UNITY, HOPE & VISION
It is with great pleasure that I am formally announcing my candidacy in the Apokoronas Municipal Elections as a member of Stamatis Sgourakis’ Combination. I am a Candidate in the Kryoneridas Electoral District. I feel genuinely honoured to stand side by side with the men and women from the mountains and from the coast, from every section of the world of work in Apokoronas.

New legislation requires that 40% of each slate of candidates must be women; 17 year olds now have the vote and the election will be by Simple Proportional Representation – no more “bonus” council seats to give the winning Combination a free hand to do whatever it likes.
And this means, the new Mayor of Apokoronas must lead not dictate. He must listen not just issue orders.
And the correct involvement of women and young people means we will have their views, their ideas and their energies present in the Municipal Council.
 
The new Municipal Council will rely on finding a consensus and on co-operation. I am convinced that Stamati Sgourakis’ team has the skills and the breadth of experience for this challenge. 

Stamati Sgourakis will put words into action. He will replace the centralisation of all decision-making in the hands of the Mayor with the involvement of local communities and their local initiative.Stamati Sgourakis has brought together a Combination with a Vision – not so much of what exactly [although his Programme contains many practical actions ] – more about how - through listening to the villages, by co-operation and consensus and through respect for different points of view.
The full text of Stamati Sgourakis’ Programme, in English, is posted here https://www.gefyrathebridge.com/?fbclid=IwAR1obF13KLjGtzxbB7BRpOKRFLQQEKdxGdrIi25e56_cr8vXJbpJbz7wzDM

The Candidates Who Stand with Stamatis Sgourakis
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   The Municipal and EU elections will take
​          place on Sunday 26th May 2019
To Vote...

EU Citizens are eligible to vote in the Municipal elections and the EU elections provided that we are registered. Once registered, we do not need to re-register.
If you have moved house and not changed residence details at the town hall, your registration will still be valid - in the village where you registered originally i.e if you voted last time in Georgioupolis and have moved to Almyrida you will still have to vote in Georgioupolis.

This time the Village Representatives [Topikoi] are voted for separately – on a separate voting paper. These candidates are not formal members of any Combination.

At the Polling Station, we will be issued with a voting paper from each of the parties standing as before. Choose the party - the name of the Mayoral candidate is on the top - and the name of the party. You do not vote directly for the mayor - you vote for your councillors.

The voting paper is divided into two.
The first names are the candidates standing for the council in your area (Vamos, Kryoneridas (Vrysses), Georgioupolis, Fres and Asi Gonia).
Below is the second list of the names of the candidates in the other areas.
We must use a + against the names you wish to vote for.
Your number of votes [+’s] depends on the population of the area you live in:
In Vamos you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Vrysses you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Georgioupolis you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Fres you have 1 vote in your area and 1 outside
In Asi Gonia you have 1 vote in your area and one outside 
 
Your Polling Station will be your village hall or school.
Polls are open from sunrise to sunset. In effect this means 7am till 7 pm

The Municipality of Apokoronas Elections: Sunday 26th May 2019

We are pleased to publish the full text of the Election Programme of Mayoral Candidate Stamatis Sgourakis

     UNITY, HOPE & VISION
We are a party of active citizens, including experienced members of the local council and creative, enthusiastic young people. We share respect and love for Apokoronas - the natural environment, our cultural heritage, local history, and the people. We are independently united without party dependency and pledges. We are declaring a better tomorrow for Apokoronas.
We believe in the balanced development of all areas of our municipality, through policies that promote transparency and the participation of the population, with people always at the centre of our thinking.
We have developed a comprehensive proposal with vision, and a realistic plan that takes full account of the considerable advantages of our area, and sets the foundations for the Apokoronas that we all deserve.
The Municipality of Apokoronas needs to re-start. Wider consensus and co-operation are needed.
In the outgoing Municipal Council we developed significant co-operation. We formed policies and put forward suggestions to solve the problems. We demonstrated the insufficiencies, omissions and misjudgements of the outgoing administration. We believe there is a different way to manage the situation.
We believe in encouraging and supporting organisations in the community to define their own priorities and pursue their goals.
The new Municipal Council will rely on finding a consensus and on co-operation. Our team has the character and the skills for this work. Our Combination contesting this election exemplifies the breadth of our support.
We will put words into action. We will make all the decisions with involvement and local initiative.
 
For the rational management of land and our natural wealth as a prerequisite for the balanced development of Apokoronas.
Planning
We need an immediate update of the Zone of Urban Audit with improvements and extensions to the City Plans of the coastal settlements (Georgioupolis, Kavros, Almirida, Kalyves).
 
For the rational management of water resources: clean drinking water for all citizens
Our goal is to provide clean drinking water for all citizens including the most remote houses, and secure sufficient water for the irrigation needs of Apokoronas.
We will replace old water networks with new pipelines. Immediate priority is the removal of asbestos pipes.
We will improve our sources of water with sewerage infrastructure, construction of wastewater treatment systems, utilization of treated waste water in irrigation.
We will install water drilling and monitoring stations.
For a clean and healthy Municipality:
We need a sewerage treatment plant for Georgioupolis and the wider region (Kavrou, Kournas, Vrysses). With Rethymnon, we will address the serious issue of the Almyros bay.
We need sewerage treatment plants for Almyrida and the wider region and in Nio Chorio, Stylos and Armeni.
Our priority is a Waste Disposal Site.
To improve the effectiveness of the Municipality’s Cleansing Services we will add equipment and increase our fleet of refuse vehicles.
We will organize regular refuse collections, especially during the tourist season.
There will be an organised system for the collection of heavy and bulky items.
We will place blue recycling bins across the entire Municipality.
We will launch a campaign to raise our citizens' awareness of the issues of proper waste disposal and re-cycling.
The cooperation of all, residents and businesses with the Municipality is essential for a clean Apokoronas. We want partners!
 
For a Municipality that finds solutions to the problems, large and small
The effective operation of the Municipality's services lies in their ability to solve directly the small and big problems of everyday life.
We will continuously supervise, control and maintain rural and municipal roads, water and irrigation networks, and street lighting.
We will improve the road signage at junctions and crossroads.
We intend to extend street lighting to the entire Municipality.
 
For a Municipality with a continuously improving Tourism Product
Our goal is to extend the tourist season.
We propose a Tourism Office to promote our tourism product, history and cultural heritage. It will work in co-operation with Apokoronas’ hotel and tourist businesses.
We will publish a history, including the sights and the culture of our Municipality, publishing brochures in various languages. Websites will be upgraded, Apps and social network pages developed and infostands deployed.
We will support alternative forms of tourism:  hiking trails, tourist paths and historical monuments, further development of agrotourism, support for diving tourism (diving park completion), caving (cave of elephants), pilgrimages.
We will seek a Public Private Partnership for the construction of the Kalyves marina.
 
For a Municipality that stands shoulder to shoulder with the agricultural and livestock sector
We stand shoulder to shoulder with the farmers and the breeders of our Municipality. We will promote the study, organization, product branding of our high quality agricultural and livestock products (oil, wine, cheese, honey). We will be the passport for their organized and effective promotion at trade fairs inside and outside Greece.
We will support growth crops such as avocados by providing suitable irrigation water.
We will optimize the effectiveness of the combating the olive-fruit fly.
We aim to link the two development pillars of Apokoronas (Agriculture/ Livestock and Tourism) with the promotion of local products in our tourist units, in the organization of related tours and tasting programmes.
We will set up an agribusiness office to directly inform producers and young farmers about European programmes.
We will utilise “Apokoronas Developmental”, which is a serious tool for the development of our Municipality.
We will collaborate with scientific institutes and research centres active in the Regional Unity of Chania (Technical University of Crete-TEI-MAICH-Institute of Subtropical, Olive and Vine). We will organize seminars and training seminars for information and advice to the farmers in our Municipality.
 
For a Municipality that makes the most of our natural and cultural heritage
We will choose environmentally-friendly forms of development, having respect for the environment and especially for the rich variety of plants and animals of our countryside.
We will promote our cultural heritage, supporting local cultural institutions (clubs, dance groups, the rizites, animal welfare organizations). The Municipality will operate in a coordinating way to maximize the benefits of their activities.
We will renovate existing municipal buildings such as the old reservoir in Kalyves square, non-functioning school buildings and use them for cultural events.
We will expand and upgrade the Gavalohori Folklore Museum.
We will complete the restoration project of Pyrgos Alidakis in Embroseros.
We will convert the old DEE hydroelectric plant in Georgioupolis into a Museum of Energy.
In co-operation with the Ephorate of Antiquities, we will promote the inclusion of the restoration of Koule in Nio Chorio in an EU programme.
 
For a Municipality of social solidarity in action: with the human being at its heart
Human Beings are always at the heart of our concerns. With targeted interventions, the Municipality will strengthen and support vulnerable social groups and people with disabilities.
We will give practical support to the Vamos Health Centre, the "Help in the Home" programme, the nurseries, the Social Supermarket, the voluntary social solidarity groups.
We will work with the Red Cross of Chania, with the Church and with the Agia Sophia Public Benefit Foundation.
We will build infrastructure in municipal buildings, schools, etc. to ensure the unobstructed accessibility for people with mobility problems.
We will create a care centre that will offer support and advice to our fellow citizens who have problems with housing, food, health care and need psychological support.
 
For a Municipality that gives opportunities to the new generation
We shall keep all school units (kindergartens, elementary schools, high schools, lyceums) in operation. No further reduction or removal can be accepted.
The construction of a new building complex for the needs of Gymnasio-Lyceum of Vamos is a priority.
We will promote the building improvement, energy-use upgrading, additional educational equipment, safe student transport, heating, the disinfecting and cleaning of the school units of our Municipality.
We will work with and support the Technical College of Apokoronas and the Environmental Education Centre in Kefalas. We will work with the District Press Institute.
We will continue the Lifelong Learning Programme.
We will improve existing sports facilities.
We will build an indoor gym and sports court.
We will support the football teams of our Municipality.
We will support the international chess tournament of Apokoronas.
 
For a Municipality that is functional and efficient, that always stands side by side with the citizen and their needs
We will immediately re-examine municipal charges, using rational and fair criteria, and ensure their reduction.
We will reward water consumers who pay their bills on time by establishing discounts for punctuality.
We will strengthen the Municipality's Planning Office, capitalizing on the opportunities created by the EU Programmes.
We will develop partnerships at the level of the Regional Entity of Chania and the Region of Crete for rational planning and setting  priorities.
We will develop close co-operation with village councils - we want them to have an essential role, to be "rulers" in their own place, to resolve any problems directly and to act as a link between the citizen and the municipal authority. We want close cooperation with all local bodies and collectives active in each area (cultural, social, sports, etc.)
 
For a friendly Municipality that treats all its residents equally
The large community of foreigners in our municipality has been a living, integral part of our local society for several decades. In many cases they have brought life back to areas of Apokoronas where the lights had begun to be turned off. They have chosen to settle in our place, their choice honours us, gives us the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge. The problems are common to all of us, we want them side by side with us on an equal basis.
 
For a Municipality that cares for stray pets:
This is an indicator of civilisation.
We will proceed with the licencing of a municipal veterinary clinic and establish regular sterilization programmes of stray pet animals by veterinary surgeons from the Municipality of Apokoronas and volunteer European colleagues.
In co-operation with the Animal-Friends Association of Apokoronas, we will promote the care and recovery of stray animals (food-vaccination-sterilization), hospitality, adoptions, prevention of abandonment. We will establish educational programmes in schools to promote animal welfare and to inform pupils about the actions of the Municipality.
We will operate a 24-hour contact line and we will have a specially designed emergency vehicle.

 "Now the homeland is hitting its stride again"
​PM Tsipras in Chania

​At the close of his tour of Crete, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras delivered this speech in Chania: "Now the wheel of history has turned once more. Now the homeland is hitting its stride again.
The economy is recovering, the injustices of the crisis, many and at many levels, are gradually being put right. And as the steady course of recovery continues, so will the speed of social justice for the many in this country".
In his wide-ranging speech Prime Minister Tsipras referred to Government initiatives benefitting Crete.
- In the years 2015-2019, new projects were approved in the NSRF, amounting to  93€ million, nearly double the amount of 54€ million allocated between 2010-2014.
- From 2015 to the present, new national R&D projects valued at 64€ million have been approved, and money is being earmarked for studies and projects to build and upgrade buildings of all levels of education, flood protection, road construction, and natural disaster relief.
-With the Filodemos programme, the Ministry of Environment and Water is financing water and sewage, rural roads and floods, totaling 31.5€  million.
-For the support of farmers due to the damage caused by the recent weather phenomena, 2€ million will be allocated directly to the breeders of the Chania Region.
- The Paleochora Sewer Project is being implemented, overcoming barriers that delayed the project for 26 years.
- The Electric Interconnection of Crete with mainland Greece, with the two submarine cables that will connect Chania with the Peloponnese and Heraklion with Attica and will finally provide a definitive solution to the energy problem of the island.
- Crete is to acquire a third university, the Greek Mediterranean University.
"The recovery of the economy has brought the time for a recovery of society." "Every man and every women knows in their lives and in their pockets what they experienced up until 2014 and what they are experiencing today," he said, pointing out that the fiscal surplus had not gone to waste. "It has been distributed over the last three years to those who really needed it."
Reduce taxes here and now
He announced that the Government is now in a position to reduce taxes, to give relief. "We do not come here to say 'will', but 'here and now', with a plan and security, to announce relief for the financially weak, who bore the heavy burden of the crisis on their backs." 
The criterion is reality, not propaganda
"However much some are trying to hide the reality, what will play a key role in the outcome of the fight for the European and national elections that will be held in the autumn is the economy," he said, stressing that it would be the criterion of reality itself.
"Not the propaganda, the mud and the character assassinations attempted by the monstrous mechanism of deception and misinformation that the old regime has set against us," he noted, pointing out that against the " weapons of mass distortions " and the families of the oligarchs and the media barons stand the truths of the many.
He spoke about the efforts of the old political system for its restoration and about those who "are asking to return to power unrepentant about the disaster they brought to the place, the disastrous four years from 2010 to 2014, those who did not have the elementary honesty and integrity to take responsibility for their actions. They can not hide what their return will mean for the country - it will not happen, you know that you will not let it happen, it would be big backward step."
He also commented Mr. Mitsotakis' mistaken candour about cutting the Christmas bonus: "The offspring of the rich who grew up and lived in the grand salons and who manages the millions of the off-shore family businesses. He can not imagine what it means for someone to get a 150€ monthly allowance for their rent. This 150€ he [Mr. Mitsotakis Ed] considers to be useless and characterises it as a poverty dividend, as if there are people who want to be poor by choice, and with their bonus, they are happy to go on being poor." 
The young men and women will be a surprise on May 26th
He predicted that the big surprise, in connection with the polls, on May 26 will be the young people. "It is not a lost generation," he said, saying that he has confidence in young people, considering that those who once again " have made the mistake of writing off a whole generation will understand this."
He once again called for a rallying to the Progressive Alliance "to overcome our entrenched positions", emphasizing that Greece is paving the way for a progressive Europe.

Alexis Tsipras’ May Day Message
"Today the 133rd anniversary of Chicago's struggle to work for dignity has been completed. May 1886 laid the groundwork for the development of the labour movement and is always an inspiration for the movements that claim the righteousness of the many around the world. Particularly in the years of Neo-liberalism, where the upsetting of the balance between capital and work threatens the viability of economies, societies and the environment itself, the struggle to protect labour is a task for each and democratic citizen.
Today, however, is the first Day of May after leaving the memorandum, which was before anything else, an attack on labour, through its downgrading, with dramatic consequences for the Greek society and economy.
Today we are now counting three months from 1 February 2019 when the minimum wage increased to 650€ and the unfair measure of the sub-salary was abolished for young people under the age of 25 entering the labour market. Now, all employees are treated on equal terms.
In addition, the reorganization of work through the restoration of Collective Agreements, increased controls by the Labour Inspectorate and the imposition of penalties on employers who violate labour law marked the passage to a new era of social justice and sustainable development for our country.
Significant steps that gradually are healing the wounds left behind by the disastrous policies of the Memoranda... Policies, which the current opposition has strongly supported, which it is still dreaming of restoring today. The proposal to abolish the Christmas Bonus is a precursor to these "goods" embraced by their neoliberal ideology. "Goods" for the corrupt elite they represent, of course, since these policies achieved 28% unemployment in 2014 and led to the plight of thousands of families during the crisis.
With employment support policies, the unemployment rate has fallen to 18.5%, according to Eurostat. However, we can not be complacent, since it is still high and there is no doubt that we still have a lot to do. Protecting work is a prerequisite for social cohesion, but it is also a prerequisite for hope and a vision for our young men and women for tomorrow's Greece.
The struggle for widening labour rights and protecting workers, the struggle for justice for the many is permanent and our priority. We are not going back. We have the power and we will do it. Good battles, good Labour Day!"

"Our plan helps those who are struggling to pay but cannot"
On Monday May 6th the Government submitted draft legislation to provide relief to millions of Greeks with tax and pension contribution arrears, offering discounts on amounts owed and extending payment plans by up to 120 monthly installments.
“Our plan helps those who are struggling to pay but cannot. We have been through the biggest crisis seen in a capitalist country; they don’t have the liquidity (to pay),” Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters.
He said that about 4.2 million people have unsettled arrears with the tax office, state pension funds and municipalities, including about 80,000 eligible for retirement pensions but unable to receive benefits because of their arrears.
The bill offers discounts 65% on arrears including surcharges, plus minimum monthly repayments of 50 euros, depending on annual income and other criteria.
Minister Tsakalotos said that the Government is simply doing what it had promised in 2015.
“Many people understand that things are going better, that growth has returned, that exports are doing very well, and that investments are being made,”  he said.
“We are gradually beginning to do what we promised before the September, 2015 election. We have access to the markets and pensions were not cut.”
“Things are moving in the right direction and will gradually improve but we cannot hide the fact that some people are in dire straits. That could not have been otherwise in a country that lost nearly one-quarter of its GDP in a crisis unprecedented in the Western world…We are regaining a degree of freedom and we can now say that what Alexis Tsipras announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) has been implemented. He announced a [social spending] package of something over 900€ million. It was all implemented either through taxation or insurance contributions. We instituted a number of measures for self-employed professionals. We began rebuilding the social state which our opponents describe as handouts. We say a contemporary state should have a strong social dimension.”
“As a left-wing government we want to cut taxes but also to redistribute income and both elements are important.”
‘Super-primary surpluses make us more trustworthy’
Regarding the over-achieved primary surplus targets, he said “It was not our aim to have super-primary surpluses. Now that the bailout memorandum is over we can plan policies without waiting until the end of the year because we have made correct calculations, know how the economy is going, and have shown that our projections are better than those of the Institutions [Greece’s creditors]. If there is one good thing about the super-primary surplus it is that it has made us more trustworthy,” the Finance Minister said.
“I am less troubled about Greece because we are moving in the right direction and we have undeniably shielded the country against a prospective crisis. The problem is that the reform of the economic and financial architecture of Europe has not moved forward and so I am concerned about the future of Europe.”
Unpaid Taxes
The latest figures published last week by Greece’s Independent Authority of Public Revenue (AADE) revealed that unpaid taxes to the Greek state now amount to 104,365€ billion.
The majority of those in debt, 4,064,750 individuals, actually owe less than 500€. Overall, 92.6% of the taxpayers who owe to the Greek state have less than €10,000 to repay.
However, seventy-nine individuals have outstanding arrears of more than 100€ million each, totaling a whopping 34€ billion, which comprises approximately one third of the total amount owned to the Greek state.
Greece’s tax authorities imposed compulsory payment measures on a total of 1,186,380 debtors in February of 2019, up from 1,175,987 in January of the same year.

Some Debt Relief
Last Thursday the Board of Directors of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) approved debt relief measures for Greece totalling almost one billion euros, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) said in a press release.
The EFSF will reimburse the 103€ million step-up margin paid by Greece for the period between 1 January and 17 June 2018 and reduce to zero the 2 percent step-up margin that would otherwise be payable on certain EFSF loans for the period between 17 June 2018 and 17 June 2019.
It said this will save Greece 226€ million, while the country will benefit by a total amount of 329€ million.
At the same time, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will transfer amounts equivalent to the income earned on Greek Bonds held by SMP/ANFA, amounting to 644.42€ million.
“Today’s decision by the EFSF not to charge the step-up margin shows that the Greek Government is abiding by its reform commitments.” said ESM Managing Director and EFSF CEO Klaus Regling.
“Continuing on the reform path will enhance Greece’s growth potential, strengthen the country’s economy, and will also make it easier for Greece to repay its loans,” he added. CEO Regling said the transfer of the SMP/ANFA income “is a grant, not a loan.” 

Second Belt and Road Forum
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos were in China for the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, based on the ancient Silk Road linking East and Southeast Asia with East Africa, West Asia and southern Europe.
PM Tsipras met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang , and Politburo Standing Committee member Wan Yang (number four in the Communist Party of China hierarchy).
Government sources emphasised that Greece-China cooperation focussed on investment, hi-tech, and banking in the coming period.
Following the acquisition of the Port of Piraeus with a 35-year franchise by the Chinese commercial giant COSCO, Greece has become a very important transport hub for Chinese products, which reach other EU countries by rail.
In August 2017, Greece officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative with a memorandum of understanding signed by the then Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.
The deal is also expected to bring major investments into infrastructure.
The cooperation with Cosco has made Piraeus the second largest port in the Mediterranean and it is moving towards first place.
"Piraeus, the fastest growing port in the world, will be the largest port in the Mediterranean by 2019, displacing Hamburg from third place in Europe," the German newspaper Die Zeit reported last year.
The Greek and Chinese sides signed a new three-year cooperation framework between the Greek Economy Ministry and the China Development and Reform Commission. The MoU focussed on energy, transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, research and development, and financial sectors.

