recruited specially-trained crews to = patrol the=20 streets in vans and collect stray animals = without=20 collars=20

Is working with 16 partner clinics, where = the=20 animals without tags are spayed or neutered, = inoculated,=20 cleaned of parasites, micro-chipped, treated for = injury=20 or illness, and nursed to good health. Finally, = they are=20 registered in the programme’s database to = facilitate=20 monitoring=20

Has created a temporary hospice - a = specially=20 equipped veterinary facility which can host and = care for=20 up to 100 animals per day that are recovering = after=20 being sterilised or due to injury, minor surgery = or=20 other treatment=20

Is electronically registering = (micro-chipping)=20 street dogs and providing them with traceable=20 identification tags. The micro-chipping is=20 animal-friendly and facilitates the immediate=20 identification by City authorities of the = animals it=20 monitors, while answering some citizens’ = fears of animal=20 hygiene=20

Has founded the Voluntary Adoption Scheme = through=20 its growing network of volunteers. To encourage=20 adoption, the city provides sterilisation, = inoculation=20 and basic medical treatment. City staff follow = up with=20 individuals who have adopted pets to ensure that = strays=20 go to good homes Is working closely with animal = rights=20 groups who help raise awareness and encourage = the=20 adoption of strays.=20

Launched far-reaching awareness-raising = campaigns=20 aimed at sensitising the public about = responsible pet=20 care.=20

Has created a municipal veterinary clinic =

We=20 are steadily and humanely dealing with the = phenomenon,=20 and hope that in two years’ time we will = have made up=20 for the lost time on behalf of the government.=20

From the launch of the programme in 2003 = through=20 to December 31, 2005, the City has:=20

Neutered, inoculated and registered 1,334 = street=20 dogs=20

Treated 862 injured or ill canines=20

Electronically tagged 885 strays=20

Found a warm and loving home through the = City’s=20 Adoption Programme for 214 of our furry friends=20

Today, we are forging ahead with a = programme=20 that has seen results. We’ve put the = infrastructure in=20 place and created a network of cooperation in = our=20 efforts to best deal with the issue of street = dogs.=20

Our goals: stray animal welfare and = humane=20 animal population control.

Our priority: = sensitising Athenians to the need for = responsible pet=20 care.

We say ‘yes’ to a = clean Athens. Besides=20 promoting the friendly and hospitable side of = Athens, we=20 should be able to show its clean face as well. = The City=20 Police, within the framework of the City’s = Social and=20 Prevention Action plan, is encouraging pet = owners to=20 clean up after their pets. Those who fail to = comply are=20 fined according to the City’s cleaning = regulation.=20

This said, I would like to take this = chance to=20 invite you the City’s awareness-raising = event at=20 Eleftherias Park on February 5. I will not = reveal what=20 we have planned for the event because we want it = to be a=20 surprise especially for youngsters. Our goal is = through=20 fun and games and through contact with the = animals to=20 eliminate stereotypes and change attitudes. This = event=20 is a chance for us to see how we can change our = city for=20 the better.

I have said this several = times=20 before and I repeat: However many animals are = sterilised=20 or adopted on a daily basis, if each one of us = creates=20 new strays, we are simply reproducing an endless = cycle.=20 Without the active participation of the = citizens,=20 measures will never have full effect.” =

Author :=20 Theodore Koumelis=20

Athens mayor on = achievements=20
February 9, 2006

Athens Mayor = Dora=20 Bakoyannis presented the work accomplished = during her=20 3.5 year tenure in office during an event held = at the=20 Athens Concert Hall on Wednesday. Bakoyannis = said she=20 delivered on her promise to make the Greek = capital more=20 modern, more friendly, more functional for both = visitors=20 and residents and to prepare the Olympic host = city=20 successfully, realising the greatest investment=20 programme ever undertaken in Athens.=20

Additionally, she underlined the = importance of=20 Moody's rating of the city and the fact that in = 2005,=20 Athens achieved a primary surplus of €7 = million for the=20 first time.

