Greece
This month
In this issue:
• Vladimir Putin in Greece • First loan tranche for Greece to be paid out on second half of June • D. Avramopoulos on the refugee crisis. • 9th Annual London Greek Film Festival • Rebetiko Carnival begins! • CNN travels to Naxos • 10 top Greek islands for your summer in Greece!
Vladimir Putin on an official visit to Greece ( May 27-28) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras held a joint press conference on Friday, May 27, during the two-day official visit of the former in Greece, where he also attended the official celebrations held for the 1000- year- old anniversary of the Monastery of Mount Athos. At their meeting, the two leaders touched upon a variety of topics, including bilateral cooperation, Russia’s relations with the West, and the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. The two men agreed that it was time the deep and historic ties binding the two countries to be manifested in further economic cooperation. “We must 1
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transform these good relations and the emotional rapport between the two nations into tangible economic results,” the Russian leader said on the first day of a two-day official visit to Greece aimed at securing bilateral agreements in trade, investment and joint energy and transport projects. President Putin’s visit comes at a historically important time, ‘when Greece is completing a bailout review and leaving a period of uncertainty to confidently create the conditions for reconstruction, for investment and cooperation’, Mr Tsipras stated, adding that the two men discussed bilateral cooperation, focusing on investment opportunities in the private and public sectors, notably in infrastructure, transport , shipbuilding, food industry, tourism and pharmaceuticals, as well as the promotion of joint projects and joint ventures in the agricultural, food sector and energy sector. ‘We stressed the importance of this by today’s signing of an agreement on promoting investment in Greece and Russia, as well as by signing a regional cooperation agreement... We expressed our satisfaction with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Russian Energy Institute and Greece’s Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) as well as an agreement between Hellenic Petroleum and Rosneft’.Mr. Tsianakas describes us the moments that really touched him, and not only him, but the whole world, when watching the news: the deep emotion of the Archbishop when immigrants kneeled in front of three religious leaders and the way the Pontiff, As far as the EU sanctions against Russia for the Ukranian crisis are concerned, the Greek Prime Minister told reporters: “We have repeatedly said that the vicious circle of militarisation, of Cold War rhetoric and of sanctions is not productive. The solution is dialogue.”.
First loan tranche for Greece to be paid out on second half of June The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) published on Monday (May 31) an updated report on the decisions taken at the last Eurogroup meeting for Greece and the details for the disbursement of the country’s loan instalments. According to the announcement, the ESM Board of Directors is expected to approve the disbursement of the second tranche of the ESM loan facility amounting to 10.3 billion euros. The second tranche will be split into several disbursements, the first of which could be made in the second half 2
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of June, if Greece meets all the necessary preconditions, the announcement says. “The first disbursement would amount to 7.5 billion euros, to be used for debt service obligations and the clearance of domestic arrears. Subsequent disbursements would be made after the summer and will be subject to the completion of milestones,” it said. On the actions that are required to unlock the loan tranches, the ESM says the Greek government “must fully implement all the prior actions included in the first review, while several ESM member-states will need to receive approval from their national parliaments”. Furthermore, the ESM Board of Governors is expected to approve the supplemental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reflecting the staff-level agreement. In the last step, the ESM Board of Directors will take the formal decision to disburse funds to Greece. Concerning the debt relief measures agreed at the Finance ministers’ meeting that will be implemented in the short-term, after the first review is completed, they include: Smoothening the EFSF repayment profile, the repayment of certain loan tranches under the EFSF loan facility can be extended within the agreed maximum weighted average maturity of 32.5 years and using the EFSF/ESM diversified funding strategy to reduce interest rate risk. “The EFSF/ESM is working on different ways to optimise the structure of outstanding debt according to the different loan profiles of our beneficiary member-states,” it added.
D. Avramopoulos welcomes 31 refugees from Greece to Portugal as part of the relocation programme The migrant and refugee issue and EU security matters will dominate the contacts between the political leadership of Portugal and EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos on Tuesday in Lisbon. Commissioner Avramopoulos, the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Interior Minister Constança Urbano de Sousa will welcome 31 refugees from 3
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Greece under the European Commission’s relocation programme at the Lisbon Airport. Earlier, the Commissioner participated in the presentation of the Annual European Report on Drugs of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), which has its headquarters in the capital of Portugal.