   The Municipal and EU elections will take
​          place on Sunday 26th May 2019.
EU Citizens are eligible to vote in the Municipal elections and the EU elections provided that we are registered. Once registered, we do not need to re register.
Unfortunately, registration closed at the end of February 2019.
If you have moved house and not changed residence details at the town hall, your registration will still be valid - in the village where you registered originally i.e if you voted last time in Georgioupolis and have moved to Almyrida you will still have to vote in Georgioupolis.
This time the Village Representatives are voted for separately – on a separate voting paper. These candidates are not formal members of any Combination.
At the Polling Station, we will be issued with a voting paper from each of the parties standing as before. Choose the party - the name of the Mayoral candidate is on the top - and the name of the party. You do not vote directly for the mayor - you vote for your councillors.
The voting paper is divided into two. the first names are the candidates standing for the council in your area (Vamos, Kryoneridas (Vrysses), Georgioupolis, Fres and Asi Gonia).
Below is the second list of the names of the candidates in the other areas.
We must use a + against the names you wish to vote for.
Your number of votes [+ s] depends on the population of the area you live in:
In Vamos you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Vrysses you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Georgioupolis you have 3 votes in your area and 1 outside
In Fres you have 1 vote in your area and 1 outside
In Asi Gonia you have 1 vote in your area and one outside 

The programme stating precisely the date of the vote, the starting and finishing hours of voting, the relevant polling stations, the seats for which the election is being made and the Combinations together with the names of the candidates must be posted on the Municipality's website at least three (3) days prior to Election Day.

"Greece will not return to the past"
20.4.2019

"Greece will not return to the past" was the slogan delivered from Kalamata by Alexis Tsipras on Thursday evening to the thousands who filled the sports hall, demonstrating a powerful "present" to the political gathering of the SYRIZA - Progressive Alliance.
The Prime Minister thanked the citizens of Kalamata for the huge gathering and said: "The Greek people and not the oligarchs’ propagandists will answer the question of who will govern this country. Every time elections come, we feel like fish in water. Our opponents are the ones who can not speak with reasoned arguments. Now the people are talking, that is the message you are giving here and that message goes from one end of Greece to the other."
Today Greece has no IMF
"In January 2015, we inherited a country with 1.5 million unemployed and empty coffers, a 25% loss of national wealth in just a few years,. Schools did not open on time because they did not have teachers and hospitals had an entrance fee of 5€. That was the country that was bequeathed by Mr. Samaras and Mr. Venizelos, who …consistently took the part of the lenders. They have the audacity to talk about the need for political change, while their true slogan is "restoration".
"Here, in Kalamata, the heart of the democratic Peloponnese beats tonight. A broad popular current is flowing out across Greece and is finding a response in every city in every region."
"This majority and victory-bearing current gives an answer to those who think the power of lies and propaganda is stronger than the power of a people thirsty for a better tomorrow. And the answer to political opportunists throughout all these days, from the first gathering of the Progressive Alliance in Galatsi to today's here in Kalamata is this: Now the people are talking." he said, highlighting the momentum that the Progressive Alliance is gaining throughout Greece.
"We have succeeded"
Alexis Tsipras reported on the work of the Government and the historic moment of August 2018 with the exit from the Memoranda and the beginning of the economic and social recovery. "Today Greece is not the Greece of bankruptcy. Greece today is no longer the Greece of the Memoranda. Greece today is no longer the Greece of the IMF. In September 2015 we pledged to the Greek people: We will take the country out of the Memoranda with society standing on its own two feet. And we have succeeded."
"It is a collective achievement and the collective property of the Greek people… no one struggled hard for it to become just a one-off action. No one showed their back."
"Some have fought hard to prevent it…Mr. Mitsotakis struggled hard to avoid the real change of August 2018, so the day Greece would be out of Memoranda would not come…Mr. Mitsotakis and the propaganda machine that surrounds him at every turn agitated for disaster," he said, adding that for four years Mr. Mitsotakis did no other job "than agitate for the destruction and failure of the Government", observing that they "are anxious", because they see their predictions being proved wrong.
"That's why you see the representatives of the old regime," he said, "howling on a daily basis. Cursing and threatening gods and demons. And because desperation grips all those who think it is not pollsters and news makers who vote in elections." 
The Prime Minister stressed that it is the many who vote in elections. "And they will drive them decisively to the place they deserve. To the sidelines. And many of them will be driven to have an audience with Justice. And because they know this well, they become even more scurrilous and more aggressive."
The bankruptcy of the Country is not forgotten
He added that nothing and no one is forgotten. "The bankruptcy of the country is not forgotten. The collapse of the insurance funds is not forgotten. The destruction of the hospitals and schools is not forgotten. The political responsibility of all those who brought Greece to the brink of bankruptcy is not forgotten."
"A Progressive Road"
He spoke about the crossroads where Europe finds itself in the run-up to the [European Ed] elections, in the wake of the crisis and its consequences for European peoples. "One way is the restoration of the Right and the Extreme Right, the other is the progressive road."
"It is clear that in the conservative camp in Europe, the extreme right is now boss. The fans of extreme austerity are now in a tight embrace with the intolerant. The reduction of labour rights with the reduction of individual freedoms. The abolition of the eight-hour day, the hunting down of the weak, the racist stereotyping is no longer an add-on but is now a central strategy of the elites in Europe."
"There is a Europe of solidarity, co-responsibility, a Europe of social rights, equality, a Europe that takes action to protect the environment and individual freedoms. The progressive Europe, born through the co-operation of all those who do not accept the return to the dark days of national antagonisms and divisions."
"A Greece of the many or a Greece of the elite"
In Greece, he pointed out, the programme of New Democracy has the clearest stamp of the toughest and most vindictive neoliberalism. He also stressed that citizens would be called upon to choose either redundancies or staffing the welfare state. Either the taxation of wealth or the lightening of the burden for the many. Either Pinochet-style insurance or a fair and sustainable public insurance
system. Either the collapse of wages and labour deregulation or wage increases and the protection of labour. Either the “little gifts” to the oligarchy or the strategic plan for development and a new productive model for the country. "That is to say, either a Greece of the elites or a Greece of the many".
"They are afraid of the new generation, who paid for the crisis and who know…"
"The seventeen-year-olds who vote for the first time on May 26th, the eighteen-years-olds, the twenty-year-olds, need now to realize that they have a weapon in their hands. Let's not hand it over to our opponents."
"Greek men and women of the 21st century. The collective power of our homeland. They have in their hands all the answers for the future."
"I hear people scoff at the new generation, call it apathetic or indifferent. Others underestimate it, like Mr Mitsotakis, who voted against our proposal for voting at 17, arguing that they would only produce totalitarian regimes."
"Do you know why they do that? Why are they disparaging the new generation? It is because, deep down, they are afraid of it. It is because they know very well that the generation that paid for the crisis know that the rotten regime of old Greece is against them."
"They are afraid of the power of the new generation," he said, explaining that this generation has knowledge, insights, performances and experiences that no other generation has had at their age.
"We need this generation for the new era. It is not SYRIZA that needs it; it is not Tsipras that needs it. Greece needs it, Europe needs it," he said, calling for confidence in its judgement, its decisions, in the power of the people who insist on dreaming, in the struggles, in the demands and in the achievements of the new generation.

Greece to seek WWII reparations from Germany
A large majority of MPs voted to give a mandate to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to seek WWII reparations from Germany. The Government can now take "every appropriate legal and diplomatic action to satisfy Greece's demands."
Demanding reparations is "a historic and moral duty and a duty in memory of the heroes of the past... above all at a time when the extreme right, nationalism and racism threaten Europe."
During the 12-hour discussion on Wednesday, the Government did not say how much money it intended to ask from Berlin. A 2016 parliamentary committee found that Germany should pay over 300€ billion for its wartime atrocities on Greek soil, including the deaths of 300,000 Greeks and a forced loan that the Nazis extorted from the Bank of Greece in 1942. The so-called "occupation loan," worth over 30€ billion in present-day euros, was used to help finance Germany's war in North Africa.
"I was the first Greek Prime Minister to raise the issue of German indemnities in Berlin," said Alexis Tsipras at the beginning of his speech in the Parliamentary Debate.
"The Greek Government intends to immediately issue a note verbale to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany reiterating its claims arising from the Nazi invasion and occupation as well as war crimes committed by Nazi Germany."
The claims concern:
- war reparations for material damage and the dismantling of Greece’s productive capacity 
- compensation for the victims and relatives of the victims of war crimes 
- repayment of the occupation loan 
- the return of the stolen archaeological treasures and heirlooms
The Prime Minister insisted that the issues of austerity and wartime reparations should be kept separate.
"Some have tried to suggest Greece is using its claims of war crimes by Germany in order for the Government to negotiate better terms for the country’s debt… We could never put the absolute evil of Nazism on any scales. No slaughter, no monstrosity, not even one drop of blood could be balanced against any bailout.That would be an insult to our country."
He said the time has come to open the issue only after Greece had exited the bailout programmes.
"We now have the chance to close this chapter," he said.
Referring to the presence of Golden Dawn in Parliament, Alexis Tsipras spoke of "the shame and disgrace on the history of our people."
The Prime Minister stressed that "it is worth confronting history", making a tribute to the victims of Nazism, the Kalavrita disaster, Kesariani, the victims of Auschwitz, Dachau where thousands of people died. Honouring the men and women fighters of the Greek resistance ".
"We must remember in order to honour them as symbols of the future, now that the enemies of freedom are again raising their heads. The far right and racism are trying to break Europe again. This is something we must not allow. In view of the European Elections, we also send a message of remembrance instead of forgetting."

Primary Health Care
Health Minister Andreas Xanthos, who is touring the hospitals and health units in Kastoria, Kozani and Ptolemaida officially opened the 3rd Local Health Unit in the city of Kozani.
In its first year of operation, 124 structures for primary health care and the family doctor system have been created throughout Greece. The Minister noted that "after having achieved some stability in the secondary system by normalizing the operation of the hospital units, it is time to invest more in primary care services that proved to be the major problem of running the National Health Service in the Region".
He explained that the intention of the Ministry of Health's political leadership is to support the new innovative family medicine structures that developed in the environment of austerity and crisis throughout Greece. He said that 1100 people, including family doctors and other health specialists, had been recruited. Minister Xanthos emphasised that "the team intervenes in the community, working with all the support and care structures that the state has established, such as the Home Assistance programme and the rest of the health system.
The coordinator of the 3rd Health Unit of Kozani, Dr. Athanasios Skordas, reported that 9,000 people have been enrolled in the unit while about 100 people are served daily. The unit has 4 family general practitioners, 1 pediatrician and 2 health visitors.

 “Brain Regain”
An initiative involving 16 major Greek companies, unveiled on Tuesday, aims to attract back thousands of Greek professionals who left the country during the financial crisis by offering mentors to help the emigrants reconnect with the Greek labour market.
The scheme “Brain Regain” will provide, for a three-month period,  high-ranking executives to mentor those interested in returning to Greece.
The companies involved include Aegean Airlines, Hellenic Petroleum, Cosmote, Coca-Cola HBC, Titan, Piraeus Bank, Fourlis, Interamerican and Chipita in an initiative coordinated by the nonprofit association Ellinikes Rizes (Hellenic Roots).
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Theodoros Kotionis, the chief executive officer of Ogilvy Group Greece, who is also involved in the initiative, said that most Greeks who left did so out of necessity, due to the crisis, and would like to return.
“They found work abroad but Greece is their home. Their friends are here, their parents are here. This is where they want to have their families and send their children to school,” he said.
“Only 20 percent don’t want to come back,” Kotionis said. If better opportunities and decent wages were on offer, “the others would like to return.”
Yannis Papachristou, general manager of Coca-Cola HBC, was among those who left. He returned to Greece three years ago. “I needed someone to support me during the initial difficult period so I could get reconnected with what was happening in Greece,” he said. “That will be the role of the mentors in Brain Regain,” he said.
Between 2008 and 2016, an estimated 450,000 Greeks left Greece seeking employment abroad. Of those, 31% were aged over 41, 25% were between 31 and 35 and 19% were aged 26-30. More than half (55%) held a postgraduate degree and 8% had a Phd.

Celebrating International Roma Day Monday April 8th
13.4.2019 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke at a meeting with representatives of Greek Roma on the occasion of International Roma Day.
"Today, in the Maximos Mansion of the Prime Minster, there are representatives of Roma from several regions of the country, as well as special mediators, social workers, people who work next to the Roma communities to integrate them equally into the social context.
"Today is a special day. It is a day dedicated to the Roma, but I would say that it must also be a day that reminds us all that there are no second-class citizens."
"Unfortunately, this is not, especially in our time, something that is self-evident. In Greece, I am proud of this too. We have taken very important steps in our own years of governance."
And we took these steps in a period of financial difficulty. I am proud because these steps have been made in difficult times, and some had not thought there was a financial possibility to support our weakest fellow citizens. 
Unfortunately, though, while we are here talking about projects that will fulfill a strategy of equal integration of all citizens into social life, into Greek society, in other countries of Europe we are experiencing attacks, we are experiencing racist outpourings. You will have seen recently what happened in Italy, where, unfortunately, the Italian government, one part of it anyway, the Foreign Minister who is on the extreme right and other forces there, stirred up the citizens, unfortunately, against the Roma.
In recent years, we have pursued a policy of integration that may differ from a perception that has prevailed in the past, a fragmented, opportunistic, many times corrupt, and as a basic objective we had to build an infrastructure. I remember in 2016 when I spoke at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg when we first announced our plan to set up a Special Secretariat at the Ministry of Labour so representatives of Roma communities would be present in the government planning for the equal integration of these communities within the Greek society. The Special Secretariat became a reality, but we have not stayed at the level of the bureaucratic and institutional framework. We have, in my view, proceeded to a plan for the effective mobilization of communities and their integration into social life.
First of all, we made a mapping. We did not have that either. A mapping to see how many communities are, how many settlements there are, how many Roma are Greek citizens, our fellow citizens, where they live, under what conditions they live, how many of them can access health care, whether their children go to school. We have recorded 371 communities, some 110,000 Roma, Greek citizens.
The truth is that some of these 371 settlements do not respect our country, a country at the heart of Europe and a country that wants to defend human rights and give prosperity to its citizens. That is why we began to write a strategic plan that had a basic axis: Firstly, no Greek citizen, hence no Roma, is left alone, helpless in face of the crisis, but also in face of the real, everyday difficulties of life . So, we have promoted and expanded, above all, our plan for the social solidarity income. The Social Solidarity Income, what some call the minimum guaranteed income, covers almost the majority of these 110,000 Greek citizens living in the Roma settlements. And, of course, it is not charity, because for some families this is 400-500€ a month, which is an amount that enables them to live with dignity. We have, however, made an important precondition for having access to this income. What is this condition? That children go to school. All children go to school. Because education for us is a basic right. At the same time,  it is a prerequisite for these communities to have the potential for the future, to allow these children to have a better life expectancy, better prospects than previous generations. 
All children, then, in school. At the same time, support for the school units in order to be able to respond. 47 schools, with special responsibility, where children from Roma settlements attend, with booster teaching, with special programmes, with school meals in these schools, so that children not only go to learn letters but go home satisfied as I might say so they feel that they have the same opportunities to be able to study. So the financial capacity of their families plays a very important role.
At the same time, training programes to enable older people who have not been to school in the past can obtain a School Certificate which will give entry to the labour market. And, at the same time, special programmes for employment. If the first pillar is education, the second pillar is employment to combat the unemployment of our Roma citizens.
We have developed a range of Community programmes, with national resources, over 150€ million in total, to operate these programmes, especially through the creation of joint ventures, - I mean between our Roma citizens and our other citizens. We have managed to absorb [from EU funding Ed] about 30€ million for business creation, to boost entrepreneurship and employment. And, at the same time, we have made sure that we complete this network, if you like, of the policies of equal integration with a third pillar - if the first is education, the second is employment – which is called health.
I believe that our decision to remove the barriers to free access to health care through the integration into the health system of about one and a half million uninsured of our fellow citizens has largely removed this barrier. Because, unfortunately, many of our fellow citizens,  of our Roma, did not have insurance coverage, and many of the still have no insurance coverage. So, today, there is no one - but noone - who does not have the right to access a public hospital, health centre or primary health care facility to deal with a health problem. And, at the same time, a number of prevention programmes for the monitoring of these populations are in place.
In short, I want to say that we are trying to create a network of policies to support and integrate our fellow citizens, the Roma, on terms that are equal in the social sphere. This fight, however, is a lasting struggle, and it does not end here. It is a struggle we all have to wage, not only to continue this effort. We are now in the process of relocating some populations from settlements that are not in good condition to much better settlements.
But, let me say and conclude with this that, above all, it is a struggle that concerns everyone's awareness, the culture of all of us, the formation of the ideas of the vast majority of citizens. This discrimination on the basis of gender, racial origin must stop. And this is a battle that is not won overnight. It is a battle against prejudice, it is a battle against stereotypes. And I am not proud just because we did a lot, in difficult conditions and with few possibilities, but I am proud, because today there are examples of Roma community members that are examples to all of us, examples that we have to highlight as an encouragement to the rest of the community that there are no barriers; there is no limit.
If the bases of education and social protection exist, every Greek citizen, regardless of colour, gender, origin, can reach the heights. But it is also a message to the rest of us who, unfortunately, still have these stereotypes and prejudices. So we have to understand this. There are no first and second category citizens. We are all children of the same God and we are here to work together and move this country forward. So, I thank you all for the great effort you are making and above all thanks to the people who work in the programme, the social workers, the special mediators. And, once again, to congratulate all of you representatives of the Roma for showing through your course in life that there are no limits to our abilities. I thank you warmly."

Economic Prospects, EU Elections & Brexit 
Last week, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos gave this press interview. These are some of the key sections.
What are the economic prospects of the EU after a ten-year economic crisis? 
“Recently, the Commission and the Fed have lowered their forecasts for growth in the major economies. This anemic growth is combined with even worse performance in the field of investment. Businesses in recent years have drastically reduced their investment in capital goods: recent evidence suggests that net capital investment worldwide is declining. Instead of investing in the real economy, people are issuing bonds for stock repurchases to raise stock market value, or investing in zero yield bonds. 
In short, they respond to, albeit a small, increase in demand not by investing, but by hiring a low-wage labour force. Thus, wages remain stagnant or rising at rates below the productivity gain, which is also anaemic.
For Greece, the above highlights the weakness of a strategy that focuses on tax cuts. The Trump strategy did not work: taxes on businesses decreased, but while revenue declined and the growth rate of the economy is far from promising. What remains is a redistribution of resources to the rich. This is all that will remain from the promises of New Democracy, if it ever wins the elections.
For Europe the above means stagnation, especially considering the regional dimension of the problems and the inability of the European institutions to deal with such issues. At this stage at least, growth that is aimed at the few is doomed to be unsustainable.
Different policies are needed and their timing is very important. Initially, coming out of a recession, we need to focus on demand, and we have chosen measures in this direction, such as the Social Solidarity Income [ΚΕΑ Ed], child benefits, housing policy, raising the minimum wage. Then you need measures to boost production, such as improving the investment climate, reducing insurance contributions and tax rates. Such measures are either already in place or will be implemented in the foreseeable future, as outlined in our development strategy.
“I believe that we have protected the core of our programme, despite the adverse and coercive circumstances of the Memorandum programme. Indeed, after emerging from it, in August 2018, we had the opportunity to develop it further, despite the supervision and onerous surpluses. Of course, I would be unfair to us if I did not point out that this was made possible by reducing the target surpluses and the debt relief, which we also achieved thanks to the July referendum. It would be impossible to develop any policy to the benefit of the popular strata with surpluses of 4.5% (as were the country's commitments when we took over). And without debt relief, any attempt to get out of the crisis would have been prematurely doomed.”
“In Europe, despite the fact that there are no budgetary constraints like the ones that we are facing, the initiatives are less than are necessary, and are taken with great delay at both levels.
While there is some progress on the demand side, as shown by the Merkel - Macron agenda, it is clearly insufficient in the circumstances, as we are discussing tools without financial transfers and therefore without much stabilizing effect. It is of course positive that the debate has been opened, but it is timid and the speed is hopelessly slow.
On the production side, there are, of course, the cohesion funds, but they are not sufficient.”  
It seems that in the upcoming European elections the rise of Euro-scepticism, the nationalist right and the extreme right will be greater than ever in the past. Some predictions actually put the Extreme Right in second place. How can this course be reversed? Can the progressive forces gain the confidence of a majority of European citizens?
“We are and remain Europeanists because we no longer believe that at the national level we can solve many of the problems that concern us, tax competition, climate change, rights, racism, nationalism, etc.
The May European elections are the most important of any there have been. We are facing an Extreme Right and a Right, which, unlike the failed Social-Democratic perception of Blair, Simitis and Schröder, have learned from the crisis. And they have learned that in these problems created by globalization they can make an intervention, by organizing the popular base which traditionally belonged to the Left (eg, France, North America, Northern Italy).
The Extreme Right-wing, therefore, recognises that the moment has come to rebuild an alliance based on nationalism, racism, sexism - without however striking against neoliberalism. The latter point is demonstrated by the way the extreme right in the European Parliament systematically vote - against workers' rights, against measures to tackle climate change etc.
On this agenda, where they emphasise the dichotomy of “community” and “identity” on the basis of intolerance and fear - and at the same time damn globalization without any alternative proposal, the Left has to stand on the opposite side…We need to give a new meaning to what community means, what is a safe neighbourhood and a democratic school, so that people feel they belong there. A left government has the responsibility and the duty to pursue a social policy that for the first time lays the foundations of a social state that supports and is supported by the community. But is community, identity and sense of belonging just a social matter or just an economic issue? No. Because people, to feel that they belong to a community, have an identity and are citizens, must have rights and must feel that they can influence things and can receive help not only at a national but also at a European level. The European identity… needs a social grounding. To have a European identity, I must feel that the EU listens to me, respects me, and tries, as far as possible, at least not to put obstacles in the way of any other identities I have or want to acquire.  All the above are common dividing lines between the extreme right and a necessary alliance of the progressive portion of Social Democracy, the Left and the Greens. Both at the national and at the European level.” 
Brexit will become reality in one way or the other. What does it mean for the EU? How dooes it change the balance of forces between the sovereign states? Are other possible withdrawals from the EU possible?
“The United Kingdom's exit from the European Union is a very significant negative development for Europe. In economic terms, the cost to the EU is important but manageable. For the United Kingdom, it is clearly larger, as the EU is its largest trading partner.
However, the assessment of Brexit should not only be done in economic terms but also in political terms. Paraphrasing the words of Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's theatrical play, the first divorce may be an accident, but the second is carelessness! Over the next few years, either Brexit will create secessionist trends or it will create a tendency for politicians in Europe to deal with the European project more seriously, and so a public space will be built at the European level, as we mentioned before. The European citizen in every corner of Europe must feel will have to grasp the essence of the European identity, which must be linked to everyone's local identity, as well as any other identity that they have.”