Aside from the projects = already=20 completed, Bakoyannis also referred to the works = currently under way, such as the reconstruction = of the=20 Votanikos district and part of Alexandras avenue = due to=20 the building of a new stadium for the = Panathinaikos=20 soccer club, while preparations are being made = for the=20 creation of a Metropolitan Park in Goudi. =

The=20 mayor also referred to the publicity and = promotion=20 Athens enjoyed abroad, following the = infrastructure=20 upgrade leading up to the 2004 Olympics.=20

However, she also spoke about the = problems that=20 remain unresolved, such as waste, which is one = of the=20 biggest problems facing local government and = society.=20

In light of the West Attica prefecture=20 coordinating body's decision to shut down the = Ano=20 Liossia landfill for three days, Bakoyannis = noted that=20 this situation cannot continue.

Greece = cannot be=20 the only country in the European Union in which=20 recycling effectively does not exist; it cannot = be the=20 only country where illegal landfills operate, = she said,=20 adding that We - the local government and = central=20 government - must seek new policies and we must = move=20 forward.

Bakoyannis also referred to the = creation of a municipal police force, the = creation of a=20 shelter for the homeless as well as a series of=20 initiatives aimed at improving citizens' quality = of life=20 as more examples of the municipality's = achievements.=20

In closing, she thanked all those = Athenians who=20 helped the municipality achieve its goals.=20

Author : Athens News Agency=20

Tickets for the upcoming = Eurovision=20 Song Contest
February 23, 2006 =

Tickets=20 for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest will go = on sale=20 on 27th February through tshellas.gr. At this = moment,=20 host broadcaster ERT gives a press conference at = Divani=20 Caravel to announce more details about the = tickets.=20

Ticketstream Hellas in association with = ACS=20 courier and Eleftheroudakis Bookstores will = handle the=20 ticket sales. The price of the tickets will = range from=20 20 to 250 euros, depending on the day and the = seating.=20

Roughly, almost 100,000 tickets will be=20 available for the semifinal rehearsals, the = semifinal=20 live show, the final rehearsals and the final = live show.=20 An approximate 15,000 people will be able to = attend each=20 event. The main source of ticket sales is = expected to be=20 via the internet.

Semifinal tickets will = be=20 available for EUR 50, 100, 150 and 200. For the = final,=20 tickets will be available for EUR 75, 100, 150 = and 250.=20

For the first semifinal dress rehearsal, = tickets=20 for EUR 10 and 20 will be available. The second = and=20 third dress rehearsals of the semifinal provides = tickets=20 for EUR 10, 20 and 40. The first final dress = rehearsal=20 tickets can be obtained for prices between EUR = 20 and=20 50, the second and third final dress rehearsals = for=20 prices between EUR 30 and 90.

The = tickets will=20 be purchased online through credit cards and = each person=20 can buy up to ten tickets. On 31st March, the = system=20 will close. The seating plan of the OAKA Olympic = Indoor=20 Hall decides if more tickets will be available. = The=20 tickets will be made to be kept as souvenirs.=20

Author : esctoday=20

Shakira: Stop The War in = Lebanon=20
July 22, 2006

Colombian pop star = Shakira, whose father is from Lebanon, called = for a=20 cease fire in the country, which is torn to = shreds by=20 Israeli bombings.

So many mothers and = children=20 are dying every day and that's something we = cannot=20 tolerate, not today, not in the 21st century, = said the=20 singer before performing at a concert in Athens. =

I want to call (on) the US leaders to = stop this=20 war, because we all know that they can stop it, = she=20 said.

I just hope that there is a = diplomatic and=20 international intervention right away, I think = it's=20 necessary.

Author : Sofia News Agency=20

First Athens mosque =
July 26,=20 2006

The Greek government on Tuesday = unveiled a=20 location for the first modern mosque in Athens.=20

The mosque will be located in a downtown = area of=20 the city which is slated to be redeveloped as a = sports=20 and parks complex aimed at revitalising the city = centre.=20

The mosque will be built in the = Botanikos area.=20 The mosque will be paid for by the state, said = Minister=20 for Development George Souflias, adding it would = be=20 close to a new metro stop.