Exclusive Interview: Alexis Georgoulis in his British TV debut ‘The Durrells’ The Durrells, ITV’s new adaptation of Gerald Durrell’s popular book ‘My Family and Other Animals’, has turned out to be such a huge success, that it has already been renewed for a second season. The six-part debut series, written by Men Behaving Badly’s Simon Nye, is based on the celebrated naturalist’s semi-autobiographical tale about growing up on the Greek island of Corfu between 1935 and 1939. Many Greek actors, as well as locals, joined the cast and our team had the chance for an exclusive interview with the famous Greek actor Alexis Georgoulis, who spoke about his experience starring in the famous British series, his relations with his British colleagues, as well as his future plans. Enjoy the interview! What taste has the show left you, now that the first season is over? Perharps, I could say that it was the best production I have ever worked for and everyone did a really good job. They have shown the beauty of Corfu in a great way. They knew how to work the light of Greece, regarding what they say about it as it needs specific treatment when filming and only Greek photographers have the expertise for that. But they did a great job. How did you manage to get the role and tell us a few things about Spyros? It happened accidentally. I was travelling from Athens to America and vice versa for a long time. I took some time off America and stayed in Greece for two years. While being in Greece, I started searching for an agent and finally I found one. Within 2 months I had an audition and after one month, or so, I was informed that that I got the role. Spyros, the taxi driver, is based on a true hero and he is the guy who knows everything that is happening in Corfu. He is the only one who owns a car which is very unique in the island. He really likes British people and he takes the role of the father in the family, because the real one is missing. However, a love affair has not been developed yet.
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Is it true that the shootings have been made both in Corfu and in London? 99% of the story is in Corfu while only at the beginning there were scenes in the UK. I must say that this was the idea, since in the book trilogy the story takes place in Corfu. Tell us a few things about your British colleagues. The way Greek and British people work is not different, even though there are obvious differences between the Mediterranean and northern people at some points. In the ‘Durrells’ there was a great connection with each other as we started talking and going out together from the very beginning. I have to reveal, though, a funny moment as the cast was a little frustrated by the fact that since they have white skins and they had to remain that way for the needs of the filming, they could not get out to the sun! They had to stay indoors, away from the beach and the fun! Considering that many locals joined the cast, could you tell us what were the impressions of the producers? Many people knew the story and also the production wanted to use as many Greek people as possible. Despite the fact that the largest part of the production took place in Athens, the British trusted the people of Corfu and they were surprised by the result. The locals have shown incredible professionalism and apparently they will use more Greek people during the following seasons. Did you face any technical problems during the shootings? Not exactly, despite the fact that the most difficult part for me was that I had to drive that very old car, which is 80 years old. And I have to admit that I had a small accident at some point as I went off the road, luckily without any serious injuries. Where did they find that car? To tell you the truth, I really do not know. I only know that it is an American right side car. Any funny moments during the shootings? We were laughing a lot and having a great time. We were admiring the beautiful landscapes and especially the sunrise from the home where ‘Durrells’ live. What is your relationship with your co-star, the famous Keeley Hawes? At the beginning, all actors face problems when 5
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trying to approach a role in a foreign language. It has to be understandable and to be fluent. This requires the actor to be relaxed and present which is not always the case. Keeley has helped me a lot to speak English like my mother-tongue. Did you ever imagine that the series will have such a success since the British audience is a ‘difficult’ one? I am not aware of the British audience and this is why I could not predict the success. However, this series differentiates from the others because there is no violence and it reflects a normal life. Moreover, it is a costume drama and after reading the script I knew that this series would be embraced by the audience. But I could never predict its huge success, with 8.1 million people having watched it. How many episodes will the second season have? The second season will have again 6 episodes, while the third 8. When do you start the next shootings? We expect to start on August 28. Taking into account the previous season that the shootings started on August 25 and ended on December 4, I presume something similar will happen this time too. Will the series be broadcasted in Greece? Yes, it will be broadcasted on OTE TV, probably in June. What are your future plans? I am waiting the green light to start a movie in America. I am also working on another project, which is a drama that I am writing. Half the movie is set in the UK and the other half in Greece. As for the plot, the main character is an assassin and the bodyguard of a wealthy man, who asks him to kill his own daughter! However, he will fall in love with her and he will face the dilemma to take the job or not, thinking at the same time that if he doesn’t take it, someone else will, and kill her and him. Apart from being the scriptwriter, will you be both the director and the main character of that movie? 6
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Yes, I will be playing the main character and I am also very close to directing it also. I have imagined the whole movie. Thank you Alexis for a beautiful talk. Have a Great time once again in Corfu!