More on the Demographics of Greece…
Pensioners constitute the biggest single group of taxpayers in Greece, confirming the ominous predictions about the impact of an ageing population on economic growth and state finances.
The number of pensioners has grown since the start of the financial crisis more than any other group, coming to outnumber even salaried workers. The relevant data from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue show that in nine out of the country’s 13 regions, pensioners make up the biggest group of taxpayers, ahead of salaried workers, farmers and freelance professionals. In certain regions both the number of pensioners and their declared incomes are above those of the other groups. For instance, in the region of Western Greece, pensioners account for 40.1% of taxpayers and 40% of the total declared income.
Data reveals that since end-2014 the number of pensioners in Greece has increased by 233,000. Since the beginning of the crisis at the start of the decade, there are an additional 588,360: From 1,667,428 pensioners in 2010 there are now 2,255,788.
The active population is therefore declining at a rapid rate: Before the economic crisis broke out, pensioners accounted for 29% of taxpayers, while today their share has climbed to 35.4%.
However, the same data also reveal the dramatic shrinking of pensioners’ incomes during the crisis: in 2010 their declared annual income amounted to 27€ billion, as each one of them declared an average 16,228€ per year; today pensioners’ annual declared income is just 11,175€, a reduction of 31.13%.
The regional data in terms of the growing dominance of pensioners among taxpayers is: In Attica, by far the country’s most populated region, salaried workers number 935,955 and there are 804,755 pensioners. The annual income of pensioners is 10.3€ billion, according to 2018 figures, while that of salaried workers is 15.2€ billion. In Western Greece, the region that includes Patras - Greece’s third city - 153,452 pensioners seriously outnumber just 111,979 salaried workers.

"The Prespa Agreement is now an International Agreement to be implemented"
6.4.2019

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras recognized that achieving the Prespa Agreement which ended a decades-old dispute with North Macedonia over its name carried a political cost for the Government, in an interview with North Macedonian news agency MIA, ahead of his visit to Skopje on Tuesday.
“If my government had been afraid of the political price, it would not have taken the country out of the crisis and the memoranda, it would not have found a solution to the [social Ed] insurance system, managed the refugee crisis, solved the name issue, promoted the required dialogue with Turkey and so on. However, this came at a price, because a significant portion of the Greek people was and still is seriously concerned about this issue.”
“It is our responsibility – mine and [PM Zoran] Zaev’s – to show that our nations can only benefit from the path that is now open. It is also our duty to challenge the rising forces of nationalism which strive to take us back to the dark ages.”
Northern Macedonia will receive "tremendous economic benefits" from the Prespa Agreement, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the day before Alexis Tsipras’ visit.
Referring to the business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister, he said, it included "big companies with an annual turnover of billions."
He also explained that Greek companies have already promised to invest "more than 500€ million" in the Northern Macedonia energy sector, apart from other investments in cement and agriculture.
"The Republic of Northern Macedonia will have huge economic benefits from the deal and I believe that it will be felt in every sector of the economy," he continued.

"The Prespa Agreement is now an International Agreement to be implemented"
Following his meeting with his counterpart in Northern Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, PM Tsipras said during their statements:
"A few years ago, the convocation of a Supreme Council of Cooperation between Greece and Northern Macedonia seemed impossible. Today it is a reality."
"It is an important day, not only for Greece and Northern Macedonia, but for the whole Balkans."
"With the meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council of the two countries and the business forum, a new narrative for the relations between Greece and North Macedonia based on cooperation, mutual understanding and co-development has been inaugurated."
"A few years ago, calling for a Supreme Cooperation Council between our two countries seemed impossible. Today this is a reality as we sign a series of important memoranda and agreements and an Action Plan that covers almost all areas of our cooperation."
"We are building bridges here and demolishing the walls," said PM Tsipras, recalling the Pope's statement that those who build walls in the end are trapped inside them.
"It is not as some say that the Prespa Agreement is creating problems, but rather it is solving problems that have been created over 30 years."
"People of good-will will be persuaded over time, but not the malicious and the hypocrites."
"A few months ago, Greece was the first country to ratify the Protocol of Accession of North Macedonia to NATO and today is signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the promotion of the accession process to the European Union. This is a framework that will allow the intensive co-ordination of the two countries at every step of this process, but also after accession, as well as the transfer of know-how on European policies."
In addition, the two Prime Ministers discussed how to cooperate in NATO and at the regional level within the framework of the Quartet with Bulgaria and Albania, at the level of Foreign Ministers, of the co-operation with Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, at the level of leaders, the Berlin Process, the 1 + 16 Chinese Initiatives and the One Belt One Road – as well as the American initiatives in the business and energy sectors. Alexis Tsipras emphasised, “of course, the interest from the Russian side is also welcome. Russia is a country with which we traditionally want to have very good relations of cooperation and economic cooperation that we have in the energy sector in any case.
These multi-faceted initiatives, therefore, make the Balkans an area of great interest. They constitute the gateway to Greece and Northern Macedonia - a pathway of energy routes as well as trade routes and economic transactions, and the extension of those pathways that want Greece as a gateway and North Macedonia as a transit obviously for them to reach the heart of Central Europe.
"The signing of the Agreement on Cooperation on Defence between the two Ministers responsible is a practical demonstration of our country's willingness to contribute to building North Macedonia's defence capabilities, transferring know-how and enhancing interoperability with NATO structures and procedures." 
This cooperation includes education, defence and technology, cyber-defence, military intelligence and, above all, airspace surveillance.” They also agreed to work on new technologies and digital policy, transferring know-how from Greece on cyber-security and e-government, as well as transferring know-how to important areas of health such as primary care and e-prescriptions.
The two sides also discussed the utilisation of a new financial instrument of almost 200€ million to extend Greek entrepreneurship into Northern Macedonia.
In the field of transport and infrastructure, it was decided to upgrade the road and rail interconnections between the two countries.
Special emphasis was placed on the Piraeus-Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade rail link and the interconnection of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki with the Central European markets through North Macedonia.
With more than 1€ billion of investment and 20,000 jobs, Greece already plays an important role in the economy of North Macedonia.
At the same time, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the opening, within a few months, of a second border crossing, which will boost trade, tourism flows into Greece and, above all, strengthen contacts between the peoples.
"The interest of the great powers in the region is welcome, but not on the terms of the past. The peoples have an important role to play in shaping their own future."
"The Opposition in Greece and in Northern Macedonia used the same arguments against the Prespa Agreement," said PM Tsipras, but he noted that he is present in Skopje, representing all Greeks "those who do agree and those who disagree."
" Disagreement is a right in democracies, but there are also procedures to be respected and the Prespa Agreement is now an International Agreement to be implemented."
Stability at the northern border of Greece will be the "quid pro quo" for the Greek Armed Forces to assume responsibility for the protection of the airspace of Northern Macedonia, Alexis Tsipras said.

"Leaving behind the past and starting a journey towards the future with common interests."
In his statement, Zoran Zaev, the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia said "We are leaving behind the past and starting a journey towards the future with common interests."
"Since signing the Prespa Agreement, we have been writing history all the time." 
"Our country today is hosting large delegation from Greece consisting of many entrepreneurs." 
We are two peoples who have shown to the world that with courageous decisions, desire and unity everything is possible." 
He also underlined the goal of creating the full preconditions for opportunities for development. "This afternoon Mr. Tsipras and I will announce the launch of the business forum that will be attended by 100 entrepreneurs from each country," he said and described the meeting as historic.
He said cooperation through the Supreme Cooperation Council would help resolve disputes and develop common beneficial opportunities.
Mr. Zaef said that in the past months he had made a very good friend, Alexis Tsipras. "He is a very good friend of mine and of my country."

The Greece-North Macedonia Business Forum
"It has taken a lot of work to get here, to tear down the nationalisms and jingoism and to come up with a patriotic agreement on both sides because it has benefits for both sides," the PM Tsipras noted, speaking at the opening of the Business Forum of Greece - North Macedonia.
Impressed by the interest shown at the Business Forum of Greece - North Macedonia, Alexis Tsipras said that this confirms the thirst that exists in the two countries "to come closer, to help one another, to utilise the competitive advantages of each other."
"Along with our friend, Zoran Zaev, we did not believe a year ago that we could get to this point. We have proved that the Balkans are not just a dead-end region. It is enough for us to have a common will and determination to find mutually beneficial solutions that heal the wounds of the past and open a common path to a common future of optimism." he noted.
"With regard to the issue of trade names, trade marks and trade names - an issue of interest to both countries and exercising our business people, we have today agreed with Z. Zaef to activate the provision of Article 1 of the Prespa Agreement, which provides for the setting up of an international panel of experts with representatives from the two states in 2019 to resolve these specific issues that have created confusion for business and consumers internationally for many years, long before the agreement was signed. "
"Without delay, and, on the basis of the Agreement, we are here to promote:
-The avoidance of double taxation which has hindered the commercial development until now
- Customs cooperation to facilitate trade.
- The key role of the port of Thessaloniki and its interconnection with the port of Piraeus for the outlet to the markets of Central Europe from Greece and through Northern Macedonia.
-The rail link between Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Skopje and Belgrade, a modern and fast train that will carry goods and citizens, a very important project for the region that we will very soon sign off at a tripartite level between Greece-Northern Macedonia and Serbia.
-The modernisation of border controls and the creation of several border posts to facilitate and enhance the already increased tourist and trade flows.
-A number of initiatives to provide know-how and interconnectivity to innovation.
-Further cooperation between the competent authorities to facilitate flights and road transport.
Additionally, the Prime Minister stressed that Northern Macedonia is a country that, with the Prespa Agreement and the reforms it promotes, shows that it is willing and determined to take the road to the European perspective.
"Greece, in Northern Macedonia’s difficult effort towards to its European perspective, will stand firm as a helper and ally."
"I would like, dear friends, to make a special reference to the very important challenges that we have before us. The very important challenges that we have in our region in the Balkans, challenges that we have to use positively in the coming period under the Agreement. 
Therefore, within the new framework, we must seize this opportunity offered by the Prespa Agreement. After 27 years of inactivity, after 27 years of lost opportunities. However, I would like to point out at this point something that you know better than me that, despite the difficulties of previous years, the inertia and controversy, entrepreneurship resisted the absurd, resisted the stupidity. It turned out that for entrepreneurship there were no closed borders. And the best example to demonstrate this is the example of the Greek entrepreneurs who, despite the inaction on the part of diplomacy, were here and were making the effort.
Greece, as my friend Zoran said in his speech, in 2018 became the second most important investor in the country of Northern Macedonia, with total investments of around one billion euros, which account for about 25,000 jobs. And, at the same time, Northern Macedonia and the citizens of Northern Macedonia were the ones who consistently chose Greece and especially Chalkidiki as their tourist destination, more than one million citizens, meaning virtually more than half the population of the country visit Greece every year.
So I want to assure you all, and all those who are watching us, that we did not come here in order to make an invasion, nor did we come here to act towards you like Santa Claus. We came here to forge a relationship of equal co-operation, we came here to overcome the obstacles, we came here to seize opportunities, opportunities for both sides.
And, indeed, the agreements we have signed today and the creative debates we have had were aimed at seizing opportunities on the one hand, but also overcoming barriers on the other. So, with regard to issues that have been troublesome for the business world for years, today we put things in order for the first time in almost thirty years.
Friends and friends, I would like to conclude by saying that Northern Macedonia is a country which, in particular, with the Prespa Agreement and with a series of difficult reforms recently promoted by Zoran Zaev's government, has shown the Government's determination to move on the European road.  In this sense, I would once again like to emphasize that Greece, in this difficult effort of North Macedonia on its way to its European perspective, will stand assistant and ally. And I want to believe that all European partners will realize that a country, which is making the effort and showing itself to be aligned with the European acquis, should be a country which should be rewarded by opening the accession perspective to the crucial decisions to be taken next June.
So, I close - the late applause is due to the delay of translation, but I felt like we were talking the same language - with a phrase by Albert Camus that we all have to think about. He said that "the real generosity towards the future lies in giving all our strength to the present."
I believe we are doing this today. We give our best to the present so that together we can build our common future.
We as a political leadership, and you as representatives of the business world. Together we are all making a small, but important contribution to turn the Balkans from Europe's powder keg into a locomotive of economic and social development on the European continent.
This, my friends and family, I believe, is our real, patriotic, but also historical responsibility. And I am glad that today we are fulfilling this responsibility.
Thank you very much. "

Footnote:
More than 140 Greek businessmen accompanied Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on his visit - the first official visit of a Greek Prime Minister to Northern Macedonia.
"Our target was 70 or 80 entrepreneurs and, to our great surprise, the number has exceeded 140," Giorgos Stergioulis, the President of Enterprise Greece, said.
This meant that around a third of some 300 entrepreneurs currently doing business in North Macedonia accompanied the Prime Minister to the neighbouring country on Tuesday in a bid to expand their presence there.
The business delegation represents "all sectors," Mr. Stergioulis said, listing energy, consumer products, agricultural products and plastics among the participants.
Around half of the delegation were from the northern Greek region of Macedonia, he said, noting that textiles, aluminum manufacturers are among the region’s companies represented.

Following the European Parliament’s vote last Wednesday to ban single-use plastics within the next decade, WWF Greece Environmental Awareness officer Achilles Plitharas said: “People should not demonize all plastics, but we can live without the throwaway ones in order to protect the environment and pass on a healthier planet to future generations.”
MEPs decided that single-use plastic items such as cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers are to be be banned in the EU by 2021, while Member States will have to achieve a 90 percent collection target for plastic bottles by 2029, and plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25 percent of recycled content by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.
“About 1 million tons of plastic waste are produced each year in Greece. Less than 180,000 tons is eventually recycled, while the largest part of these plastics unfortunately ends up in landfills. Although people are getting more educated on such issues in Greece, we still have a long way to go,” Mr. Plitharas said.
“We should not demonize plastics. There is a series of applications where indeed the use of plastics has helped a lot, as in medical devices. However, there is no need to stick to the use of plastics. We can live without them and in particular those single-use plastics which are unnecessary.”

"In Brexit we see that there are two faces in Europe"
30.3.2019

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made this statement at the end of the European Council Meeting. 
“The Spring [European Union Ed] Council concerned itself mainly with the discussion about Brexit. We spent almost all day yesterday on it. Today we have had the opportunity to discuss the course of the European economy, the European Union's strategic relationship with China, and climate change, a very serious and big issue.
As for Brexit, I think you know that yesterday we took a clear decision - a clear decision on the basis of the data we have in relation to the legal constraints on the EU, since it is clear that the United Kingdom can not have a longer extension with regard to the final agreement, beyond the start of the election period for the European elections. In short, we could not put at risk a legally binding process, could not jeopardize the legitimacy of  the European elections in all the EU member states.
Consequently, on this basis, 22 May, the day before the election process begins, is a crucial milestone and the day on which the UK will have to make the final decision whether to participate in the European elections. If not then the deadline is the 12th of April.
Therefore, the response to the British Prime Minister's request for an extension to the Brexit decision was positive, up until May 22nd, provided that the British Parliament approves the agreement in the next few days. If we have another negative decision in the British Parliament, then they will have to make a decision whether to participate in the European elections, so that the possibility of prolongation can be legally given in order to find the best possible solution. If, however, they do not participate, we will all be faced with the possibility of an exit without an agreement.
These are the data. However, I would like to make a comment on this data. The difficulty the United Kingdom faces in the decision to leave the EU highlights the fact that no solution to national retrenchment, no national way out in the face of the real difficulties we face collectively in the EU, is either easy or fruitful. Extremely great difficulties, this road is extremely difficult for both Britain and the EU. It must lead us to the conclusion that the road - the difficult road - but a road that can have a future prospect - is through the effort within the EU framework for us to give collective solutions and above all, progressive solutions .
Neither the solutions to national retrenchment and, much more, the way in which many countries within the EU face problems, the fearful way, the logic of creating fenced boundaries, leads nowhere.
And in Brexit we see that there are two faces in Europe. The face of progressive Europe - I repeat through the search for difficult paths of collective solutions - and the face of a conservative and fearful Europe that leads to dead ends.
As far as the debate on the EU-China strategic relationship is concerned and also on the economy, our country, you know, plays a positive role in the economy as well. It is a positive example that Greece, which has managed to come out of a difficult economic crisis over many years and now from being part of the problem has become part of the solution. And with regard to the EU-China strategic relationship, Greece plays a strategic role, an important role, especially in terms of interconnectivity through the port of Piraeus.
Of course, I would say that besides the very thematic of the two-day session, I had the opportunity to talk with my counterparts, also communicating to them the climate of the meeting that I had the day before yesterday in Jerusalem, concerning the upgrading of the cooperation on energy between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, which gives our country the potential to be a pole of stability, security and energy cooperation that is particularly valuable in the region. Let me also, however, inform you about my visit a month ago to Turkey and the talks with President Erdogan, as Euro-Turkish relations remain an important key to Europe's future.
In short, I would say that Greece, in a difficult Europe, in a buffeted Europe that is experiencing great turbulence, has managed through the difficulties, through the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people over the past 4 years to become a country which has upgraded its prestige and role in international developments.
This has helped not only our tripartite partnerships, the latest historic agreement on the Eastmed pipeline, but also the historic Prespa Agreement, which has upgraded Greece's role in the Balkans, but Greece has also surprised all our partners in terms of the performance of the economy and the exit from the crisis. That is to say, to really become a part of the solution and not part of the problem in a Europe that, despite the difficulties and shocks, endures, goes forward, has dilemmas to face.
And one of these dilemmas the citizens themselves will be called upon to face, with the answers they will give at the forthcoming European elections where they have to choose, on the one hand, the forces of progress, solidarity, social cohesion and co-development and on the other hand, the conservative forces, the forces of fear, the forces of the national retrenchment.
The dilemma is clear. Greece, once again, is on the right side of history and will not finf itself on the wrong side.
Thank you.”

"We must look back to our history and learn"
On Monday, Greece marked the 198th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence on March 25th 1821 against the 400-year Ottoman rule with a customary military parade in the centre of Athens.
Soldiers and mechanized units of the Greek Armed Forces paraded in front of the Parliament building, military jets flew and helicopters hovered over the crowd as people were cheering and waving Greek national flags.
In his message for the day, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who attended the parade in Athens, urged Greeks to continue defending freedom, friendship and cooperation among nations.
"Our ancestors fought for freedom for every man and woman, because for Greeks freedom is an integral part of human beings. Therefore, today we fight for all peoples' freedom beyond our borders. This is very important concerning our big European family ahead of the upcoming crucial European Parliament elections," President Pavlopoulos told the press after the parade.
"We are all aware that forces of populism and racism which border on Nazism openly fight against the European structure, they seek the collapse of European democracy and European civilization. Each European citizen, including Greeks, should give them this message in the elections: You will not succeed."
"We must look back to our history and learn. We are inspired by the heroes of 1821, who gave their blood so that we can live today in a free country," National Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said.
Greece's Armed Forces protect the country's territorial sovereignty and support the strengthening of peace and cooperation in the region, the Minister underlined.