Greece had = pledged to=20 build a mosque in Athens to serve the city's = growing=20 Muslim community, mostly immigrants from Asia, = but the=20 plan had stumbled over the choice of location.=20

Earlier proposals included a site near = the=20 airport, 33 kms (20 miles) from the city, or the = reopening of an 18th-century mosque which has = since been=20 turned into a museum. We welcome this decision = and see=20 it as a positive development in accord with the=20 established position of the Church of Greece, = Archbishop=20 of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos said = in a=20 statement.

Author : Reuters=20

Liza Minelli in Athens for = Hellenic=20 Festival
July 26, 2006

Academy=20 Award-winning actress and singer Liza Minelli = was in=20 Athens on Monday, where she will close the = events for=20 the Hellenic Festival with two concerts on = Wednesday and=20 Thursday night at the Herod Atticus Odeon = beneath the=20 Acropolis.

At a press conference at a = central=20 Athens hotel, she expressed herself excited and = proud to=20 be in Greece - a magical country that combines = colour,=20 romance and courtesy, lots of music and dance.=20

According to Hellenic Festival director = Georgios=20 Loukos, the organisers had saved the best for = last and=20 were closing the festival with a superstar. =

He=20 thanked Minelli and U.S. Ambassador to Athens = Charles=20 Ries for his help in organising the two concerts = by the=20 multi-talented artist, which are taking place in = collaboration with the American-Hellenic Arts = Centre of=20 Halandri and the American Community School (ACS) = in=20 Athens.

He said the revenue raised by = the=20 concerts would go to support the activities of = the arts=20 centre, since the U.S. Embassy supported = cultural=20 programmes in the conviction that Art was a = universal=20 language uniting all peoples.

This is = the second=20 time that Minelli will be performing in Athens, = while=20 her appearance here will be part of a major = European=20 tour that the artist began in February this year = in=20 Munich. After Athens, she is due to appear in = Moscow and=20 finally in Montreal.

Her Athens = performances=20 will also be an opportunity for Minelli to take = a 10-day=20 trip in Greece.

Author : Athens News = Agency=20

Athens named as = destination venue=20 for City Break 2007
Aug. 20, 2006 =

Reed=20 Travel Exhibitions and European Cities Tourism = are=20 delighted to announce that City Break 2007 will = be=20 staged in Athens, Greece.- We invite you to = experience=20 City Break 2007 in modern Athens, where you can = explore=20 the past and discover the new, said Alex = Galinos,=20 Managing Director, Athens Tourism and Economic=20 Development Agency.

Following last years = very=20 successful launch event in Helsinki, City Break = 2007=20 will take place at the stunning neo-classical = style=20 Zappeion Mansion and the award winning = Intercontinental=20 Athenaeum. This three-day event, 11-13 June = 2007, will=20 focus on the growing European City Break market = and is=20 expected to attract over 200 European exhibitors = from 30=20 countries who will showcase their products and=20 destinations to pre-qualified international = hosted=20 buyers.

City Break is a break away from = the=20 normal trade exhibition format, featuring = pre-scheduled=20 appointments with buyers selecting up to 36 = appointments=20 with their chosen exhibitors. Companies = exhibiting in=20 2006 included the likes of Eurostar, Blue 1, = Octopus=20 Travel, Tussauds Group as well as leading hotel = chains=20 and destination management companies. Most of = Europe’s=20 leading cities from Athens to Zagreb were = represented.=20

International Buyers who attended City = Break=20 2006 from around the world included = representation from=20 Tui, American Express, Gulliver Travel, Expedia, = Easyjet.com

- Athens will provide the = perfect=20 host city destination,” commented Mark = Walsh Exhibition=20 Director City Break 2007.