9th Annual London Greek Film Festival (15-21 May 2016)
The 9th Annual London Greek Film Festival took place from 15 to 21 May 2016 at Camden’s Theatro Technis and for one more year presented independent and alternative films and scripts, as well as poems, highlighting the work of Greek filmmakers from Greece and abroad. On Saturday, May 21, Theatro Technis hosted the ‘Odysseus Awards’ ceremony, during which the festival’s jury awarded the best films by category. Awards were also given to best actors, screenwriters, filmmakers and performers. This year, as special feature, Modern Greek poetry from across the world was presented , as well, as a part of the Video Poetica International Poetry Competition. The awards ceremony was presented by the London based Greek correspondent of SKAI TV, Thanasis Gavos. The Greek consul Mr. Sotirios Demestichas and the head of the Press and Communication Office of the Greek Embassy in London Mr. Alexios Georgiades attended the ceremony and presented some of the awards. The award for ‘Best Documentary’ was given to ‘Argo Navis’ (Directed by Stelios Eftathopoulos & Susanne Bausinger. Greece / Germany, 2016) and ‘The light inside’ (Directed by Stavros Psillakis. Greece, 2015). The award for ‘Best Feature’ film was given to ‘300 Spartans – The Real Story’ (Directed by Stanislaw Karpinski. Australia, 2015). The famous Greek actor Dimitris Piatas won the award for ‘Best Actor’ for the ‘Bus 43’ (directed by Alexis Lazaridis. Greece, 2016) while Stephanie Capetanides took the award for ‘Best Actress’ for the ‘Firefly’ (directed by Georgios Soumelidis. Greece, 2015) For more information about the awards and the festival please visit http://www.londongreekfilmfestival.com 7
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For the fans of… Rebetiko, Rebetiko Carnival begins! (4 June- 2 July 2016) In June 2016, under the auspices of the Press and Communication Office of the Embassy of Greece, the Rebetiko Carnival, one of the most exciting and biggest music festivals in Europe is landing on the UK shore. The addictive and uplifting traditional music of Greece and Asia Minor will be resounding through the streets of major UK cities from South to North, such as Brighton, Shrewsbury, Bristol and Manchester, with the heart of the festival being in London. The carnival will include concerts, seminars, workshops, outreach work, instrument exhibitions and Shadow Puppet theatre, brought by many of the greatest musicians from Greece as well as the best UK based bands. The venues include Camden’s very own The Green Note as well as The Vortex, King’s Place, The Forge, the Hellenic Centre (London), The Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester) and The Latest Bar (Brighton). The carnival is organized and supported by a small group of musicians and volunteers who are passionate about this music, its performance and exposure, but also its value to all parts of society: those who are concert goers as well as those who do not have the ability to go to concerts, the physically disabled or mentally ill people, prisoners etc. It aspires to be a whole month of musical celebration and festivity. Do you have to be Greek to enjoy it? Absolutely not! Even the bands, besides Greeks, include musicians from Japan, England, France, Turkey, all coming together driven by their love for this music. Stories about love, loss, hope, war, suppression and freedom will be brought to you through the rich sounds of the bouzouki, violin, lyra, oud, lauta, accordion, santur, kanun, guitar, baglama and voice. The Carnival opens its doors this weekend with a concert – homage to Vamvakaris. For more information you may visit www.rebetikocarnival.co.ok
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Anthony Bourdain: In the Greek Islands The acclaimed Chef glorifies the island of Naxos in his CNN show Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’, the top-rated Emmy and international award-winning show that gets people who would never otherwise watch CNN to watch CNN, returned on April for its 7th season. On May 8, the episode ‘In the Greek Islands’ was broadcasted from the fascinating Cycladic island of Naxos, with the Chef being left enchanted, as his experience on the island went far beyond his expectations, as himself underlines in his promo video clip. On the famous island of Ariadne, Bourdain tastes the freshly grilled fish ‘gouna’ and ‘salatouri’ (skate) with olive oil and lemon and ‘rosto’ meat, drinks ouzo and raki with the locals and explores the mountainous village of Apeiranthos. In this picturesque village, with origins from the island of Crete (as the first residents who arrived on this village were Cretans), Bourdain attends a traditional celebration taking place in the square, with lots of food, drinking and dancing. According to him: ‘I knew that Greece as a nation was going through an awful, crippling financial crisis. I had asked for a villa where I might putter about and do some cooking as a base of operations ... I knew (and had insisted) that Naxos was very different from Mykonos. It was not a party island. It was a blank state. There was a lot of delicious food. The place is, as one, would expect, gorgeous and there are lots of surprises- and indicators both hopeful and ominous’.