"Greece today is building its national self-confidence"
"I am very happy to be with you today in Agathonisi. I could not find a more important place than yours, " the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a speech to commemorate 25th March in Agathonisi, the northernmost island of the Dodecanese.
"Greece today is building its national self-confidence, not with coronets and bullying. Not by being nostalgic for the past but by taking action for the future."
"Just two years before the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, Greek women and men have laid the foundations for a new chapter in the modern age of our homeland. A chapter that starts from the principles of social justice, equality and dignity. Undoubtedly, our history is rich and famous all over the world. But the most important thing is that it is alive."
"This people, over and over again, encountered many obstacles in the course of its history. In this long journey, we meet everything that constitutes modern Greece. The great achievements, the economic, social and cultural progress, but also the difficulties, the sufferings, the hardships. We bore them all. Everything is a part of us. Our story is not our refuge. We do not invoke its grandeur with nostalgia. It is our strength. It is the way in which a people, who in every difficulty has found the way to overcome it, is building its collective self-confidence."
"I am very happy to be with you today in Agathonisi. I could not find a more important place than yours," the Prime Minister said, expressing gratitude for his reception in "on what is a special day, a day of honour and pride for every Greek woman and every Greek man wherever they are."
"Today we feel pride, for the courage and unquenchable thirst of our ancestors who laid the foundation stone of our national renaissance to shed the yoke of the conqueror. But we also feel proud of the great ideals of the Revolution of 1821."
"The Greek people through their unity, hard work and single-mindedness, emerged stronger, more united, more determined about their future. So the history of this place is not written in the dim past. But it continues to be written, in the present time, today, now that we are leaving behind a tough period."
"I want to send the message that there is no corner of Greece that we will not defend through our social policy and the armed forces."
And I want to send this message to our neighbours too. To our neighbours who need to understand that in the Aegean only cooperation, understanding and co-development hold the prospect for the future. 
Not the differences, not the bullying, not the sleight-of-hand, not the meaningless attacks. 
A short time ago, I had the honour of being welcomed by some fighter aircraft of the Turkish air force, when I arrived here in Agathonisi. It seems because of what day it is! They too wanted to participate in our national celebration! 
They forced the helicopter I was flying in, into some low manoeuvers, until the Greek fighters, as always happens, intercepted the forces that violated our national airspace. In order to do what? To harass the Prime Minister's helicopter? 
They need to know that these silly expenditures of energies have no meaning. They waste kerosene and petrol – that is the message I want to send to them. 
Firstly, because we shall always be there to defend our national integrity.
Secondly, because the Greek Prime Minister will present himself on the most isolated island of our country, in the most isolated and farthest place, even if he has to swim to get there. So the message I want to send to all those watching us is that we are holding our hands out for dialogue and understanding. 
But if necessary, we will do what we know, what our collective consciousness has known for years, that our ancestors have taught us to defend our rights and our sovereignty. 
Greece, then, is a country that wants peace, dialogue and cooperation, but it is also a country that is significant.
Turkey, therefore, has to make substantial steps on the path of friendship that our peoples have opened up and respond to the needs and prospects of our time. Of the 21st century. Along the road we have opened up, leaving behind tensions, for dialogue and cooperation.
Friends, citizens of the border area of ​​this country, where the heart of Greece beats, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your welcome. 
I wish you “many years”. Let me tell you that this place is a sacred place and we have it deep within our hearts and we will do our best to take care of it so that you will not lack things that you have been deprived of for years, compared to the rest of the Greeks living in mainland Greece.
And we will continue on this road. We will continue on this route. 
In closing, I want to say: Remember that Rigas wrote "Better one hour of a free life". Solomos wrote that the nation must learn that "the nation is the true". 
I urge you and all of us to put these teachings into action.
Let us always remember that the struggle for freedom is the supreme good and that is what brought us here. 
But also let us always remember that the genuinely patriotic, the genuine national interest, that is the true one. 
Our truth, which those who wage the battle every day to take this country and this people forward, we know very well.
Be strong. Be well."

Free Dental Care for School Age Children
Deputy Secretary General of the Health Ministry, Stamatis Vardas announced that, next month, children of school-age will receive vouchers for dental care. He explained that the dental care programme will cover the 6 to 12-year age range, without exceptions and is estimated to address the needs of 900,000 children. "We are talking about children who are insured and those who have no insurance," he said, adding that the process will be done through the EOPYY and an amount of 40€  million per year has been secured for the implementation of the programme.
He stressed that the cost of each voucher is entirely covered. The family is not burdened and the repayment is to be paid directly to the dentist.
Mr Vardas said that the cost of dental care had been purely private. "The part of prevention and especially of care during school age was until now solely on the initiative of the family and because of financial problems visits to the dentist were only for a serious reason."
He noted that the Greek Dental Association is in agreement with the measure, emphasising that "the majority of dentists, I think, have been waiting for this for a long time."

"From Brain Drain
to Brain Gain"
23.3.2019

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government, from the start, has made one of its most important objectives the reversing of the brain drain, noting that in order to deal with it both the political will and the funds are required.
During his meeting with young researchers and scientists at the National Centre for Research of Natural Sciences, "Demokritos", entitled "from brain drain to brain gain",Alexis Tsipras said the SYRIZA Government had managed in four years to increase the quantity and ,in absolute numbers, the amount of money allocated to research and had made efforts to reverse the brain drain, - the leaving for abroad out of necessity of the country’s most valuable potential, the highly educated, trained and skilled young people with one or two degrees and postgraduates.
"I am very happy to be back in Democritus after five years. Five years ago, in 2014, I came here wanting to highlight one of the biggest problems that I believe is still facing the country today."
"When we talk about the brain drain we mean those who have left out of necessity and those who have left by choice and have no opportunity to return, to offer their services to their homeland and to contribute to the reconstruction of Greece's productive base.
"The crucial thing is always to have the door of  return open to any scientist who for their own reasons chooses to go abroad."
He pointed out that spending was at 0.8% of GDP and today had reached close to 1.2% of GDP in the budget. 
"In fact it means that from about 1.450.000.000€, today we have exceeded 2€ billion a year from the public budget.
"The big question is how can you reverse this tendency and this momentum if you have enough political will but do not have the resources to be able to implement the necessary plans. 
I want to say that obviously there are many more things to be done, obviously we can not be satisfied, to rest on our laurels. But, I want to say that we have, together with the Deputy Minister responsible for research, Mr Fotakis, from the very first moment, battled to increase - in the very difficult circumstances and difficult fiscal stimulus conditions as you will recall at the time, the proportion of the public budget that is directed to research, but at the same time to increase the absolute amount that is directed to research. 
This, of course, is an important first step, but it is not enough in itself. Because what we need is to try to create these infrastructures, but also to support this potential in practice.
A second, big step beyond the budget increase was the creation of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, ELIDEK. ELIDEK from the very beginning, with an initial budget of around 100€ million - today it has grown - tried to use this money for researchers. And in order to give scholarships to young scientists, so they can stay here or return from abroad and carry out their research activity in Greece.
I will not stand in front of you to present a rosy situation. Because the crisis, indeed, from 2010 onwards, has created extremely negative conditions. However, I would like to point out that this percentage in the GDP budget, which we found in 2015 at below 1% and today has gone to 1.2%, was a rate that existed when Greece was not talking about a crisis.
There was a time when we had a vision in Greece, not to exploit the country's competitive advantages, including the tendency of Greek society to want our children to acquire high educational qualifications and education, but that great vision in the late 1990’s and at the beginning of 2000 when we were staging the Olympic Games.
I'm not saying, that maybe it was worth it. However, we should ask ourselves why, when there was such budgetary strength and there existed the financial margin to invest in new knowledge, in new technologies, to invest in innovation, to invest in research, since we all see for ourselves that this is a competitive advantage for the country.
Why, then, did this political will never exist, and in times when there was the financial possibility to invest in knowledge, in the production of new knowledge, in new technologies and in innovation? 
Let us not, however, dwell on this. The issue is what we are doing now. And I think the first thing we have to do is to stop collectively as a society underestimating the potential that we have as a society that we have as a country and stop underestimating our own educational system. Underestimating our country's universities, underestimating our country's research centres, and underestimating Greek scientists and researchers. This is a generalized trend.
It was at least during all the previous years. And it is this trend which says that since we can not upgrade the outcomes of the educational work in public Greek universities, let's not work hard or let’s not search to find ways to support them, instead let us create private ones. I am opposed to this logic. 
I believe that we must work to reform the Greek educational system, with all the problems and pathogens it has, from the Primary School to the High School, as well as the Greek universities.
They have significant potential that we need to use. And above all, we ought instead speaking about wishful thinking whenever we talk about young people who have gone abroad, how to turn the brain drain into brain gain, we must at least agree a national goal and strategy for Greece to become - and it can become - a hub of innovation, research and new technology.
The future of Greece, for example, can not be tourism services only, but it must be the production of new knowledge that will be applied everywhere, in order to capitalize on the other big competitive advantages of the Greek economy.
I have seen, for example, before, that some of your Members are producing innovations that apply to smart farming systems. Yes, for example, an area where we also need to reorient, to go away from subsidies based on mass production and to go about producing quality products in a smart way and therefore much more economical, not necessarily based on subsidies. And so why should young farmers in our country rather than be in the classical model of the farmer, as we have known it so far, but to run things with laptop and mobile phone, with smartphones, so that they can understand the needs their crops.
All of this, therefore, contributes to this conclusion, which I wanted to say in the first place. That investing in new knowledge, investing in innovation and research is investment of the future. I believe that we have taken some small strides in this direction and I believe that as long as the country comes out of the crisis, there will be more room for it, and I think we can support these efforts, in the long run, to support new ideas to make this vision, at some point, a reality.
I close here, saying that obviously I did not just come to speak, but to listen to you and not just to listen to the positives, but also to hear about the things that are wrong, the problems and the difficulties. About the difficulties not only of researchers but also of young entrepreneurs. Because only if we can identify the critical problems and see for ourselves that we can find solutions to them, will we take the next step. 

"Greek Food Exports up 15.7% from 2017"
​The food and beverages exhibition “Food Expo 2019” - the largest of its kind in Southeastern Europe – opened its doors to visitors at the Metropolitan Expo Center near Athens last Saturday.
Featuring 1,300 Greek and international exhibitors, 50,000m2 of exhibition space and approximately 5,000 key international food traders, the Food Expo is a huge event for organized retail, wholesale as well as the foodservice sector.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, President of the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers, Constantine Michalos highlighted the added value provided by gastronomy, not only to the country’s tourist product but the economy as a whole and the need for cooperation between the sectors “to get the results we all dream of”.
Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Stavros Arachovitis noted that “The agrifoods sector has shown resilience during the economic crisis and has contributed significantly to the recovery of the Greek economy, while it has great prospects.”
The value of Greek exports had skyrocketed in 2018, he pointed out, reaching a record 33.4€ billion, up 15.7 percent from 2017.

Mandra: "criminal neglect and violations”
A months-long investigation into the causes of catastrophic floods in Mandra, western Attica, in November 2017, which killed 25, injured 13 and caused massive damage to homes and infrastructure, has pointed to negligence by local and regional authorities, noting that no flood prevention works had been carried out to avert such a disaster.
Attica regional authorities had not carried out any anti-flood works in spite of the existence of technical studies and approved funding to support such a project, according to the report which was compiled by prosecutor Sotiria Papageorgakopoulou.
The fact that the same region saw similar floods in 2014 and 2015 should have made flood prevention works a priority for local authorities, the report said.
The 66-page report lays blame on both regional and municipal authorities for failing to proceed with the anti-flood works and violating construction regulations.
Earlier this week Ms. Papageorgakopoulou brought charges against Attica Governor Rena Dourou as well as Mandra Mayor Ioanna Kriekouki, Elefsina Mayor Giorgos Tsoukalas and Megara Mayor Grigoris Stamoulis. The charges include manslaughter through neglect, grievous bodily harm, provoking floods through neglect, violating construction regulations and breach of duty.
Critical factors that contributed to the “massive destruction” included uncontrolled construction in dried-out river beds, the inadequacy of technical works and the “complete nonexistence” of flood prevention works in mountain areas, the report said.
Particular blame was directed at the Municipality of Mandra, which the report accused of “criminal neglect and violations” including the unlicenced construction of a sports stadium on the bed of the Soures stream.
As with the case of last year’s catastrophic fires in eastern Attica, which cost 100 lives, the Mandra affair is expected to be undertaken by an investigating magistrate.

"to add flesh and bones to the Prespa Accord"
The first meeting of the Special Inter-ministerial committee of Greece and North Macedonia took place in Athens on Monday.
Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sia Anagnostopoulou opened the discussions by saying that “our aim is to add flesh and bones to the Prespa Accord.”
“We are here,” she added, “to coordinate all actions, so that our mutual interests and the significance of the Prespa Agreement is highlighted.”
Anagnostopoulou mentioned that the two sides were determined to ”build the necessary political framework,” so that they can see ”the partnerships work out as soon as possible.”
The Special Inter-ministerial Committee was attended by general secretaries and general directors from both Greek and North Macedonian foreign ministries, according to a statement issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry.
The Inter-ministerial committee will have a series of meetings during the upcoming days. The talks will focus on issues such as agriculture, civil protection, energy, the environment, industry, education, research and technology, health, transport and cross-border cooperation.

EastMed Moving Forward
An important step closer in the promotion of EastMed, a major offshore gas pipeline from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe, was taken yesterday at the summit of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and attended by the US Foreign Minister, who put the seal of American interest and support for the three countries and their strategic cooperation. 
The summit demonstrated the importance that all sides attach to cooperation in the energy sector and its implications for stability and security in the region, its economic development and the welfare of the countries involved.
Against this background, and in this context, the PM Tsipras noted that the "bridge of cooperation and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean will be energy." One of the main pillars of Greek foreign policy is the establishment of a position for the safe transfer of energy resources to the EU. 
The estimated cost of EastMed's project reaches 6€  billion and is estimated to be the world's safest pipeline since it will be immune from potential terrorist actions due to its very large depth.
In his opening statement at the summit, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "our basic idea is very important: to create a secure transport network of energy resources from the eastern Mediterranean region, from Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Europe". He underlined that the creation of the underwater gas pipeline EastMed can help both the security dialogue and the economic development of the region. "
The Prime Minister noted "Our tripartite cooperation has become strategic, particularly in the areas of energy and security," he added adding that US Foreign Minister Pompey's participation "underlines the US support for our strategic partnership and this engagement strengthens our efforts and our dialogue especially in the energy sector, but also in security and the economy".
The Joint Declaration of Cyprus - Greece - Israel - USA, following the 6th Tripartite Summit with the participation of the US Secretary of State in Jerusalem:
"The Governments of the United States, the State of Israel, the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Cyprus met today in Jerusalem to reaffirm their joint commitment to promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Foreign Minister Pompey underlined that the US supports the tripartite mechanism created by Israel, Greece and Cyprus, noting the importance of increasing cooperation. Leaders agreed to increase regional co-operation, support energy independence and security, and defend against external influences in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East.
They welcomed recent gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean and their prospects for contributing to energy security and alternative sources. "
The Prime Minister stressed that "our basic idea is very simple but also very important at the same time: to create a secure transport network of energy resources from the eastern Mediterranean region, from Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Europe". He also underlined that the creation of the East Med submarine gas pipeline can help both the security dialogue and the economic development of the region. 
Al. Tsipras pointed out that it is the sixth time that the three countries meet in this strategic partnership, and noted that in recent years, the three countries in the Eastern Mediterranean - together with each other - have grown stronger. "Our tripartite cooperation has become strategic, especially in the areas of energy and security," said Mr. Tsipras and pointed out that the participation of US Foreign Minister Mike Pombeo "underlines the US support for our strategic partnership, and this involvement strengthens our efforts and our dialogue, especially in the field of energy, but also in security and the economy." The region has many challenges but also significant potential, he stressed.
Mr Tsipras said the discussion would be beneficial, not only in the energy field but also in the security, stability and economic development of the region.
 
Tax Data for 2017
Income of 73,612€ billion was reported to the tax office in 2018 by 8,907,722 taxpayers. The final income taxed was 80,391€ billion, higher than that declared, the difference being due to income being taxed on the basis of the evidence. The total tax paid amounted to 8,328€ billion.
The Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) published the data of the tax returns submitted to the tax office in 2018 with the incomes acquired in 2017.
From the total of 73.612€ billion of total income declared, 60,403€ billion were income from wage-related services. 6,192€ billion were property income, 2,184€ billion income came from dividends, interest and capital gains, 3,443€ billion income from business activity, and 1,388€ billion was agricultural income.
Income tax of 6.778€ billion was paid by 1.9 million taxpayers.
Tax deductions amounted to 9,874€ billion, of which 9,830€ billion relates to reductions on the basis of receipts for spending by credit cards and other forms of electronic transactions.
The special solidarity levy amounted to 616,856€  million.
The business fee amounted to 386,271€ million.

"All amounts due to the State will be recovered and collected" 
16.3.2019

"Today's Government is determined to safeguard the public interest, to uncover all such cases of mismanagement," said Efi Achtioglu.
The Greek State for a number of unlawful reasons in the period 2006-2010 did not receive the sums it should have received from pharmaceutical companies through the rebates, resulting in a loss of about 241€ million, Labour Minister Efi Achtioglu revealed.
During a joint press conference with Health Minister Andreas Xanthos and Deputy Pavlos Polakis, she stressed that it is a central commitment of the Government to highlight all cases of mismanagement that occurred in the country in the previous period and to progress all actions required in order to remedy the damage to the public interest.
In the period 2006-2010, the Greek State did not receive a total amount of 241€ million to which it was entitled:
1) For the years 2006-2007, the amounts were not collected by the pharmaceutical companies because the related Joint Ministerial Decision setting out the debts was later canceled by the State Council for procedural reasons, following an appeal by the pharmaceutical companies. The then Greek Government never issued a new ministerial decision, although it ought to have done so, so that the amounts of that period were never collected. The total amounts due for the period 2006-2007 amounted to 134.4€ million.
2) A Joint Ministerial Decision was never issued for the year 2008, with the result that not a single euro of the rebate due to the State was received in that year.
3) For the period 2009 to 2010, although the debts were established on the basis of a new law and a new Joint Ministerial Decision, some of them were neither collected nor were they recorded by the tax authorities as debts of the companies. These debts amounted to 40€ million for these years.
The total sum of unpaid monies amounts to about 241€ million.
• For 2006 and 2007 approximately 134€ million
• For 2008 (estimated) 67.2€ million.
• For 2009, 17.5€ million.
• For 2010, 22.2€ million.
"All amounts due to the State will be recovered and collected. 
This is a particularly serious issue involving public money, which ultimately involves taxpayers' and insured persons’money.
With today's interview, we are informing citizens of another case of public money-laundering that has occurred in the country during the previous government's term of office, - a problem that has been created and not tackled in the term of previous governments.
The current government is determined to ensure the public interest, to reveal any such case of mismanagement, to look for the last euro to be transferred to the public funds, and this is about 241€ million.
The search and possible attribution of accountability for omissions made at that time is a matter for the competent auditing mechanisms.
Political responsibilities are clearly self-evident when the collection of money owed to the State is not safeguarded. These political responsibilities are borne by the previous governments that have left money due to the State unrepaid for years.
For our part, we are taking every initiative to defend the public interest. "
"Political responsibilities are self-evident," noted the Minister of Health, Mr Xanthos, pointing out that, during the critical period 2000-2010, "not only there were no mechanisms transparency in the operation of the system, especially in the field of medicine, and no transparent pricing, resulting in known distortions, but it is clear that there was not even a picture of exactly how public money was managed or what compensation the insurance funds received." 
Deputy Health Minister Mr.Polakis said: "There was a cloudy landscape, which reinforces the belief that it was a period of complete indecision."
"If we had not decided to set up an Examination Board for the Health Scandals and if there had been no judicial investigation into the Novartis scandal, that damage would not have been ascertained." 

"Conclusions for Europe drawn from the Greek crisis"
“A sign of the return to normality” was how Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos characterised the recent issue of the 10-year Government bond.
Speaking at the Paris School of International Affairs in Paris on "Conclusions drawn from the Greek crisis for Europe," the Minister said there were optimistic signs for Greece in connection with the end of the crisis: Returning to growth, very good export performance, industrial production and declining unemployment, although it remains very high, he said.
He added, however, that the crisis in Europe is generally not over, as there are three issues that fuel it: inequality, a sense of lack of democracy and a sense of identity and community - people do not understand the importance of being a member of a whole.
That said, they are also the three issues that divide the Left and the Right. As an example, the Eurogroup has been debating why wages are not rising in line with productivity. It is good that it is being discussed, but the causes are not being sought.
The Finance Minister pointed out that today’s is the first generation to have worse wages and pensions than their parents. The first thing that the "Red-Red-Green" alliances have to do, he said, is to tackle inequality, bring politics closer to citizens and restore the concept of community in the eyes of citizens.
Referring to the debt issue, Mr Tsakalotos said that Germany received a very good deal in 1953, as much of its debt was written off, while paying off its debt only if it had achieved development.
We set out, he said, with the view that we would make a better deal on debt, but we did not manage to achieve that.
The first SYRIZA government, he said, continually called for an agreement about the debt. We then made a compromise, he added, and we accepted the programme, a compromise, because there was a promise of an agreement on the debt at the end of the programme.
We got this agreement in the summer, he added, characterising this agreement as good, because for 15 years Greece has a better repayment programme than Portugal, and perhaps also Italy. "In any case, we have got something that allows us, if we are serious and achieve development over the next 15 years, to tackle the problem," he said.
In the long run, he said, we will return to the issue of debt in Europe because the Eurozone can not live for many years with very different levels of debt - a small and medium-sized enterprise in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy has high interest rates, unlike the Netherlands and Germany. This is not sustainable, it will aggravate regional problems and so we will come back to the issue of debt, which needs a European solution, he concluded.
The Finance Minister spoke about two strategic mistakes of the first SYRIZA government. "We were weaker than we believed," he said in response to a question from the audience. Mr Tsakalotos said the outcome would be the same whoever was the Minister at the time, as it was a political choice to inflict defeat on the left-wing government of SYRIZA. "Even if we had had Francis of Assisi as Minister at the time, the same would have happened. The issue was for a left-wing government to be defeated."
As a second error in strategy, Mr. Tsakalotos described the overestimation of the then government's ability to tackle corruption and tax evasion. "The rich always have better lawyers, accountants, find ways not to pay taxes. We overestimated how easy it would be to detect money laundering, tax evasion."
The agreement we got after the referendum, he said, was much better. "It went better than I expected. I would not have been so sure three years ago that we would have left the programme, that we would have returned to the markets, that there would be growth. If SYRIZA had gone away defeated, it would have affected the whole Left in Greece and Europe. "
Euclid Tsakalotos pointed out that "whatever financial space we have, we have to share it between measures that promote growth, such as a reduction in taxes, contributions and non-wage costs, as well as the strengthening of the welfare state. We are striving to balance them."