- Following = the=20 rejuvenation of the city’s infrastructure = as part of the=20 Olympics in 2004, we have in place all the = facilities=20 needed to support a growing event such as City = Break=20 2007. With it’s new hotels, restaurants = and associated=20 facilities the city will hopefully match that of = the=20 experience received from Helsinki, Finland, the=20 inaugural show host city in 2006”. =

Alex Galinos,=20 Managing Director, Athens Tourism and Economic=20 Development Agency said:
- We invite you to=20 experience City Break 2007 in modern Athens, = where you=20 can explore the past and discover the new. The = modern=20 City of Athens, the premier city-state in = ancient times,=20 is delighted to host City Break, one of = Europe’s newest=20 networking and business travel exhibitions = dedicated to=20 promoting city break tourism, the fastest growth = sector=20 of European travel”.

More info on = City=20 Break Expo

Author : Boarding.no=20

Athens Trophy
Aug = 20, 2006=20

This year will see the Circuit 21 boats = from 11=20 different nations. Last year the racing was = close, with=20 races won and lost by seconds. This season = promises to=20 be even more exciting, setting new standards in = every=20 area.

The Breitling Med Cup is = attracting the=20 best sailors in the world.

From the = round the=20 world racers, massive budget America=A2s Cup = sailors, to=20 medalists in the Olympics, all come together to = compete=20 on the TP52 Breitling MedCup Circuit. =

The=20 penultimate event in the circuit will be run by = the=20 Hellenic Offshore Racing Club in the ancient = military=20 port of the Micromilano= =20 peninsula in Piraeus= .=20 Athens has long had a strong relationship with = the sea=20 and this tradition has continued from antiquity = through=20 to the modern day, when this historic capital = played=20 host to the 2004 Olympic Games. Without doubt = one of the=20 most spectacular venues in the Circuit, as much = for its=20 history as for its island-filled clear waters. = Welcome=20 to the cradle of the Mediterranean!

More = on the=20 event website: Athens trophy

Author = : Greece=20 Athens =

Greek tourism to grow = faster in '06,=20 report
September 14, 2006 =

Tourist=20 foreign exchange inflows are expected to lag = behind, in=20 growth terms, the growth rate of tourist = arrivals in the=20 country this year, a report by the Institute for = Tourist=20 Research and Forecasts (ITEP) said on Tuesday.=20

The report said tourist foreign exchange = revenues were not expected to match a forecast = of a 8-10=20 percent growth rate in tourist arrivals in = Greece this=20 year, but would record a growth rate of at least = 6.0=20 percent for the year.

ITEP said tourist = foreign=20 exchange inflows recovered strongly in June, = while he=20 noted that tourist arrivals in August -with the=20 exception of Corfu- exceeded forecasts and led = to a=20 forecast for a growth rate of 8-10 pct in 2006. = Tourist=20 arrivals in Crete and the Dodecanese rose 10.6 = pct and=20 12.1 pct respectively, in the period = January-August=20 2006, compared with growth rates of 6.3 pct and = 1.4 pct=20 in the corresponding period in 2005. Northern = Aegean=20 islands also recorded strong growth, exceeding = 10=20 percent in the first eight months of the year.=20

Cyclades islands also recorded strong = growth in=20 tourist arrivals, while Ionian islands lagged = behind=20 with the exception of Cephalonia (up 16 pct this = year=20 after a drop of 10 percent in the same period = last=20 year).

The report noted that Greek = tourism=20 growth was more than double compared with other=20 competitors in the European Mediterranean region = (Spain=20 +5.3 pct, Turkey -2.2 pct and Portugal +5.5 = pct).=20

Another report says foreign tourist = arrivals in=20 Greece rose by 8.3 percent in 2005 over the = preceding=20 year 2004, according to figures released = Wednesday by=20 Greece's national statistics service (ESYE) = regarding=20 the previous year’s numbers. =

According to the=20 ESYE figures, arrivals from Europe, which = account for 93=20 percent of the tourist market, rose by 6.5 = percent in=20 2005, with the largest proportion (19 percent) = coming=20 from the UK, followed by Germany (15.7 percent), = and=20 Italy (7.9 percent).