Greece: A world of destinations!
10 top Greek islands for your summer in Greece! May is considered to be the last month of spring, but in Greece it’s actually a sign of the summer blooming. It’s that time of the year when we start planning our summer holidays, dreaming of sandy beaches and crystal waters, romantic sunsets and getaways to ‘paradise’ places. The sweet longing for fun and carelessness with the endless blue backdrop of the sky and sea overwhelms us all. In this context, ‘Greece this Month’ has prepared a list of the top 10 Greek islands 9
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where our readers could spend their holidays this summer, based on reviews and articles by ‘The Telegraph’, ‘TripAdvisor’, ‘CNN’ and other travel websites and blogs! 1) Santorini Classic value, the volcanic Cycladic island of Santorini, which continues, once again, to rank top on the list of the islands which ‘should be visited’ in 2016, according to TripAdvisor’s ‘Travelers Choice Awards 2016’. One of the things you should definitely do is to visit ‘Caldera’, the trademark of Santorini, where the view is stunning and of course to admire the sunset from the famous Oia! 2) Crete Crete ranks on the the 2nd place according to Trip Advisor’s list. It is one of the biggest Greek islands, with plenty of splendid beaches, ancient treasures, magical landscapes and dreamy villages, where locals share generously their traditions, but also their wonderful cuisine. Crete is an island with an exquisite 1,000-kilometer-long coastline dotted with numerous coves, bays and peninsulas, which afford a multitude of soft, sandy beaches along the beautifully blue Mediterranean Sea. The island’s historic importance lies as being the centre of the Minoan civilization with important archaeological sites such as Knossos Palace, with tens of thousands of visitors visiting it each year. If you haven’t visited Crete yet, it is a fascinating island not to be missed. Crete will welcome you with its smiling Cretan sun, the sounds of the Cretan lyre, the scents of orange blossom and jasmine, a slice of cool red watermelon and a glass of iced raki. 3)Rhodes On the 3rd place of aforementioned Trip Advisor’s list we find Rhodes, the largest of the 12 Dodecanese islands on the Aegean’s eastern edge. The island covers every taste, whether you arrive in search of buzzing nightlife, languid sun worshipping, or want to dive in crystal-clear waters, or to embark on a culture-vulture 10
journey through past civilisations. The atmospheric Old Town of Rhodes is a maze of cobbled streets that will spirit you back to the days of the Byzantine Empire and beyond. You should definitely visit The Old Town which is among the best-preserved Medieval Towns of Europe, with an impressive castle, paved paths and elegant stone mansions ready to be ‘discovered’. A drive around the island will bring you to magnificent beaches, impressive sightseeing and picturesque villages. 4) Mykonos The very well known to every foreign visitor who hears the word ‘Greece’, glamorous island of Mykonos can be easily compared to St-Tropez and Ibiza . Ranking 4th on Trip Advisor’s list, it remains the most popular Greek Island for its stylish nightlife. Whether you like jet-skiing, windsurfing, horseback riding, parasailing, rocking on the dance floors of the beautiful all day and night beach bars, Mykonos is the choice for your holidays! 5) Zakynthos On the 5th place we find the beautiful and fruitful island of the Ionian Sea, Zakynthos or Zante. Its music remains a huge part of the part of the local culture, considering the variety of concerts and festivals taking place almost every night during the summer season. You will be captivated by the sights and sounds of Zakynthos performers. Have a swim at the wide sandy beaches with the company of sea turtles, go snorkelling or scuba diving under the rocks and into its magical underwater caves. Take a tour around the city and visit the Solomos Square where you will find the Post- Byzantine Museum of Zante or visit the Venetian Castle. 