First Greek Crematorium to be operational in Athens in 2019
"This decision meets a request by a large portion of citizens, which has been pending for decades," said George Stathakis
The ministerial decision was signed last Thursday and sets out the premises and conditions for the construction of the Cremation Centre, as designed and proposed by the Municipality of Athens for the area of ​​Eleonas.
"This decision gives a solution to a demand from a significant proportion of citizens, which has been pending for decades," said Minister of Environment and Energy George Stathakis.
"The Municipality of Athens has been given the opportunity to use its communal spaces in the area, overcoming the rigidity of the institutional framework for an issue of public benefit. The possibility of it is compatible with the new Presidential Decree on Land Use, according to which these facilities are now included in the social services for residents."
"It was obvious and it is happening," said Alexis Tsipras.
"The signing-off of the decision to establish a Centre of Cremation in the municipality of Athens by Environment and Energy Minister G. Stathakis is one of the most important but at the same time necessary reforms," ​​said the Prime Minister.

"Equality is the main message on International Women's Day"
9.3.2019

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Message on International Women's Day:
“Throughout the world, women continue to struggle to eliminate discrimination at work, in education, in politics, and in family and interpersonal relationships.
The struggle for a fairer society is not only about job security but also about the elimination of  authoritarianism, violence and patriarchy. A series of initiatives, such as the recognition of rights through the adoption of a law integrating into our legal order the Council of Europe International Convention on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the support and expansion of Protection and Counselling Structures for Victims of Gender Violence, increased Nursery provision, Family Support and a six-month Maternity Leave that we have instituted, aims to alleviate this discrimination.
March 8th, International Women's Day, reminds us that the struggle for true equality is continuous and concerns us all. Equality is the main message on International Women's Day."

Government Strategy to reverse Demographic Trends
Three pillars to reverse the negative data in the demographic were presented by the Prime Minister - "We have increased the amount spent on family allowances from 650€ million in 2015 to 1.1€ billion today. That corresponds to the support of 880,000 families and 1.4 million children in 2015 while today 900,000 families and 1.6 million children are being suported."
The overall strategy of the Government concerns three policies:
* Work policy.
* Child policy.
* Integration policies for immigrants.
Alexis Tsipras raised the question of the social inclusion of immigrants in the face of popular reaction by showing that he has a holistic view of the solution to the problem. 
Support for employment and family
The Prime Minister stressed that the demographic question will not be solved through policies of austerity and the tearing down of social cohesion, nor without an integrated policy for the social inclusion of immigrants. He emphasized the government's employment support policies because "it is number one in the case of social reproduction": raising the minimum wage, improving working conditions, collective labour agreements, rent subsidies, etc.
In support of families, the Government:
* has increased spending on family allowances from 650€ million in 2015 to 1.1€ billion today.
* Family benefits are currently received by 926,000 families and 1,601,000 children, while in 2015 they were received by 809,000 families and 1,434,000 children.
* 52% of three children- and large families in 2018 have increases compared to 2017.
* Families with one child also received very significant increases.
* Establishment of school meals provided today to 153,000 children.
* Government funding has risen so 60% more children attend nurseries. In 2015 we had 79,000 vouchers for nurseries - only for working mothers and this year 127,000 vouchers were given to working, unemployed and poor mothers.
* The Government annually gives between 2,375€ to 2,945€ for babies and from 1,805€ to 2,375€ for infants.
* A programme of 15€ million has been created to set up 10,000 new places in nurseries. 110 municipalities have already responded and 5,000 new posts have been established. 
* A new institutional framework for adoption with the emphasis on de-institutionalizing childcare.
An end to hypocrisy with regard to the children of immigrants
Referring to the social integration of immigrants, PM Tsipras said "Countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and Belgium are expected to increase their population significantly by 2050, mainly due to immigration. On the other hand, countries crusading against refugees and immigrants from other continents and envisioning a Europe of closed borders - most eastern European and Baltic countries - are projected to have a decline in population."
" In fact, the champions of racism and xenophobia lead countries to a shrinking population."
"We are a country that must have the national pride and the national self-confidence to believe that the integration of people coming from other countries here is not a threat but an enrichment." 

“Total confusion and an absolute lack of coordination”
The Public Prosecutor’s report on the wildfires that cost so many lives in Mati in Attica was published on Thursday.
Prosecutors attributed all the responsible services and agencies, as well as the Local Authority with “total confusion and an absolute lack of coordination” that cost the lives of 100 people.
In the report on the lethal fire, having detailed the legal framework governing the operation of each service in the event of a fire, it is clear that “on paper” the implementation of the legislation all worked well, but in practice virtually nothing worked as intended and the whole management of the crisis was spasmodic, without any coordination.
The Report concludes that in Mati, with the conditions that existed at around 6.30 pm, there could have been no question of an organized evacuation of citizens, as the implementation of the measure "would have had tragic results much greater than what happened". The report says, however, that if the decision had been taken at around 17.00, when a helicopter reported that the fire in Daou Penteli was around houses and that it was moving east and would threaten dwellings, then the chances of an organized evacuation would have been "extremely positive."
Prosecutors point to serious failings in terms of proper organization at the level of prevention of such serious phenomena, but what appears to have played a decisive role in the tragic development of the fire is the absolute lack of communication not only between services that shared the responsibility but also within each service.
Regarding the involvement of the Attica Regional Authority, the Public Prosecutor's report mentions the "obligation to inform the public of self-protection measures against the risk of forest fires," and stresses that " posting them online is not enough, for it to be considered that the requirements of the law have been met information must be provided at local level to make it accessible to the general public."
The Report, in the chapter concerning the Regional Authority, refers among other things to the meeting of the Civil Protection Coordination Body on 26 April 2018 with regard to the fire-risk period, where, on the basis of the minutes, it appears "that only a superficial listing of the participants took place, without defining specific actions in an objective and obligatory manner."

Latest Unemployment Figures
The Unemployment rate dropped to 18% in December 2018 from a downwardly revised 18.3% in the previous month, data from Greece’s statistics service ELSTAT showed on Thursday.
December’s unemployment rate was the lowest since July 2011.
Seasonally adjusted data showed the number of unemployed at 851,556 people.
Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the unemployment rate fell to 39.5% from 43.1% in the same month in 2017.
Greece’s unemployment rate, which hit a record high of 27.8 percent in September 2013, has been coming down but remains the highest in the eurozone.
Compared to 18.3% in November, the number of employees increased by 106,850 compared to December 2017 (a 2.8% increase)
The total number of employees, in December 2018, is estimated at 3,868,241 people. The number of unemployed people reached 851,556 while the economically inactive population was 3,236,631.
On a geographic basis, an unemployment rate of more than 20% occurs only in the Region of Epirus - Western Macedonia, at 21.1%, while in Attica it stands at 18.5%.
Minister of Labour Efi Achtsioglou commented: “We are not relaxing our efforts and we know that there are many steps to be taken for us to reverse the social havoc caused by the Governments of  the 2010-2014 period.”
“Also, in February, the month where we increased the minimum wage, we had the creation of roughly 28,000 new jobs, which is the highest level since 2001. Giving the lie to the unfounded fears and doom-saying that the wage increases would cause redundancies.” 
“Our efforts are bearing fruits. This gives us strength to continue our work decisively, while being fully aware of the size of the problem of unemployment.”
Ms. Achtsioglou emphasised that the permanent slowing-down of unemployment - not only through the creation of new jobs but, crucially, with the guarantee of decent terms of work - constitutes “our central objective for which we are working each day”.
New Pricing Framework for Medicines
According to data released by the, Ministry of Health, the new pricing system for medicines is balanced and does not favour either multinational or Greek pharmaceutical companies.
In his announcement, Health Minister, Andreas Xanthos said:
"With this intervention, with this new pricing framework, there is a balanced price balance for medicines. Of the 5,503 active bar codes, ie sales in the Greek market, 2,061 are increasing, 2,014 are going down and 428 remain the same."
With the new system, the price of medicines is determined by the two lowest prices in the Eurozone countries, while reductions or price increases are projected to be no more than 10% per annum.

“Outlook for Greece from “positive” to “stable”
2.3.2019

On Friday, Investors’ Service Moody’s raised Greece’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings to B1 from B3, citing the effectiveness of its reform programme.
"Although progress has been interrupted at times, with some targets slowing down, development dynamics seem to be increasingly embedded, with good prospects for further progress and a low risk of reversal," the Agency said. In Moody's view, the ongoing reform effort is gradually gaining momentum in the economy. Moody’s changed its sovereign outlook for Greece from “positive” to “stable”.
The Greek economy, it says, has become significantly more outward-looking in recent years, with exports now rising to 37% of nominal GDP in the third quarter of 2018 from 22% in 2010. Competitiveness has improved significantly and exports of both products and services accelerated rapidly in 2018.
Moody’s notes that the Greek Government has successfully returned to the international bond markets. "The proceeds of this issue, together with a cash reserve of 26.8€ billion, which accounted for 14.5% of GDP at the end of 2018, offer a significant cushion for the medium to long-term debt, amounting to a total of 22€ billion over the next three years. Sustainability of debt is significantly strengthened in the medium term, with the public debt ratio falling.
In the Agency’s basic scenario, the debt-to-GDP ratio will be below 167% in 2020 as against 181% last year. Moody's predicts a further reduction to 154% in 2022, provided that the primary surplus targets are met."
Also on Friday, the Greek economy received a positive boost as the yield on Greece’s 10-year state bond fell to 3.647%, the lowest level in more than a year. The Greek government is planning to tap into the international money markets next week in order to capitalize on these recent gains.
In addition to the positive bond news, new orders from Greek businesses grew strongly in February, at the fastest rate recorded in twelve months. The demand for Greek products from consumers abroad also rose for the seventeenth consecutive month in February. The number of new jobs in Greece also grew in February, extending a growth trend which began in May of 2017.
Greek manufacturers remain optimistic in their production outlook for 2019, while overall business confidence in Greece also grew in February. The optimism about all sectors of the economy appears to be the highest that has been seen in the last six months.

Greek shipowners will pay at least 75€ million annually to the state budget.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday thanked the Greek shipping community for agreeing to make a permanent agreement about their voluntary financial contribution to the state. Under the agreement, Greek shipowners will pay at least 75€ million annually to the state budget.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, the Minister of Shipping, Fotis Kouvelis and the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Dimitris Liakos.
Members of the Union of Greek Shipowners (EEE) approved in early February a change in the way they paid the voluntary tax, switching to a 10% levy on dividends received by individuals, instead of the previous method of charging a tonnage tax.
The agreement applies to Greek-flagged ships or freighters with foreign flags managed by Greek shipping companies.
“I would like to thank you for your response to the Government's request to establish a permanent agreement which is voluntary in character,” he said following the signing of the deal in a meeting with representatives of EEE.
“This stable percentage will allow us to ... calculate stable revenues, which is something important in these days. The 10% is an important agreement for us to have reached.”
PM Tsipras acknowledged that, based on the Constitution and the legislation in force, shipowners could have avoided any contribution.
“However, the fact that you understand the need to support the Greek Government's drive to revive the economy and thus strengthen our fiscal capacity shows you share the national responsibility to exit the crisis,” he told EEE members.
Theodore Veniamis, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) said the industry was supporting “the effort the Government is making for a better future in Greece.”
The agreement for the voluntary levy was originally introduced in 2013 and stipulated that shipowners would double the tonnage tax for ships, whether they fly a Greek or a foreign flag. It expired at the end of 2017 and a new one extended the deal until the end of 2018.
Along with tourism, shipping is a pivotal sector for the Mediterranean country. Greek shipowners operate some of the world’s biggest tankers and bulk carriers. Greek shipping accounts for almost half of the EU’s total fleet capacity.

Immediate 10€ million Aid for Stricken Crete
Crete will immediately receive an initial 10€ million in emergency aid after the fierce storms caused extensive damage to roads, buildings and infrastructure, Infrastructure Minister Christos Spirtzis said on Wednesday.
Speaking to Sto Kokkino FM, Spirtzis said the Finance Ministry had given the green light for the distribution of financial aid late on Tuesday.
He said the funds will be used to clear roads and restore access to cut-off villages.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence will put in place a number of Bailey bridges to replace collapsed structures and restore access to roads washed out in the storm, the Minister said.

"The strengthening of nationalistic rhetoric and nationalism in response to global and regional challenges is like pushing the wheel of history backwards"
23.2.2019

Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev were awarded the "Ewald von Kleist" prize for their contribution to international peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes through the The Prespa Agreement.

Last weekend, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the 55th International Conference on Security in Munich, Germany.
The complete speech of the Prime Minister:
"Ladies and gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to highlight the importance of the Munich Security Summit at a time when security issues are becoming increasingly important and complex, for our citizens' everyday lives and for our common future.
Probably the most important trend that we observe unfolding in international, but especially in European political and diplomatic developments, is the strengthening of nationalistic retrenchment and nationalism in response to global and regional challenges - from the economy, security and migration, to bilateral affairs.
It seems to me as if we are pushing the wheels of history backwards.
As if we are turning our backs on the most valuable lesson that our common history has taught us as Western societies.
And that is, that progress comes through collective effort, dialogue, cooperation and the search for common ground.
The rejection of multilateralism in favour of isolationism or the strategy of procrastination does not protect the national interest in the long run.
It is against the national interest.
This trend is disastrous. It creates an endless deadlock concerning issues that require urgent solutions.
In the long run, it poses a threat to the stability of the EU itself, built as it has been on the basis of cooperation and compromise of divergent interests.
Because nationalism, not long ago, provoked regional conflicts in the the EU’s backyard.
Some may say that it is a sign of the times and that this trend is deeply rooted in our societies.
And that we have to live with it and do our best to just adapt.
This is a dangerous proposition.
Our societies face many challenges, from social injustice, inequality of wealth, to austerity, migration, terrorism or climate change.
Challenges that create a strong sense of insecurity and anxiety about the future.
Challenges that propel those who feel they are the losers of globalization to entrench themselves behind their ethnic, racial or sexual identity.
My view is that we have to face these challenges on the basis of our values.
And, above all, we must not just adapt.
We must not accept that this is the new future.
It would be like admitting our collective failure to address these challenges on the basis of our values.
That can not happen.
We can not let this tendency become the rule.
It is our collective duty, as leaders, to restore confidence between ourselves and our peoples, to find common ground and to invest in cooperation.
Humanity has experienced prosperity through co-operation. Not through hostility and suspicion.
Finding, in every circumstance, the things that unite us, not what divides us.
This is my modus operandi.
And I can say that I am very proud that the facts speak for themselves when it comes to Greece.
I have never sought solutions that would lead to the national retrenchment.
I have always believed that it is ineffective, but also profoundly insulting to the history and tradition of my country.
The land where democracy was born and where the roots of Western civilization first took root can not and will not conform to a trend that threatens the very basis of democracy and Western civilization.
We have overcome an unprecedented economic crisis through harsh negotiations, hard work and constructive compromises, always - undeniably - within the European framework and its institutions.
And, of course, we could not continue our efforts to reform these institutions, to make them more effective, more democratic and more inclusive if we had decided to reject them.
We also, finally, have put an end to an almost 30-year dispute with Northern Macedonia, working with them for a mutually beneficial solution, the Prespa Agreement.
This controversy is a case study on where nationist retrenchment and isolationism can lead.
For 27 years, the very few who dared to approach the issue in a productive and constructive way and work for a solution were obliged to operate within a poisoned and toxic context dominated by nationalism on either side of the border.
And eventually all of them surrendered to this dominance, unable to find the courage and political will to take a stand with an absolute sense of patriotism and to work decisively for a solution.
That was our main difference.
We did not just talk.
We did not choose inaction.
We have taken action on the basis of mutual respect with our neighbours.
And finally we came to an agreement that was the best for our country, for the Balkans, for Europe.
When we faced the largest refugee crisis in post-war history, I was the first Greek Prime Minister to visit Turkey three times in six months.
Greece has insisted on solutions with Turkey that protect international law.
And together with Turkey and our EU partners, we have developed the difficult but necessary EU-Turkey Joint Declaration, which has led to a rapid reduction in the deaths in the Aegean and the illegal flows.
At the same time, we have come close to resolving the Cyprus problem and will continue to work for a just and viable solution on the basis of UN resolutions.
We are trying to do the same in the dialogue that we have started with Albania - a country that needs a European perspective on the basis of good neighbourly relations and the necessary reforms.
We are also trying to do the same with Turkey.
Despite the difficult period following the horrific coup d'état, we did not accept that the future of the Aegean is that of tensions and military escalation.
And I was the first Prime Minister to welcome a Turkish President to Greece after 65 years. 
My vision is clear.
I believe deeply that history should not be written by those who invest in fear and division.
It must be written by those who have the courage and strategic vision to stand up to the situation.
Leadership is not a matter of short-sighted political machinations or short-term political profit.
Leadership is to create opportunities for future generations, for a better future, with prosperity.
And in this global community there can not be an airtight future for a country on its own.
No country can ignore the challenges, no true leader can ignore the need for collective responses.
And this is true for every country. For the smaller ones, who tend to believe that isolationism is a way to stay safe and unaffected by the challenges of our time. But also for the most powerful countries, which, in many cases in history, have demonstrated to the rest of the world that the arrogance of power is not an effective and sustainable way of acting.
On the contrary, it creates more problems than it initially set out to solve.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Times are changing fast.
My point is that our main task as leaders is to embrace this change. And start working closely, efficiently, with conviction, to find common and creative solutions for the benefit of our peoples.
History is not written by those who are hesitant, those who are afraid and cowardly in the face of the challenges.
History is written by those who dare to make great changes and stand firm  - despite whatever reaction - on the correct side of history.
Thank you"

Church - State Relations
"The Government wants to solve the problem because it believes in the social role of the clergy. Governments all these years wanted the clergy at their beck and call."
Education Minister Kostas Gavroglou spoke about the first historic and very important step in the direction of the separation of State and Church.
"The Government wants to solve the problem because it believes in the social role of the clergy." He reiterated that priests are not civil servants. There is a decision by the Supreme Court which says they are religious officials. He said, there are 10,000 priests serving while the lay establishment is 6,000.
"It is a recipe for confusion, the priests must be safeguarded. The ratification of an agreement can not be changed unilaterally, while under the current regime it can be changed by any government."
At the same time, he described what the Holy Association of Clergy of Greece (ISKE) is saying as "silly mistakes to deceive the clergy". "They are not words of love but of hate," said the Minister of Education and asked for the language to be toned down.
He went on to say that once the agreement with the Church has been ratified, then the Government will be able to plan in-depth recruitment in Education and Health. 
With regard to the debate on private universities, he spoke of ignorance, which, he noted, must also have a limit. "All European universities are state-owned. Non-state universities are profit-oriented. It is one thing to make money and put it back into the university, and anoth to share out the profits. Tuition fees do not make a university non-state- owned," he said and went on to say the Government does not want private universities in order to defend Greek society. Mr. Gavroglou cited England as an example, where thousands of families have been forced to take out loans because of high tuition fees. "£85 billion pounds today are owed by graduates. Will we cast families back into forced borrowing?" The Minister of Education asked.

The upward trend in the economy is confirmed both by the creation of new businesses (up 22,000 in two years) and new jobs ( up 295,000 in two years) and by the positive results of the listed companies in the six months ending 2018 (+ 8% in sales and +2 percentage points in operating margin profit).
Business activity in Greece entered a recovery path during the 2017-2018 period, with the added value of the corporate sector rising by 3% per annum, according to a report by the National Bank, which was released this week.
Export-Driven
Finding access to foreign markets, the Greek business sector began in the years 2017-2018 to recover the lost ground of the years of the crisis. The main pillar of support was external demand, with an average annual growth rate of 10% in exports of goods (excluding oil) and 11% in tourist receipts. It is worth noting that Greek businesses have benefited from the favourable international circumstances by gaining market shares and thus now account for
* 0.43% of European exports (from 0.40% in 2016),
* 12.7% of arrivals in Mediterranean hotels in 2018 (from 11.4% in 2016).
Recovering Sectors
The trend of recovery appears broadly established as it covers almost all sectors of the Greek economy. Specifically:
* Among export-oriented sectors, most have gained market share in European markets, with driving forces such as olive oil, materials (such as steel, marble, aluminum and copper) as well as services (such as hotels and airports) stimulated by the increase in Greek tourism.
* Most of the sectors that rely mainly on the domestic economy - also due to structurally increased demand (eg renewable energy and information technology) - or due to a movement to correct the lows of the crisis (eg trade in car and services)..
For 2019, external demand is estimated to be less strong as average growth in the 10 most important markets for Greek exports slows down to 2.3% in 2019 from 2.6% in 2018 and 3.6% in 2017. However, internal dynamics are expected to provide resistance to these external pressures.
Particularly:
* Enhanced consumer confidence (supported by increased disposable income) is expected to support private consumption.
* Investment expectations are positive, with a trend to recover the investment gap created during the crisis.
Next
In the medium term, two interrelated parameters will determine the recovery potential of the Greek economy:
* The speed of reorganization of the business network is the first critical parameter. Based on ROA performance data [Return on assets (ROA) is an indicator of how profitable a company is relative to its total assets Ed], medium and large businesses have almost rebounded to pre-crisis levels (near the European average), while the small ones have difficulty following (increasing their deviation from Europe to -60% in 2017, from -25 % of pre-crisis).
* The speed of implementing the necessary reforms to improve competitiveness and attract country-specific investment is the second critical parameter.