A substantial = increase was=20 also recorded in arrivals from Romania (51.5 = percent),=20 Bulgaria (36.3 percent) and Russia (28.1 = percent).=20

With respect to a breakdown of data = concerning=20 travel means and point of entry, the airports = with the=20 highest rate of traffic in 2005 were Athens' = Eleftherios=20 Venizelos International Airport (AIA), with 24.1 = percent, followed by Irakleio Airport (Crete) = with 12.8=20 percent; Rhodes with 7.8 percent and Corfu with = 5.6=20 percent.

In a comparison with 2004, the = airports=20 with the largest increase in traffic in 2005 = were=20 Mykonos (14.8 percent) and Santorini (10.5 = percent),=20 while declines in arrivals were recorded at the = airports=20 of Kavala (25.6 percent), Rhodes (77.8 percent) = and=20 Patras (Araxos) (49.3 percent).

A = 2.6-percent=20 increase was also recorded in passenger arrivals = on=20 charter flights in 2005 as opposed to 2004.=20

Author : Athens News Agency=20

Athens show reveals = secrets of=20 antiquities smuggling
September 15, 2006 =

Having fought for decades to recover its = stolen=20 ancient treasures, Greece is now hosting an = exhibition=20 exposing the secrets of antiquities smuggling = past and=20 present.

Sepia photographs of 18th = century=20 European aristocrats posing proudly next to = looted=20 ancient art may startle visitors to the Benaki = Museum,=20 but the show History Lost is not just a stroll = through=20 the past.

Organisers say its timing = could not be=20 better, coming as top museums such as the Getty = in Los=20 Angeles, whose former antiquities curator is on = trial in=20 Rome for trafficking looted Italian art, are = beginning=20 to give back stolen works.

The = audio-visual show=20 takes visitors through the ages of antiquities = smuggling=20 - from the Victorian collectors of Classical art = to the=20 looting of Iraq's National Museum in 2003 - and = the=20 routes of the modern-day illegal trade. =

In the=20 17th century, wealthy Europeans, enchanted with = the=20 ideals of Classical beauty, filled their homes = with=20 Greek and Roman antiquities. By the 20th = century,=20 African and Asian art once seen as ethnic = handicraft=20 also fell victim to the trade.

The = exhibition is=20 divided in two parts, before and after the 1970 = UNESCO=20 convention on the illicit trade of cultural = heritage,=20 which prompted former Metropolitan Museum = director=20 Thomas Hoving to declare: The age of piracy has = ended.=20

The United States signed the treaty in = 1983 and=20 Britain in 2003. But it was the Swiss signing in = 2005=20 that was hailed a major victory against = antiquities=20 smuggling.

More on Reuters

Author : By = Dina=20 Kyriakidou =

1st Arab-Hellenic economic = forum in=20 Athens
September 15, 2006

The = first-ever=20 Arab-Hellenic economic forum was held in Athens = on=20 Friday, with the primary focus on expanding = tourism=20 markets, both ways.

Tourism Development = Minister=20 Fani Palli-Petralia, among others, noted that = private=20 investments in the greater Athens area's hotel = sector=20 alone -- renovations and new construction -- = have=20 reached 500 million euros.

Lebanese = Tourism=20 Minister Joseph Sakris also addressed the forum, = where=20 he detailed the catastrophic consequences, as he = said,=20 that recent warfare inflicted on his country's = tourism=20 sector and infrastructure.