6) Corfu The landscape is green, the waters deep blue, the local cuisine delicious. The Ionian Sea’s natural splendor seems impervious to time. The ‘’Ionian Queen” Corfu is on the 6th place on Trip Advisor’s list and it is evidently influenced by the Venetian period. It offers sublime mountain vegetation coming in astounding contradiction with its dazzling seas. With clean waters and surrounded by lush greenery, beaches in Corfu attract many visitors every summer. Paleokastritsa is the most famous beach resort, while other nice Corfu beaches include Agios Gordis, Pelekas and Glyfada. Enjoying the famous homemade pastitsada dish and sipping the renowned Koum Kouat liquer, visitors wander the kantounia (alleys), leading to forts and mansions.
7) Cephalonia Picturesque villages, fertile lands, steep rocks and magical coastline shape the island’s image. The largest island of the Ionian Sea, Cephalonia, is a very charming place and possessed the 7th position according to Trip Advisor. Mostly famous for its exotic beaches, including Myrtos, Antisamos, Lourdas and Skala, the island became widely known for the filming of the famous Hollywood movie ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’. Do not forget to visit the picturesque village of Fiscardo, at a short distance from Ithaca. 8) Naxos A spot of white in the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, the island of Naxos is a unique blend of ancient ruins and beach culture. Trip Advisor has listed it as the 8th best island for this summer according to the ‘Traveller’s Choice Awards’ list. The largest and greenest of the Cycladic Islands, Naxos is widely known as the island of princess Ariadne of Crete, who according to the ancient myth, was abandoned by Theseus. Dionysus (god of wine, festivities, and the primal energy of life) who was the protector of the island, met Ariadne and fell in love with her. But eventually Ariadne, unable to bear her separation from Theseus, killed herself (according to the Athenians) falling from the cliff into the sea, where the temple of Apollon ‘Portara’ is situated. It is worth noting that the Ariadne myth is also told in the Richard Strauss opera ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’. Naxos Island, the largest and most fertile island in Cyclades, is probably one of the most attractive and beautiful of the Greek Islands. It combines golden sands with the mountain beauty. Large enough to be explored, Naxos promises you unforgettable holidays. Over 40 kilometres of beaches, over 40 traditional villages, 500 churches, monuments, archaeological sites, beautiful drive on the mountains and fertile valleys, make Naxos Island one of the best holiday destinations in Greece. 9) Hydra Hydra is listed among the ‘19 best islands in Greece’ by The British newspaper ‘Telegraph’ and it is characterized as the best place for eco-warriors. It is truly the gem of the Saronic Gulf and stands alone among Greek islands as the one free of wheeled vehicles. No cars. No buses. No scooters. Just tiny marble-cobbled lanes, donkeys, rocks and the sea. Hydra is famous for its picturesque architecture, the vivid nightlife and cosmopolitan character. It is one of the most romantic destinations in Greece. Except for relaxing at cozy beaches, hiking is a popular thing to do as the island is crossed by many walking paths that lead to impressive spots with sea view and historical monasteries.
10) Symi Symi ranks also among the 19 best Greek islands according to The Telegraph’s list and it is the best destination for couples. It is one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese group just 9km off the Turkish coast, north of Rhodes. Symi is a popular destination for day trippers and one of the big tourist attractions is the monastery at Panormitis which is a spectacular building in a large bay on the southwest tip of the island. Chorio is one of the most well-known areas in Symi, with many narrow lanes and picturesque building and churches.
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