Parliament completes first stage of Constitutional Review
16.2.2019

Parliament on Thursday voted to revise several articles in the Constitution, following the Government-initiated Constitutional Review. Any changes must be re-confirmed by Parliament after the next General Election, which is scheduled by October.
MPs agreed to amendments removing safeguards protecting Ministers and MPs from criminal prosecution, which have proved a major stumbling block in pursuing several high-profile corruption cases dating back to the early 2000s.Under the current Constitutional regulations, Ministers cannot be prosecuted if two parliamentary terms have elapsed since the alleged crime was committed.
MPs also selected Articles which include the introduction of a civic political oath for state officials, and the re-definition of the Greek state as "religion-neutral".
The first stage in the process of Constitutional Review is for Parliament to vote in principle on the Articles of the Constitution to be considered for amendment. Specific changes to those articles are still under debate and another vote is to be held next month.
Some Details…
The SYRIZA Government’s proposals were voted through Parliament on Thursday by either the absolute majority of all MPs (151 Ed) or by the “enhanced majority” of more than 180 MPs.
Those proposals voted through by an absolute majority of all MPs included:
Article 3- to secure the “religious neutrality” of the State.
Articles 13, 33 and 59- to secure the civic political oath for state officials.
Article 21- to secure social rights and social goods - a State guarantee of a decent standard of living for all through universal social services and income support. Included is the recognition of a social right to health and the obligation of the state to provide universal access to effective health benefits through the National Health System. Clauses guarantee public control of essential social goods such as water and electricity to ensure that their distribution networks are subject to public service status and that they are subject to public control.
Article 22 - to secure labour and collective freedoms. Clauses include the recognition of equal pay and equal value irrespective of age; the constitutional safeguarding of collective bargaining for the determination of minimum wages and the right of unilateral appeal by the social partners to arbitration. Additionally, the recruitment of services is prohibited as a measure to deal with the consequences of a strike. Included is the recognition of the right to social security in the sense that the State is obliged to provide effective protection against all insurance risks through a single universal coverage scheme, within the framework of a public redistributive system operating on the basis of the principles of solidarity and reciprocity.
Article 28 concerns the obligation to ratify by a referendum all international treaties providing for the transfer of sovereign powers of the State.
Article 37 seeks to establish the compulsory parliamentary status of the Prime Minister.
Article 84 introducing a constructive vote of NO-Confidence.
Article 44 introducing a people’s legislative initiative and of referenda [called] by popular initiative.
Article 54 introducing a system of proportional representation for MPs to represent Greeks living abroad.
Article 56 about establishing a block to MPs’re-election after three terms of office.
Article 102 about establishing a system of proportional representation and of institutions of direct democracy in local government. A Clause includes the recognition of the right of foreigners with permanent residence in the country to vote.
SYRIZA's proposal to decouple the election of the President of the Republic from the automatic dissolution of Parliament (Article 32), does not go to a second vote because it received only 148 Yes votes, 120 No votes with 3 Abstentions.
During the vote, the Communist Party of Greece reserved its position on all the amendments, while Golden Dawn voted against everything without exception.
In general, Potami supported SYRIZA's proposals concerning individual rights and ANEL supported proposals linked to the strengthening of direct democratic institutions. The Centre Union supported the proposals for strengthening the welfare state.
The procedure will continue after one month, when the second vote will be held in a plenary session of Parliament on the provisions that have commanded the support of the absolute majority of all MPs in this first vote.
In a month from today [Thursday 14.2.2019 Ed], the 2nd vote on the revised provisions will take place.
At the second vote, proposed Amendments to the Constitution must garner at least 151 votes to be classified as revisable.

An "extremely creative and constructive" conversation
On Tuesday, the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Kostas Gavroglou, met with the Dialogue Committee of the Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece as part of the ongoing dialogue on establishing an agreement between the State and the Church. At the heart of the meeting was the draft agreement proposed by the Ministry.
After the meeting, Minister Gavroglou described the conversation with the representatives of the Hierarchy as "extremely creative and constructive", and noted that the plan "strengthens the rationalization of State-Church relations, safeguards the clergy and proposes a tidying up of economic matters." "Many important things have been clarified and so we have gone a step further," he said.
On behalf of the Dialogue Committee of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Ierotheos described the discussion with the representatives of the State as "sincere" and noted that the Committee would meet in the next few days to put down their proposals on the plan. However, he declined to comment on the plan, since, as he said, the Holy Synod would make the final decisions.
Next Tuesday, there will be a further meeting between representatives of Church and State to discuss the proposals and observations of the Church on the final shape of the plan.
A plan for the implementation of the State-Church Agreement was given to the Dialogue Committee.
According to the Ministry's press release, this plan definitively removes all the causes for concern which had been expressed either through lack of information or through misunderstanding following the joint announcement by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos of the draft State Agreement - Church on 6th November 2018. The plan identifies the important reasons why this historic important agreement will be mutually beneficial to both parties as well as to the parish priests.
Specifically, the plan is in three parts. In the first part, the text of the State-Church Agreement will be ratified in its final form after the conclusion of the dialogue. The other two parts will contain provisions for the implementation of the Agreement in its two main strands: The payroll of clergy and lay employees of the Church of Greece and the establishment and operation of a Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property.
According to the Ministry, with regard to the payroll of the clergy, the proposed legislation not only does not affect the current regime but, on the contrary, it substantially improves it, since the legal status and rights (such as payments, salaries, national insurance, pensions, etc.) of the clergy are for the first time secured by the institutional guarantees provided by the ratification of a bilateral agreement.
Under the Agreement and the proposed legislation :

• The current service regime and permanence [of employment Ed] of clergymen as religious officials and civil servants remain unchanged and are not affected.
• The salary levels of clergy, which are still determined by the uniform wage bill, will continue to follow the salary increases of civil servants ie they remain unchanged and are not affected.
• The manner and timing of the payment of the clergy’s salaries, which will continue to be done by the Single Payment Authority, remain unchanged and are not affected.

In addition, the clergy payroll is further protected compared to the existing regime, since:

• A Payroll Fund of the Church of Greece is to be set up, which will be funded annually by the state with the payroll cost of today’s number of salaried clergy, in recognition of an obligation resulting from the legal ratification of the Agreement. The amounts concerned are, under the strict control of the Court of Auditors, ring-fenced for the payroll of the clergy, and will be operated through the Single Paying Authority.
• As has already been legislated, a Register is to be drawn up of Clergymen and Lay Employees of the Church of Greece, recording the total of those paid from the resources of the Payroll Fund. 
• Most important is that, for the first time, all the above are guaranteed in such a way that does not allow their unilateral reversal by the State. With the existing arrangements, both the payroll, the official status quo and the rights of the clergy are in a precarious position, in so far as they have been granted by common law, that is to say, they depend  on the unilateral will of the State and, at any moment, can be altered in the most unfavourable way with a more recent law.

The special significance of the proposed plan lies in the fact that it provides for the ratification of the Agreement by law, with the result that the provisions agreed and ratified by law can no longer be modified in the future unilaterally, by state law. Any change is only possible with a new Modifying Agreement between the two parties.
Finally, with the Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property, significant economic benefits arise, both for the State and for the Church of Greece, from the exploitation of property whose ownership is disputed and thus is to date inactive and idle.
On Wednesday, the Minister met with a delegation from the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate on the same issue. Clerics in the Dodecanese islands and Crete fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate.
Elder Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes Islands, spokesman for the Patriarchate, objected to proposed changes to Article 3 of the Constitution that would abolish the reference to the dogma of the Holy Trinity in the preamble and the reference to a “prevalent religion.”
The Patriarchate also objected to a revision that would refer to a “religiously neutral” state, the metropolitan said. He also rejected proposed changes to the payment status of the clergy.

“The Republic of Northern Macedonia” – it’s official
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia officially changed its name on Tuesday.
A government press release said the country now is officially named the Republic of North Macedonia. A series of practical adjustments – ranging from new road signs to updated passports and currency – will be made gradually, and started with the government website late Tuesday.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said his country would press ahead with all the changes needed to fulfill its end of the historic deal he reached with PM Tsipras last year. “At the end of the day we must show that we are implementing our part of the obligations,” he said. “I believe that all institutions are ready to act.”
With the exchange of a note verbale, [a diplomatic memorandum Ed] with Nikola Dimitrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia, Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos announced that the Prespa Agreement has come into force:  "Let this be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and Northern Macedonia… a new era of stability and peace begins in the region, an era of friendship and cooperation with Northern Macedonia."
Nikola Dimitrov responded : "We have just exchanged the final note verbale: the Prespa Agreement comes into force! May today be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and North Macedonia. We cannot change our past, but we can and we will shape our future of friendship, partnership and cooperation."

“We are creating the conditions to build a climate of security, peace and cooperation in the Aegean”
9.02.2019

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara, lasted more than two hours.
Afterwards, at the joint press conference, PM Alexis Tsipras made this statement:
“Thank you very much, Mr President. I would like to thank you for your welcome and hospitality. And, of course, to thank you, once again, for the sincere talks we have had.
As I had the opportunity to emphasize in the media in the past, who asked me to express a view of my visit, our dialogue over the years has been a sincere, important dialogue not only for the future of our peoples but also for the our wider region, I would say.
The two countries have been able to work closely together in 2015 and 2016 - a critical period. Above all, because it was the period when an unprecedented refugee and migratory crisis broke out. It was then that we managed, for the first time, to cooperate, not only on issues of so-called low politics, but also to address this major international issue. The refugee-immigration crisis.
In this context, we have been able to build a new Euro-Turkish strategy of cooperation. We were able to bring forward, at the same time, the positive agenda of Greek-Turkish relations - our economic and energy cooperation. We were able to conduct rounds of exploratory talks and promote dialogue between our military to reduce tension in the Aegean.
And at the same time, we managed to promote the talks on the Cyprus problem. Talks that have come close to a solution, opening up difficult issues such as security.
Unfortunately, however, there followed the terrible coup here in Turkey and developments that have slowed down this positive course. You will remember that I was one of the first to call you that night to express to you the support of Greece, a country that defends democracy and freedom. And therefore, a country that condemns all forms of coups and, of course, any attempt to abolish democratic legitimacy.
Later, however, it is a fact that there have been developments that have created obstacles and impediments to this positive course of Greek-Turkish relations. There has been rhetoric, many times, controversial. In the Aegean, we have unfortunately seen the number of violations of Greece's national airspace reaching very high levels, with very dangerous incidents on the sea and in the air. And, at the same time, the case of the eight military men [granted asylum in Greece having fled Turkey following the failed coup Ed]  you mentioned was a thorn in our relations, and then another thorn, the case of the two Greek soldiers who were detained in Turkey.
Under these circumstances, we could have accepted that this vicious circle is our destiny. Our kismet. We did not. And I'm glad we did not.
Today in our talks, I believe that it was once again clear that neither you nor I accept the logic of inaction and going along with the well-trodden path. Because we recognize that the challenges we face in our times and in our region do not allow us to remain locked in dead ends but to pursue and seek dialogue in order to find a peaceful way to resolve any disputes.
At the same time, in cross-border contacts, in the economy, in tourism, in culture, our peoples, as they live in the same place, are coming closer and closer. And I believe we owe it to our peoples to follow them.
In this context, we are obliged to reverse the logic of the past in order to build a relationship based on mutual respect. A relationship based on respect for International Law, the elimination of the threat of war and, of course, mutual understanding. A mutual understanding of our concerns.
In December 2017, as you said, for the first time, you visited Greece. For the first time, after 65 years, as a Turkish President you visited our country. For the first time after 65 years, we had an official visit by a Turkish President to Greece.
Many people, after our meeting, said that it was not a successful meeting, because we spoke honestly. I said that precisely because we spoke honestly, this meeting, this visit, was successful. Because, precisely, when there are difficulties, we have to talk about it. The channel of communication and dialogue must be open to overcome any differences.
Of course, I too have a small record because, in the four years that I have been Prime Minister, I have visited Turkey four times as Prime Minister. We have met so many other times in international forums. And, of course, in this positive spirit today we have agreed to move forward in the coming period with the main goal of de-escalating tension in the Aegean and promoting confidence-building measures.
And I believe that the talks that will follow our meeting between our Ministers of National Defence and between our Foreign Ministries can really contribute to this.
By creating these conditions, we can, I believe, then make progress and repeat the exploratory talks on the differences we have on the issue of the continental shelf in the Aegean.
We have, of course, discussed the Cyprus question. I stressed the need for a just and viable solution, in the context of UN resolutions, for the benefit of all Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, which will establish a reunited federal Cyprus, a normal country in the region and a normal country of the European Union. And, of course, I believe we are duty bound to make this new effort to avoid mistakes of the past. That is why I have put forward the view that we must agree on preparatory meetings on the crucial issue of security involving Greece and Turkey.
I also stressed the importance of respecting international law in the Eastern Mediterranean and, of course, the need for energy to be a bridge of cooperation, not an obstacle and not a conflict in the region. And, already, on some major energy projects, we are working together, as in the TAP pipeline. We would like to have wider cooperation, on the Turkish Stream, for instance.
Of course, wanting to restore the positive agenda to our talks, we have been talking about the economy, about our economic relations, the steps we must take to change the lives of our citizens in the region for the better.
We agreed that we must work to make the coastal connection between Smyrna and Thessaloniki a reality in the summer. And we agreed to move on to organizing a new business forum that will highlight the opportunities opened for co-operation, especially now that Greece has emerged from a crisis that has plagued it all these past years.
We have, of course, discussed the Refugee Question, our cooperation in the context of the EU-Turkey Declaration and the possibilities for reducing flows, the need for an increase in the numbers of returners and the dealing with the networks of traffickers.
We also agreed on the need to work closely on Euro-Turkish relations, highlighting Turkey's need for support, as it hosts more than 4 million refugees and migrants.
And we discussed the prospect of a revision of the European Union-Turkey Customs Union, for the benefit of, amongst others, all countries in the region.
And of course, I once again had the opportunity to emphasize Greece's continued support for Turkey's accession [to the EU Ed] perspective. Something that will be to both Turkey's benefit and Europe's benefit. And, of course, this course, the accession path can contribute to the return to the important democratic reforms that had taken place over the years and that, of course, must be strengthened.
With regard to the thorny case of the eight soldiers, where the Greek Judiciary has taken a clear decision, I would like to say once again that Greece, as a state subject to the rule of law, must respect the judgments of the Judiciary. In Greece, of course, the putchists are not welcome. 
However, what is at stake today is for us to strengthen our cooperation in the field of security in order to deal effectively with the networks of traffickers operating in the Aegean Sea and in Evros, but also to deal with every criminal organization, every suspect, who wants to create problems for the good neighborhood and for the good cooperation between the two countries. So, we have agreed to step up cooperation in the field of security between the respective Ministries.
I would therefore like to conclude, once again, by thanking President Erdogan for the invitation to visit Ankara and tomorrow to come to Constantinople where I will also have the opportunity to visit Halki to meet the Patriarch.
I believe that there is a very significant opportunity in the coming years to invest in the positive agenda of relations between the two countries. The period we are in is a special time. Greece emerging from a multi-year crisis into the [financial Ed] markets, emerging into the economic clearing, has great potential. We are also solving decades-old problems, such as our differences with our northern neighbour, North Macedonia.
So I can say that we are creating the conditions to build a climate of security, peace and cooperation in the Aegean that will benefit both peoples of both countries and, of course, this requires one to build carefully. Now we want to put in the foundations so that at some point we can build. We are not ready to build without laying the foundations.
So, this meeting was about creating the conditions, so that we could later make historic strides in Greek-Turkish relations. So I think that in this context, this possibility to converse was extremely successful, extremely effective and honest, and I would like to thank you once again.”
"We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area"
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his statement said:
"We had a long meeting, we discussed the relations of our countries and international issues. We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area."
He estimated among other things that the trade relations of the two countries are far below target. "We believe that all issues can be resolved in a fair way. I have always advocated honest steps. Keep the communication channels open. Every subject can be discussed with  friends. Our minorities are strong bridges. We are making every effort to improve the situation of the Greeks."
"Let both sides do their best before starting the dialogue to create a road map. We are looking after the refugees, but we have to pay more attention because we have many deaths in the Aegean. Turkey has kept all its promises on refugee issues. In contrast, the EU has not kept its. Such as those flowing from the Treaty."
"We also talked about the issues of terrorism. We should as allies face up to terrorism. We have to make a road map. Those who are fugitives should not find shelter in a neighbour's land. Those who lost their lives on June 15 should be respected and be respected by Greece as well. We will make overtures to the religious minorities. I believe we will find common solutions."
Finally, President Erdogan expressed his gratitude for the visit of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to his country.

​Greek Parliament ratifies NATO accession protocol for North Macedonia
The Greek Parliament on Friday ratified the NATO accession protocol for North Macedonia with 153 votes in favour, 140 against and one abstention. 
"Today's vote closes the most important round of obligations involving Greece," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told parliament ahead of the vote.
"I'd like to welcome North Macedonia, a country friendly to Greece, a country that must be an ally in efforts to establish security, stability and peace in the region," he said.
"History will judge us. I feel we have carried out our patriotic duty, amid threats and blackmail. But soon the Greek people and history and mostly the next generations will judge us."
“I am proud of the stance of the lawmakers who voted the deal.”
In the Plenary debate, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said "The ratification of the Protocol for the accession of North Macedonia to NATO serves the strategic interests of Greece," and that "Greece is the main strategic partner of Northern Macedonia, for peacekeeping and enhancing cooperation and for our mutual benefit."
"We understand the fears, the worries, also the objections, but at crucial moments we have to weigh things, have a proper judgment and be decisive. Actions that contribute to the understanding and cooperation between countries contribute to growth and prosperity. In the economy, in culture, in the sciences and in the everyday life of the people, they contribute to the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of our region. There is a very bright future in front of us, let us not stay on a barren and turbulent road. For all these reasons, I propose the ratification of the Protocol," he said and stressed that "the ratification serves the strategic interests of the country, Greece is the strongest country in the region. Every step of de-escalation of tensions in the region is in the strategic interest of Greece, and any turbulence and any attempt to overthrow the status quo are strategically at the expense of Greece."
He said that the ratification of the protocol is a natural follow-up to the adoption of the Prespa Agreement and "Greece has an interest in facilitating the accession of North Macedonia into NATO." Paraphrasing the well-known saying, Mr. Apostolakis pointed out that "as nature abhors the vacuum, so does geopolitics."
He also said that "the accession of North Macedonia to NATO will require that country to systematically prepare and attempt to transform its Armed Forces to meet the Alliance's required standards and requirements regarding interoperability and standardization, in these areas Greece has an important role to play and can do it well and effectively."
At the same time, he pointed out that under the Prespa Agreement, defence co-operation will be strengthened and expanded, with the transfer of know-how, education, joint exercises and capacity-building. "Cooperation will build reciprocal relations and provide multiple benefits that will not just be limited to the defence sector," said Minister Apostolakis and added that Greece's assistance would displace other regional candidates who are trying to benefit and exert their influence on our neighbour.
"Our aim is to make our country a key strategic partner in northern Macedonia, to maintain peace and to strengthen cooperation and for mutual benefit," the Minister said.

“The Greek economy will continue to grow”
The Greek economy is continuing to grow according to the European Commission's "interim" economic forecasts, which were released on Thursday. Real GDP growth in Greece is set to rise from 2% in 2018, to 2.2% in 2019 and to 2.3% in 2020.
"By capitalizing on excess capacity and benefiting from strong external demand, Greece has managed to increase its market share in world trade. Net exports became the main driver of growth in the first three quarters of 2018 and (probably) for the whole year," the Commission said.
In addition, it noted that the major driver of total demand was the increase in private consumption, which was supported by the increase in employment. Investments remained moderate compared with 2017, at least in part, while in the real estate sector, investment in dwellings increased throughout the year.
The Commission also stressed that consumer confidence had almost returned to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2018 and that private consumption is expected to remain the key driver for growth in 2019.
However, the Commission stressed that the increase in exports is expected to moderate, as growth in the tourism sector is slowing down due to the return of competition from Turkey. In addition, it is noted that exports of goods are expected to weaken, but will remain on a rising path despite the economic slowdown in the EU.
For the labour market, the Commission stressed that it is steadily improving as unemployment fell to 18.6% in October 2018, from 21% in the previous year. 
Finally, the Commission estimates inflation will reach 0.8% in 2018 and is projected to remain moderate in 2019 due to sluggish energy prices before rising to 1.3% in 2020.

Greece Prepares for No-Deal Brexit
Bloomberg, a business and markets news agency, published a report this week quoting a Greek Foreign Ministry official [unnamed] describing Greece’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which he said were focussed on measures that will allow British Citizens to continue to visit and live in the country as they currently do.
The report states: “With visitors from the U.K. being the second biggest source of tourism income, the country’s most important industry, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Mediterranean nation. A sudden disruption in the flow of some 3 million Britons who visit Greek islands every year could be a shock to a sector that accounts for about a sixth of Greece’s annual economic output.”
“The Greek government is preparing draft bills and presidential degrees that will be needed in case of a so-called hard Brexit. There has been no official statement from the Government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the preparations since its working assumption is that a deal will be struck between the two sides.”
The news item continues: “With its planned Brexit measures, Greece is keen to protect a key part of its economy. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for more than 14% of the country’s tourism income in the January to November period in 2017.”  
The official is reported to have said that “among the measures Greece is considering is to maintain the visa-free status for people coming from the U.K. Also, Greece will probably retain the status of U.K. citizens living in the country and not treat them as so-called citizens from third countries, or people from non-EU countries.”
Editorial Note: Rumour and speculation are rife throughout the British Community of Apokoronas. We decided to publish this item primarily because its source, Bloomberg, is a news organisation (rather like the Financial Times) with a reputation for providing accurate information to inform business and investment decision-making.