Finally, the=20 president of the association of Greek tourism = and travel=20 agents (HATTA), Yiannis Evangelou, said the = number of=20 Greek tourists to Syria, for instance, doubled = in 2006.=20

On the sidelines of the event, = representatives=20 of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry = (EBEA)=20 signed a memorandum of cooperation with the=20 corresponding chamber in the UAE city of = Sharjah.=20

Author : Athens News Agency=20

Getty Museum Will Return 2 = Antiquities to Greece
September 17, 2006 =

After months of intense scrutiny of its=20 collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, the = J. Paul=20 Getty Museum in Los Angeles said today that it = had=20 agreed to relinquish ownership of two of four = rare=20 ancient works that the government of Greece says = were=20 illegally removed from within its borders. =

The=20 compromise accord, which was initially reached = in May at=20 a meeting in Athens between the museum’s = director,=20 Michael Brand, and the Greek culture minister, = Georgios=20 A. Voulgarakis, provides for the return to = Greece of a=20 large stele, or grave marker, acquired by the = museum in=20 1993 and a small marble relief from the island = of Thasos=20 bought by the museum’s founder, the oil = magnate J. Paul=20 Getty, in 1955.

The Getty has not yet = worked out=20 the formal arrangement under which the stele and = the=20 relief will be repatriated, but officials said = the=20 accord might include a provision for long-term = loans=20 from Greece. Talks are continuing on the other = two=20 objects sought by the Greek government, with = goal of=20 reaching an accord by late August, officials = said.=20

Mr. Brand said the museum decided to = give up=20 title to the stele and votive relief even though = negotiations are incomplete because the Getty = was eager=20 to establish a new working relationship with = Greece.=20

More on NYTimes

Author : = HUGH EAKIN=20

Athens Classic Marathon=20
October 14, 2006

Among all the = Olympic=20 events, the Marathon Race stands out because it = was born=20 by a real historic and heroic event.

It = was a=20 feat accomplished by a news-bearing foot soldier = from=20 ancient Athens, who announced - with his last = words -=20 the victory of the Greeks against the Persians = in the=20 battle of Marathon (490bc).

The 42,195m = Marathon=20 Race became one of the most competitive events = when the=20 Olympic Games were revived in 1896. A Greek = athlete by=20 the name of Spyros Louis, running what has ever = since=20 been referred to as the 'Original Course' from = the=20 ancient city of Marathon to the Panathinaikon = Stadium in=20 Athens, won the gold medal of the first modern = Olympic=20 Games and became a legend of Greek and = international=20 athletics. The Marathon Race has always had a = prominent=20 place in the hearts and minds of sports = enthusiasts, as=20 it represents the highest effort where the human = body,=20 soul and mind are tested to their limits as the = runner=20 presses himself/herself to the finish line. =

This=20 year the Athens Classic Marathon (the only = Marathon race=20 in the world, which is held on the original = course and=20 the course of the 1896 first modern Olympic = Games) will=20 be held on November 5, 2006. Be there! =

More info=20 on Athens Classic Marathon =

Author=20 : Greece Athens =

City of Athens to spend = 1.5 million=20 euros on events for festive season =
December 6,=20 2006

The City of Athens will spend 1.5 = million=20 euros on decorating the city center and = organizing=20 events for Christmas, Athens Mayor Theodoros = Behrakis=20 said yesterday. The outgoing mayor said that the = lights=20 on the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square will be = switched on in nine days. A 120-year-old = carousel will=20 also be set up in the square for children to = ride. A=20 smaller carousel will operate in Kotzia Square = from=20 December 16. A giant snowman in front of = Zappeion Hall=20 will house the “workshop of fun,” = Behrakis said. The=20 municipality has also organized three New = Year’s Eve=20 concerts at Syntagma, Kotzia and Klafthmonos = squares.=20

Author : eKathimerini=20

The Grand Promenade =
December=20 6, 2006

The exhibition title refers to = the Grand=20 Promenade of the Unification of Archaeological = Sites, a=20 majestically named footpath that winds around = the base=20 of the Acropolis, taking in pine groves and=20 archaeological sites. Kafetsi’s idea was = to create an=20 ‘open’ museum combining Athenian = heritage with=20 contemporary art and daily life. Forty-four=20 international and local artists were invited to = choose a=20 site for their work, including not only the = Promenade=20 but various other locations around town. =

More on=20 Jeniffer Higgie review =

Author=20 : Jennifer Higgie=20 =