Minimum Wage Increased
from February 1st
2.2.2019

Minimum Wage Increased from February 1st
The Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, Efi Achtsioglou, on Tuesday signed the ministerial decision to raise the minimum wage.
From 1st February, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month while the sub-minimum wage for young people under 25 is abolished.
The Ministerial Decree stipulates that from 1st February 2019:
- For employees, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month.
- For workers, the minimum wage is increased to € 29.04 per day.
- The sub-minimum wage and the lowest day rate for young people up to 25 years of age are abolished.  
"With the increase in the minimum wage, we are implementing the government's chief commitment to increase the disposable income of workers, especially young people, by eliminating the age discrimination of the sub-minimum wage.
With the increase in the minimum wage after almost a decade, especially after the dramatic reduction in 2012 by 22% - and by 32% for young people - we are returning to workers a part of what was taken from them by the austerity policies  implemented in the country" emphasised the Minister. 

"We are showing in practice that there is another way"
The Cabinet approved the increase in the minimum wage from 586€ to 650€ a month (11%); and the abolition of the sub-minimum wage (510€) for young workers up to 25 years old (a 27% increase), so that as of February they have a minimum wage of 650€.
"We owe it to those who suddenly saw, in one night,  the coalition government, New Democracy - PASOK reduce the minimum wage by 22% and 32% for young people, to all those men and women who saw the dreams of their lives, their prospects and their expectations sink into the darkness of the crisis." 
"A breathing space and hope are being given not only to the 600,000 workers directly affected by the increase, but also to the 280,000 indirectly affected by the increase in bonuses linked to the minimum wage and the prospect of further stimulating fair development."
"We are showing in practice that there is another way"
"The exit from the crisis and the end of the Memoranda is not a proclamation, but something that will crystallize as time goes by, day by day, in the real life of the vast majority of our fellow citizens." 
"We are showing in practice that there is another path and that this Government is determined to walk it."
The Prime Minister noted that in October 2019 Greek citizens will be able to compare Greece today with "the country bequeathed by the Governments of the old political system in January 2015" and stressed that "everyone already sees it as a different country - with the preconditions for building a dynamic country, based on its own strengths, a protagonist in the Balkans and Europe".
He said that the abolition of the sub-minimum wage which he called "an unacceptable institution that created two-speed workers without offering absolutely anything to the battle to fight unemployment") and the increase in the minimum wage comes as a culmination of the government's targeted work: reducing “informal” work from 20% in 2014 to 9% in 2018, restoring the collective bargain protection regime, reducing unemployment from 27% in 2014 to 18.3% today, creating 350,000 new jobs.
He described it as an "emblematic initiative for the world of work" with multiple beneficial effects in reducing inequalities, in enhancing workers' income, stimulating growth, in the people’s self-confidence.
The vast majority and ... the neoliberals
He said that the vast majority of our fellow citizens would welcome this initiative and yet there will be objections on the one hand by some social groups "an absolute minority, seeing the crisis as an opportunity to widen social inequalities to their advantage" and on the other hand the so-called neoliberals, "who believe that the precondition for growth is the destruction of the world of work." 
"We respond to them that the destruction of the world of work is not the road to sustainable development and stimulating the economy. On the contrary, it is proven to be the recipe for bankruptcy," he commented, adding that "wage growth is the precondition and growth is the result. "
Borrowing with seriousness and technical excellence
During his speech, the Prime Minister reported on the launch of a new five-year bond issue on the money markets. He commented that this "demolishes another of the opposition's false arguments about the country's ability to access international borrowing" and "reminds people that Greece and the Government are not addressing the issue of borrowing in terms of communication fireworks but with a plan and with the seriousness and technical excellence that suits us."
Winning the progressive forces for the Prespa agreement
Alexis Tsipras spoke about the ratification of the Prespa Accord. He underlined that this marks the solution of a historic disquiet with our neighbours and "the passage to a new era of cooperation, solidarity and friendship in the Balkans". It marks, he stressed, the defeat of nationalism, "a victory of the forces that are not meant to leave the future of both peoples to the “nationalists” and the merchants of hate."

"We believe in a Europe that can provide solutions instead of sinking into introversion"
In his statement at the 5th Summit of the Southern Countries of the EU, Alexis Tsipras characterised the Prespa Accord as a major success for Europe. 
He added that the most important thing is that the seven leaders are "giving a message of unity and resolve to defend the core European values, the prospect of European integration and international law, and to play a catalytic role in European and regional developments".
"The message we are giving today is a message of co-operation towards finding common European solutions. We believe in a Europe that can provide solutions instead of sinking into introversion."
He also spoke of "a more effective, democratic and social Europe that can play an important role in the international arena as a pillar of peace and stability."
He underlined that the countries of the European South "have experienced the most intense way both the economic and the migration crisis and we have even more reason to fight together".
"We have every reason to want the migration crisis to be tackled through the prism of solidarity, especially when these problems concern the whole of the EU. The countries of the European South, at a time when the logic of national entrenchment is dominant, can also through their delivery and their goal-setting give a message of cooperation and that there are European solutions to the problems we face."
On the same subject he noted the need for "Europe to have a new common European asylum system on the basis of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities".
"But we can not talk about solidarity without creating a mechanism for redistributing asylum seekers between member states. And so the revision of the Dublin Treaty [which roughly says that the state responsible for asylum applications is the European country through which migrants first entered the EU Ed] is a priority for us."
"We must jointly fight for the prospect of a Eurozone budget, the integration of the banking union and a European fund to fight unemployment," he said.
"I will have the opportunity next week to go to Istanbul to meet President Erdogan. Apart from my own thoughts, I will also convey to him the climate of today's meeting because we all agree that each country's relations as well as the EU and Turkey must be based on mutual respect and respect for international law."
"In this context, we fully support the prospect of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of UN and European acquis decisions, without guarantees and occupying troops." 
He also stressed that "any benefits from the exploitation of the natural resources that are the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus must be benefits that will be shared equally by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots".

International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Foreign Ministry Statement Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sunday, 27 January 2019
“Today marks the 74th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the allied forces. The International Community has chosen this symbolic day to honour the memory of the millions of Jews who were exterminated with the use of unprecedented, systematic and bureaucratically organised methods at Nazi death camps and elsewhere.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day of responsibility, an international anniversary which once again brings to mind the darkest chapter of European history, which has since constituted a basic element of our collective European identity.
The Jewish communities of Greece suffered irreparably due to the Nazi atrocities, which led to their near annihilation. The Greek State today pays tribute to the memory of millions of our fellow citizens and foreign Jews who fell victim to the most heinous crime in modern History.  We also honour the survivors of the Shoah, recognising the indelible wounds to their bodies and souls, as well as the courage and selfless sacrifice of those who rushed to protect those mercilessly persecuted.
Greece joins its voice to the consciousness of all Humanity, and its efforts to those of the other 31 members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance that have undertaken, through the Stockholm Declaration, the responsibility of preserving the collective memory of our fellow men and women that perished in the Holocaust. At the same time, it repeats its pandemic condemnation of any act that denies historical truth and defames the memory of the millions of victims of the Shoah. We honour and we commit ourselves in memory of all those lost, and in the name of all who survived, that we shall never forget.”

Greek Society Today…
The traditional Greek family has changed over the years of the crisis, with single-person households accounting for nearly one in three of all homes, according to recent figures released by the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat. 
The number of single-person households in Greece increased by four percentage points to 31% between 2007 and 2017. 
The next largest group is married couples without children, who account for 25.2% of all households (up from 24.1%). They are followed by married couples with children, who account for 21.9% of the total (down from 23.2% in 2007). 
In fourth place, accounting for 15.7% of the total, are unmarried couples without children. 
The number of marriages dropped from 62,195 in 1993 to 50,138 in 2017, according to figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT while divorces increased from 7,725 in 1993 to 13,494 in 2005, rising to around the 15,000 level during the years of the crisis. 
Civil weddings also became more popular, with 25,854 ceremonies recorded in 2016 compared to 23,788 religious weddings. 
Meanwhile, the number of cohabitation agreements soared – from 581 in 2013 to 4,921 in 2017, ELSTAT figures showed. 
Births outside of wedlock also increased – accounting for 9.4% of the total in 2015 compared to 5.1% of the total in 2004. 
Single-parent families increased too during the same period – from 1.8% to 2.3% of the total.

Bishop Found Guilty of Incitement to Homophobia
Amvrosios, the Bishop of Kalavryta, in the Northern Peloponnese was found guilty of abuse of ecclesiastical office and incitement to hatred  by a court in Aigio on Monday.
The Bishop had advised people to spit on gays in 2015, saying ”do not go near them! Do not listen to them! Do not trust them! They are the damned members of society!”
Bishop Amvrosios received a suspended sentence of a seven months' imprisonment. During the trial, he stated that he never said these things against homosexuals themselves. He claimed that his remarks were made against the politicians who voted in favour of the extension of civil partnerships to LGBT people, back in 2016.
Previously, Bishop Amvrosios has described homosexual people as “monstrosities of nature,” arguing that they are ”psychologically and spiritually unwell.” He has also spoken publicly in favour of the neo-Nazi party “Golden Dawn.”

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Parliament Ratifies
Prespa Accord 
26.01.2019

Yesterday afternoon (Friday 25.01.2019) with 153 in favour, 146 against and 1 abstention, Parliament approved the ratification of the Prespa Accord.
In addition to the 145 MPs of SYRIZA, ANEL MP Thanasis Papachristopoulos and Independent MPs Thanasis Theocharopoulos, Spyros Lykoudis, Elena Kountoura, Katerina Papakosta, George Mavrotas, Spyros Danellis, Stavros Theodorakis voted for the Accord.
According to the agreement that was signed by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev on June 17, 2018, FYROM will change its constitutional name from the ”Republic of Macedonia” to the ”Republic of North Macedonia”.
FYROM is now expected to join NATO under its new, ”North Macedonia”, name.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcoming the ratification of the Prespa Agreement said:
"Today is a historic day for Greece finally bringing an end to a large issue that was outstanding – an issue that was weighing the region down. And we are protecting a piece of the ancient Greek heritage.
The heritage of ancient Greek Macedonia. At the same time, however, it is also a historic day for the Balkans. The Balkans with a long history of wars, conflicts, contention, nationalist hatred. We are turning the page and giving space to peace, to cooperation, to friendship, to solidarity, to mutual understanding. I want from the bottom of my heart to thank the 153 Members of our Parliament who, despite the great pressures, blackmailing, personal attacks, endured and stood up equal to the situation, equal to their conscience, putting first their patriotic duty that they themselves believed and believe is in the interest, the national interest of our country."
I am sure that future generations and the two peoples will be grateful to them because today they are laying the foundations for a future of peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation.
However, I would like to address all Greek women and men. The result of today's vote has no winners and losers. In particular, I want to address those who still today have their objections, we respect those objections, they have their criticisms, we respect those criticisms. Let them be assured that, very soon, they will see the great benefits for the country from this historic step forward.
Today a new country was born on our northern border, North Macedonia, we welcome it. It will be a country friendly to Greece. It will be an ally of Greece in her effort to consolidate peace, co-operation, co-development in our region. A Greece that today, I think, is taking a significant step forward, establishing a leading role in the Balkan region and more generally in the south-east Mediterranean.
I therefore believe that this is an important step forward, an historic step, and I want to thank all the Members, not only those who have endorsed this historic agreement, but also those who, despite their disagreements, have contributed to climate of a political culture these four days in Parliament where we have discussed extensively and in depth."

“An historic day that puts an end to a 30-year-old national hypocrisy and opens a new era for the Balkans.”
On Thursday the Prime Minister had spoken in Parliament about “a historic day that puts an end to a 30-year-old national hypocrisy and opens a new era for the Balkans.”
"In the face of historical events, we all take on responsibility towards the people and the nation. We are confronted with our conscience and with our historical responsibility."
Our history is our soul
"Our history is our soul and we are taking it back. No one can appropriate it for their own use." "Greece is taking back what belongs to it: its history, symbols, tradition, the legacy of ancient Greek Macedonia. North Macedonia becomes a friend, an ally, a supporter of Greece in pursuit of cooperation, peace and security in the region."
The hypocrisy of New Democracy
"When the Greek Government succeeded in getting accepted all the key central negotiating positions of the country, then Mr. Mitsotakis began to talk about "the surrender of language and ethnicity. And when our neighbours themselves clarified in the verbal note that the deal does not recognize ethnicity but citizenship and that their language is Slavic, then he discovered the oxymoron that "we are betraying the people."
"When he saw that the Government had achieved a composite name erga omnes, "he shifted position and set as a non-negotiable condition that this be  guaranteed by a revision of its name in the Constitution." 
"When he saw, he continued, that this was achieved, he insisted that the revision of the constitution be completed before the ratification of the agreement in the Greek Parliament." 
"You, Mr. Mitsotakis, sent during those days Mrs Spyraki to Brussels to meet Mr Zaef in a secret cafe, to say to him: Stop, do not go with them, we want to go ahead, but do not go with them."
"You concern yourself with completely secondary matters and not with the essentials, because you have a lack of arguments."
Your problem is SYRIZA
"Your main problem is not the accord. Your main problem is SYRIZA. Your main problem is that I brought this deal, Mr. Kotzias brought it."
"The inaction, the timidity, the procrastination, which had become a doctrine of foreign policy, resulted in persistent diplomatic defeats for the Greek side, which resulted in more than 130 countries, including the USA, Russia and China, recognizing it by its constitutional name. The press and the whole of public opinion call it "Macedonia".
"If the accord is "nationally damaging" then the national line and strategy that you have built for so many years has been nationally damaging." Samaras was first to accept "Macedonia"
"Along with the risk of Greece losing the name "Macedonia", we were in danger of losing a big part of our history because of the unprecedented falsification, forgery and misappropriation of  the history, cultural heritage and symbols of Macedonia, which was and is historically an integral part of the ancient Greek heritage." 
"The term "Macedonia" was first accepted by Mr Samaras, "the great Macedonian Defender", who had flat out put his signature to Community [EEC Ed] Regulation 3567 on trade agreements on December 2, 1991, by which for the first time the Republic of Macedonia was recognized.
"The nationalist frenzy of the early 1990s shaped public opinion, creating the image of a country of fear, without national self-confidence, culminating in the "maximalist position agreed upon by the famous Council of Political Leaders in 1992 – except for the Communist Party [KKE] on the non-use of the term “Macedonia” or derivatives about the neighbouring country."
"The last time a debate was held on the change of the neighbour's constitution in 1992, under the Mitsotakis [Father’s Ed] government, had Mr. Samaras asked for the removal of references in the neighbour’s Constitution to a Macedonian nation or people? The answer is No."
Where were you over the 25 years of passports referring to 'Macedonians'? Where were you in 2008-2009, when the visa regime for the passports of FYROM citizens in the Schengen area was negotiated and liberalized?"
“Democracy in our country is strong and it will win.”
“The egg of the snake has broken [A Greek metaphorical image for the (re-) birth of fascism Ed] and threatens our Republic. The minimum that I expect from Mr Mitsotakis and all the parties is this time to issue condemnations without mincing their words”, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said about the fascist assault with Molotov cocktails on the house of MP Theodoras Tzakri.
“At the beginning, it was the targeting of MPs with threatening messages. Then with posters. Following that were the battalions attacking Parliament. For us to end up with the arson of the homes of MPs. All those who make out that they do not see, do not hear, do not understand bear an enormous responsibility.
Everyone knows: The attempted intimidation will not work.“ 

Some Background
In an interview earlier in the week, "A historic step for the two countries," was how the Prime Minister described the Prespa Accord.
The Prespa Accord, according to Alexis Tsipras, could become the catalyst for the creation of a new progressive pole in Greece. On the way to the European elections, he argued that it is "an obligation for all the forces defending democracy and social justice to form a strong progressive pole and to put forward an alternative path."
* The next week the Prespa agreement comes to the House. What does its vote mean for the country, for the Left, for you personally?
“The Prespa agreement is a historic step not only for the two countries and the wider region but also for the whole of Europe. Because it establishes relations of friendship, cooperation and stability in an environment in which the world is constantly destabilizing.
With the Prespa Accord, a decade-long confrontation has been brought to an end, a confrontation which has served to foster nationalist populism and jingoism on both sides. And the agreement is historic precisely because, to get here, we have to say a big “No” to these dangerous trends, which are to be found in enduring strength and on the rise in Europe. So we have every reason to be proud. The deal, a product of lengthy and painful negotiation, fully enshrines our national interests, puts a definitive end to the exploitation of history and irredentism, and at the same time respects the dignity of all sides. Ratification is a patriotic task. And the majority of Parliament House will respond to this task, leaving aside political differences and petty party games of tactics.”
* Do you share the assessment that Mr. Mitsotakis is terrified in case the agreement does not pass?
“All this time, Mr. Mitsotakis has been involved in an unprecedented hypocrisy. Within the country, he has adopted the line of the Extreme Right without any pretence, reaching the point of offering political cover even to unacceptable practices of violence and intimidation, which he refuses to condemn. He has surrendered the formation of the political line and the public representation of his party to the extreme right wing of Mr. Samaras. And at some point he will find himself face to face with it, but it is his own issue.
At the same time, to people in Europe that he speaks to, Mr. Mitsotakis sends conciliatory messages, as we have seen from the revelations of European People’s Party [EPP] officials, but also from what has become known about Mrs Spyraki's contacts with Zaef himself. I would therefore consider it reasonable for Mr Mitsotakis to worry that if he is called upon to manage this issue, all this theatre he has set up will turn into chaos. Fortunately, it will not be necessary. But I leave it like this: how irresponsible, immoral and dangerous it is to play with the extreme right and the policy of hatred to gain some temporary electoral benefit. And this is something that does not go unnoticed by the great democratic majority of society.”
* What do you say to the people who will be in the rally today [Sunday Ed], do you also count them among the Extreme Right?
“In a democratic society, the right of citizens to demonstrate their views peacefully is non-negotiable. And I totally and unequivocally disagree with positions claiming that anyone opposed to the Prespa Agreement is a fascist.
But I think it is the duty of everyone to isolate the extreme groups - which I imagine will try to manipulate this rally - but also to refrain from hate speech and slogans. There has been enough civil hatred in the history of this country. Enough. Confrontations must be made through arguments and dialogue.”
* The proposal, however, that you made to Mr. Mitsotakis for a TV dialogue in a trans-channel broadcast, he rejected it. Why?
“Mr. Mitsotakis chooses the easy way of slogans and soundbites. He is afraid of direct live dialogue, because such a dialogue requires arguments that can stand up. It is obvious that on the Macedonian Question he does not have such arguments, and the arguments he invokes he doesn’t believe them.
He chooses strange reasoning against straight talking, the sleight of hand against the truth, jingoism against patriotic responsibility. Do you believe that in a live TV debate this would not be visible? That's why he refused.”
* So do not you consider seriously the arguments put forward by Mr. Mitsotakis about the surrender of language and ethnicity?
“These arguments were, from the outset, a pretext. It was a conscious sleight of hand on the part of Mr. Mitsotakis. I can not imagine that as a student of English, Mr. Mitsotakis is unable to distinguish the term “nationality” from the term “ethnicity”. To understand, that is to say, the difference between citizenship and ethnicity.
In any case, the clarifying statement of our neighbours, with the legally binding verbatim note they have sent, closes every conversation, even for the most untrusting. The agreement defines only citizenship, not ethnicity. They accept their language as being Slavic and that their cultural heritage has nothing to do with ancient Macedonia.
Whoever does not understand, has only to read the nationalist VMRO’s announcement about the verbatim note. Finally, VMRO and New Democracy are the two sides of the same coin: jingoism.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published its responses to citizens' frequent questions about the Prespa Agreement. 
What has been the national line adopted by previous governments?
The national position, as it has been publicly expressed for over 15 years, is for a composte name with a geographic definition for use in all situations (erga omnes).
In the programme statements of the Karamanlis government, Foreign Minister D. Bakoyannis on 30/09/2007 stated that "Greece seeks to find a mutually acceptable solution based on a composite name."
In the programmatic statements of the Samaras government, Ms. Avramopoulos emphasized on 7/7/2012: "Greece, demonstrating the necessary constructive spirit, has made a major compromise, accepting a composite name with a geographical definition and for use in all situations."
In the General Assembly of the UN on 27.9.2014 the Foreign Minister and Vice-President of the Samaras Government, Evangelos Venizelos noted: "Greece has taken very important steps to date and we expect the other side to do so. We propose a mutually acceptable composite name with a geographical definition before the word "Macedonia" for every use, erga omnes".
What is Greece gaining from the Prespa Agreement?
1) Our neighbouring country is to be called “North Macedonia” and the international recognition of FYROM with its constitutional name (by more than 130 countries) comes to an end. From now on, not only does the name of the country cease to be "Macedonia", but, in addition, all state institutions, public buildings and even private bodies, if they are funded by the State or established by law (Article 1 (3) (g) can not be called "Macedonian", without the additional definition of "North".
2) European prospects and stability are strengthened in the neighbouring country and so the risk is circumscribed of third-party influence with alien irredentist plans on the northern border of Greece.
3) Not only is a significant diplomatic chapter safeguarded so that other growing challenges faced by Greece can be addressed, but its role in the region is strengthened as a European pillar of peace and security, and the aggressive nationalism of other powers is weakened.
4) The role of Macedonia and Thrace is upgraded to a regional economic hub. Greece and FYROM, pending the Nomenclature, have a conventional framework of bilateral relations that is totally inadequate - the conventional framework of relations between Greece and the then Yugoslavia . There are no major agreements, such as the Agreement for the Protection of Investments and the Agreement for Protection against Double Taxation, and all the other modern financial agreements and road and rail transport agreements, the lack of which have implications for our investments in the neighbouring area, for our exports, for road, rail and energy interconnectivity, for the port of Thessaloniki and its natural economic hinterland.
5) For the first time, the neighbouring country recognizes that it is not related to the "ancient Greek civilisation, history, culture and legacy" of Macedonia (Article 7 (3), (4)). Furthermore, it is bound (article 8 (2), (3)) to dismantle the notorious programme of archaism (anything "mentioned in any way in ancient Greek history and culture that is an integral part of the historical or cultural heritage of Greece" in infrastructure / buildings / monuments ) and for the removal of the Sun of Vergina from all public places and its withdrawal from any public use. This process has already begun, with the already renamed Airport of the neighbouring country as well as the National Road to Skopje.
It is noted that, of course, there has never been any question of limiting the use of the term Macedonia as far as Greece is concerned, which maintains it in full (eg Macedonia Airport).
(6) FYROM amends the descriptive epithets of all state organizations and its public institutions / organizations, as well as those of private institutions / organizations / bodies subsidized by the State or constituted by law in order to tie in with the composite name "North Macedonia" and no longer "Macedonian".  
7) The neighboring country is bound by the Agreement (Articles 4, 6) and by amendment to its Constitution (Articles 3 and 49) to eliminate any form of revisionism and irredentism (by public or private bodies), respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of Greece and the principle of non-interference in our internal affairs.
8) The creation of the Joint Interdisciplinary Committee of Experts on Historical, Archaeological and Educational Issues is also envisaged, which will also examine the textbooks, in order to eliminate, as specifically stated, the irrelevant references (eg maps of "Great Macedonia") the elimination of which we have been trying unsuccessfully to achieve for years).
9) It eliminates any, even indirect, possibility of claiming "rights" for a supposed minority in our country. Our neighboring country agrees that "nothing in its Constitution as it is today or will be modified in the future" will be a basis for intervention in Greece's internal affairs "including the protection of the status and the rights of any persons not citizens" Article 4 (3)). Its Constitution is modified in a way that assures support only to its citizens and to its Diaspora (and not to "the Macedonian people in the neighbouring countries", as it is referred to today).
Do we recognize the "Macedonian nation" or "Macedonian language" in the Prespa Agreement?
Nation / Nationality / Citizenship
1) The Agreement defines only the "citizenship" of the neighbour's citizens, which is the legal bond between the citizen and the state. Moreover, FYROM formally confirmed to Greece through the 16/1/2019 Memorandum of Understanding, which is legally binding on FYROM, that the use of the term "nationality" in the English version of the Prespa Agreement refers only to "citizenship" . Indeed, both Greece and FYROM in their official translations of the Agreement have attributed the English term "nationality" to the word «ιθαγένεια». Moreover, in all international texts (both conventional and non-contractual) the term "nationality" denotes nationality rather than national origin.
2) Today, and for more than 25 years, in the passports of Macedonian citizens, citizenship is defined by the word "Macedonian". In 2009, in FYROM, freedom from the scrutiny of its citizens' passports was granted as regards their entry to the Schengen area.
(3) From the entry into force of the Agreement, the indicator “citizen of Northern Macedonia” shall be added as the nationality to all travel documents to the term already in use.
4) The Prespa Agreement does not mention or regulate issues of ethnicity. Besides, the amendment to the FYROM Constitution states that "citizenship does not specify, nor does it predetermine the ethnicity of the citizens of the country". This is stated explicitly and is binding on FYROM and the verbal note sent by Skopje.
5) The Agreement, therefore, does not recognize a "Macedonian people" or  a "Macedonian nation". Moreover, the agreement does not deny the right of Greek citizens to call the citizens of our neighbouring country using the terms they use today (Article 7).
Language
1) The Third United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names held in 1977 in Athens recognized "Macedonian" as an official language. Already, however, in his speech to Parliament in September 1959, then Foreign Minister E. Averoff stressed: "The Macedonian language spoken in Skopje is not spoken in Greek Macedonia, and it has both grammar and syntax."
2) The reference to a Macedonian language, "MK, MKD", has been used since 1994, with no asterisks, as reflected on the UN official website (see pages 1 and 94):
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/11th-uncsgn-docs/E_Conf.105_13_CRP.13_15_UNGEGN WG Country Names Document.pdf
and as formally documented by the International Standardization Organization according to ISO 639-1 and 639-2:
https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php.
3) The Agreement explicitly states that the official language of the neighbour belongs to the group of South Slavic languages, "it is not related to the ancient Greek culture" of Macedonia and "it is not related to [...] the history, the culture and the heritage" of Macedonia (Article 7 (4)).
4) Also, under the Agreement, Greek citizens reserve the right to continue to refer to the above language under the terms they currently use (Article 7 (5)).
Trademarks
1) The Prespa Agreement does not affect the validity of Greek trademarks under the name “Macedonia”. In particular, its trademark provisions are fully compatible with the European acquis, on the other hand, with international law, and in particular with the Madrid Commercial Property Agreement. This means that trademarks that have been registered by Greek companies at national, European or international level and contain references to Macedonia are completely protected.
2) The status of the neighbouring country as a future candidate for EU membership implies its obligation to conform to the European acquis. Products of Designation of Origin (PDO), as well as Geographical Indication Products (PGIs) with reference to Macedonia, are already identified by the existing EU regulations and refer exclusively to Macedonia. Macedonian Wine, for example, has been safeguarded in an EU regulation. By their very nature, geographical definitions refer to specific regions, not to entire states. The fact that the agreement contains an explicit reference to the operation of an international group of experts within the EU framework, guarantees the interests of the enterprises of our country as a member state.
3) The agreement creates conditions for dialogue between the two business communities of the two countries who will in good faith find a way out of and solutions to other issues that may be related to brands and corporate logos in the future. In any case, what is enshrined in European and national law is given and does not change.
How is Greece guaranteed if another government chooses to withdraw from the Prespa Agreement?
1) The Agreement clearly states: "the provisions of the Agreement are irrevocable" and "no alterations are permitted" (Article 20) to its substantive substantive and procedural provisions (Article 1 (3), (4)). Also, the Agreement itself explicitly states in Article 1 (1) that it is final, whereas in paragraph (2) of that Article, the parties recognize as binding the outcome of the negotiations under the aegis of the UN.
2) At the same time, the incorporation of the Agreements into the Constitution of FYROM was sought and achieved so that, by changing the constitutional name of the neighbour and the constitutional amendments to the articles whose wording might conceal irredentism, any violation of the The Prespa Agreement also constitutes a breach of the neighbour's own Constitution. FYROM formally notified Greece (FMM Ministerial Statement to Foreign Ministers of Greece on 16/1/2019) that it has completed all its internal procedures "under its Constitution".
3) The country will be admitted to NATO exclusively under the name "Northern Macedonia" and the new terminologies and with a clear reference to the Prespa Agreement, which in this way goes back to the "acquis" of the Alliance itself. If it is established from the Greek side that the terms of the Agreement are not met, the accession process will not be completed by NATO. The Accession Protocol must, moreover, be signed by all Member States, and its ratification by all Allied countries is also required. Concerning the future accession negotiations of North Macedonia with the EU, Greece will be able to discontinue the process at each stage of the procedure if the criteria of the Agreement are not met.
(4) Finally, any breach of the Agreement would trigger for Greece the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in the Agreement (Article 19), which provides for a right of appeal to the UN Secretary-General and subsequently to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
What if the Prespa Agreement is not ratified by the Greek Parliament?
1) The dynamic already developed will be further strengthened and more and more states will recognize FYROM with their constitutional name, namely, "Republic of Macedonia". The citizens of the country will continue to travel with "Macedonian" passports entered under "citizenship" (in the EU without visas). The language will continue to be listed in the UN and ISO standards as "Macedonian" without the explicit commitment of the neighbour that it is a South Slavic language that is not related to Macedonia. The current things with respect to the epithet “Macedonian” will also continue.
2) The international community will place the responsibility for non-ratification on Greece, since FYROM has completed the ratification procedures provided for in the Agreement. The solution to the nomenclature is a commitment of both parties, resulting from Security Council Resolutions 817/1993 and 845/1993, and from our commitment to the 1995 Interim Accord. Greece for years has rightfully put the onus on the neighboring country, whose reluctance and bad faith prevented the negotiations. The change of attitude of FYROM has been registered by the international community.
3) Failure to ratify the Agreement will contribute to instability in the region. In addition, it will increase the risk of third-party influence with irredentist plans on the country's northern border.

SYRIZA wins Confidence Vote in Parliament
19.01.2019

Less than 48 hours after FYROM Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev succeeded in mustering the parliamentary support to push through the historical name-change accord in Skopje, one that will see the Balkan state being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia, Panos Kammenos, after holding talks with PM Tsipras on Sunday said his Independent Greeks party [AN-EL] was no longer able to support PM Alexis Tsipras’s Government, citing the Prespa Accord as the reason.
Alexis Tsipras responded by saying he would immediately seek a vote of confidence in his government. The vote opened with two days of debate on Tuesday and took place on Wednesday.
After ANEL's withdrawal from the government, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his intention to request a reaffirmation of the Parliament's vote of confidence on the basis of Article 84 of the Constitution.
“I have informed the President of the Parliament [of the vote] so that the Government can complete its term of office up to October 2019.” He added that he had had a “frank discussion” with Panos Kammenos, whom he thanked for his government partnership. “In critical moments everyone assumes his responsibilities … in the national interest I will not go back, I will not falter.”
Evangelos Apostolakis will take up the post of Minister of Defence.
"I will ask for the confidence of Parliament in order to move forward with these great interventions, which are indispensable for the country, which will give a breathing space of forward perspective to society, but will also upgrade the international role of the country. Each person must face up to their historical responsibilities."
"For four years I have had a sincere and sincere cooperation with Panos Kammenos. It is well known to all of us that we come from different political families and that all our differences have been known to us. Over these years we have achieved many things. We have extricated the country from the adventure of the Memoranda and have opened up the way for the fight against corruption in politics.
"I would like to thank Panos Kammenos for his irreplaceable contribution. I asked Panos Kammenos for clear solutions and clear conversations.  I thank Panos Kammenos for answering this call. He has told me that he will resign from the position of the Minister of National Defence and that he will ask for the other ANEL executives to resign. I accepted his resignation and I will accept any other resignation put before me."
" The country as a pillar of stability and security - this for me is a national goal. In the face of the obvious national benefit and interest, I will not take fright nor will I calculate the political costs.  The new Minister of Defence will be Mr. Apostolakis. There is not a moment to lose in consolidating the security and the continuity we have opened up."
"As I have pursued with clear conversations, so I will continue now. The Constitution gives me the power to leave it unclear whether I have the confidence of Parliament."
"We are facing very important challenges, the support of society. We have before us the increase in the minimum wage, the support of the weak, critical interventions in support of society. We have before us institutional interventions that must finally be completed with the Constitutional Review. We have the huge initiative for correcting the relations of the State and Church."
"The Constitution gives me the power [to avoid a vote of confidence Ed]. But I have never travelled with safety in mind and I have taken my decision. I have informed the President of Parliament and we will go immediately to renew the confidence in my Government - for the course of the Government to be completed in the face of great institutional changes."

The Vote of Confidence Debate
On Wednesday evening, 151 MPs gave a vote of confidence to the Government following the Prime Minister's request for it to be reaffirmed in order to continue the political stability for it to be able to complete its work.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis crossed swords with furious rhetoric and shouting on a wide array of government policies from the economy to the Greece-FYROM Prespa Agreement, during the debate on the confidence vote.
PM Tsipras said he disagreed with but respected Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos’ withdrawal from the government, even as Mr. Mitsotakis claimed that SYRIZA and Kammenos’ party have effectively merged, as several AN-EL MPs declared that would support the Government in the two crucial votes that will determine whether the Government survives – the 16 January confidence vote and the subsequent vote to ratify the Prespa Agreement.
PM Tsipras stressed that he is the Prime Minister who has led the country out of the bailout memorandum era while attending to the needs of those in lower income brackets, who have been hit hardest by the decade-long crisis.
He also accused New Democracy of tolerating the attacks and death threats issued by ND officials and sent to MPs who planned to support the Government in the two votes.
He said photos of women with their heads crushed had been sent to Deputy Public Order Minister Katerina Papakosta and he demanded that Mitsotakis condemn these actions.
The PM said that New Democracy at first tolerated and then organised an operation to terrorise MPs.
“ Mr. Mitsotakis is burdened with a heavy responsibility for wanting to divide the people. In recent days particular colleagues [MPs] who want the Government to remain in power were targeted with threatening messages,” the PM said.
He fervently defended the Prespa Agreement which was negotiated by ex-foreign minister Kotzias, as being in the national interest, as it resolves a key foreign policy  problem that has bedeviled the country for over a quarter century.
He said that the agreement is the second greatest accomplishment of his government, after shepherding the country out of the bailout era.
“With a sense of patriotic duty we have upgraded the country’s leadership role in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean in a difficult period characterised by great turbulence and major clashes,” he said.
He said he is certain that the bilateral agreement concluded with Skopje is right and patriotic.
“Patriotism means placing the national interest above partisan interests – pursuing the national interest and not changing views on crucial national issues of historical significance, based on fleeting partisan gain,” the PM declared.
“We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism”
"I urge you to vote for trust in the Government that is fighting for us to return to the Greece of the many, not the few. Not the division and those born in velvet. We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism." With these words, the Prime Minister asked for the vote of confidence of MPs to end the two-day debate.
"On the one hand there is the progressive country and SYRIZA and on the other the party of Mr. Voridis, Mr. Georgiades and Mr. Samaras.
Referring to the Prespa Agreement, Mr. Tsipras announced that he had received official notification by the neighbouring country and stated that "the term “nationality” does not prejudge the issue of the ethnicity of Northern Macedonia and the second point is that the neighbours’ language belongs to the Slavic family of languages as Parliament had been officially informed by the neighbouring country ". (Mr. Tsipras laid the respective documents before the Greek Parliament).
So, Mr. Tsipras concluded, "There is no connection with our own history, our own culture, our own tradition."
The Prime Minister finally assured the opposition that the Agreement will be discussed extensively and that it will be possible to think about it. Referring to Mr. Mitsotakis, he commented negatively on the high tones and the theatrical style he is adopting.
The Prime Minister argued that New Democracy is suffering from a lack of a political narrative because it is failing to adapt to the changes that reality brings. 
"You are unable to adapt to reality and when reality changes so much the worse for reality," he said. 
The targetting and practices of intimidation of MPs by the President of the official opposition party was mentioned by the Prime Minister complaining that "Mr. Mitsotakis did not find a single word to condemn Mr. Avramakos who yesterday sent messages by mobile phone to MPs intending to support the government ".
 "The Greek people know," the Prime Minister said, adding "his [Mr.Avramakos’ Ed] best sponsor is Mr. Mitsotakis as long as he defends Samaras' government."
He finally mocked the head of the main opposition for the infamous attacks, saying: 
"Unprecedented levels of political dialogue with threats, denunciations, insults and slogans, even about such people like Admiral Apostolakis who honour public life with their presence."

After the parliamentary process had been completed and his government had received the vote of confidence, Alexis Tsipras noted in a statement: "Today Parliament has voted in favour of stability. It has given a vote of confidence in the effort to regain the international credibility of the country."
It is a vote of confidence "in a Government that has already changed Greece and will continue until the completion of its constitutionally guaranteed mandate with a unique focus on the needs and interests of the Greek people, the needs and interests of Greece of the many."

Next … The Prespa Agreement
Former Prime Minister George Papandreou reiterated his support for the Prespes Accord, according to an interview which will be published in a Greek daily over the weekend.
“My opinion on the specific agreement is known, I stated it very clearly months ago and at the political council of the Movement for Change.”
“Our prime concern should be to avoid a division over a foreign policy issue - in this case the Macedonian issue. Difficult issues have been used in the past as a tool to promote party interests, with disastrous effects on the Greek people and the country. If we go to elections with in a climate of division and counter-accusations on who are patriots and who are sell-outs, it will be a disaster,” he added.
To Potami on Friday expressed its support in principle for a name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia without explicitly stating whether it will back the agreement when it comes to a vote in Greece's Parliament. 
To Potami stressed that its overall positive view of the deal is tantamount to support “for Greece and not for bringing down [Alexis] Tsipras,” referring to the prime minister.
“There are those that are making Potami's positive stance to the Prespes Agreement appear as support for Mr Tsipras. They are making a big mistake... To Potami only supports the interests of the Greeks,” the party said on Friday.
“Our movement remains firm in the decision of its conference that the problem with FYROM must be resolved and Greece must play a leading role in opening the European path to the neighbouring country,” the party said in a statement after a meeting of its political council which was also attended by Potami's MEPs and other party bodies.
“When it comes to national issues, Potami doesn't form its position based on party interest, neither does it change its views depending on the ups and downs of any given time. We have stable principles, we don't have ideological obsessions and we don't act impulsively,” it added.
To Potami has five seats in the 300-seat House, leaving the government one vote short of an absolute majority. However, the Government appears confident of mustering at least one more vote from the independent bench or from other opposition parties.

FYROM Parliament passes Prespa Amendments to Constitution
12.1.2019

With 81 votes in favour and none against, the FYROM parliament approved the four amendments to the Constitution and the accompanying implementation Law of the Constitution tabled by Zoran Zaev's government on the basis of the Prespa Agreement.
The four amendments adopted by the House concern the change of the name of the country (from the current “Republic of Macedonia” to the “Republic of Northern Macedonia”), the Preamble to the Constitution, the concern of the State for the country’s diaspora and the respect of the territorial integrity and national the sovereignty of FYROM’s neighbouring countries.
The 39 opposition MPs abstained from the vote.
NATO Secretary General G. Stoltenberg sent congratulations: "I congratulate Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on the final vote in parliament on the Prespa Agreement. NATO strongly supports the full implementation of the Agreement, which contributes significantly to a stable and prosperous region".
"Warm congratulations" on the outcome of the FYROM parliamentary vote on constitutional reform, were sent in a joint statement by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federico Mogherini and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Khan.
In the statement they characterized the approval of the name change as "an important step in implementing the historic Prespa agreement", noting that "political leaders and citizens have shown their determination to take advantage of this unique and historic opportunity for resolving one of the oldest conflicts in the region and moving decisively on the path of the European Union.
"The EU firmly supports this agreement, which is an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole. As we look forward to completing the next steps leading to the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement, the European Union remains firmly committed to continuing to fully support the country towards its common strategic goal of EU membership."
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said: "The adoption of the constitutional changes by the Skopje Parliament is a very encouraging and major step in the process of joining Northern Macedonia to the European Union. We hope it creates a positive conjuncture for the whole region. The EU will only be completed with the entry of all the countries of the Western Balkans."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras congratulated Mr Zaev by telephone on the successful completion of the revision process of the Macedonian Constitution, based on the Prespa Agreement.
 "The Macedonian solution is one of my most important assets. If the first was the country's exit from the Memoranda, the second is the recovery of the country's role in the Balkans and, more generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean"said Alexis Tsipras, adding that the Agreement leaves no room for nationalism."
Speaking on OpenTV, he noted that "I believe that the Prespa Agreement is not a matter that has divided public opinion but is an unresolved problem for 27 years. It is a millstone on the foreign policy of the country."
At the same time, he spoke about the "non-existent issues of Macedonian language and ethnicity", which emerged from the opposition's need to view the agreement in the light of petty party interest."
"The only point of reference is the temporary petty-party benefit for Mr Mitsotakis," he said stressing that the leader of the Opposition turned nationality into ethnicity. "Something that does not exist".
"Because Mr Mitsotakis thinks he will lose some voters, the country will be discredited internationally. If I think this is in the interests of the country, let everyone take their responsibilities. "
In January, the Prespa Agreement will come to Parliament, the Prime Minister said, adding that shortly afterwards the ratification of NATO would come.
Referring to the elections, the PM reiterated that the Government would complete its four year term of office. "The elections will be on time. October is my goal."
"Mr. Mitsotakis does not want to go to elections without the Prespa Agreement having been voted on. He is anxious. He is electioneering in a populist way. Let him table a motion of no-confidence, I challenge him."
"I will proceed to early elections if I do not get a majority of 151 MPs." 

IT'S GREEK YOGURT
The Ministry of Rural Development and Food is proceeding with its application for the registration of the name "Greek yogurt" in the PGI Register of the EU. in order to safeguard Greek yogurt as a product with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from counterfeit practices found in foreign markets and to strengthen the livestock industry and consequently the whole production and distribution chain,.
The project has been assigned to the Dairy Laboratory of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the Humanities of the Agricultural University of Athens and concerns all varieties of Greek yogurt from all varieties of Greek milk and exclusively from Greek raw materials.
The Ministry Statement said “The main goal of the product protection is to protect it from counterfeit attempts abroad to use the names “Greek yoghurt” or “Greek style yogurt” and to highlight the unique qualities [of the real thing Ed].

PM Alexis Tsipras’
New Year Message
5.1.2019

"It is the first New Year that we can say that the struggles and the sacrifices of the Greek people have paid off. A new year is ahead of us," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his New Year's message, pointing out that the year that is coming in is "a year of hope, optimism, expectation and creativity".
"And it is logical, because it is the first year after eight years that our country is already outside the suffocating ring of the Memoranda. It is the first new year that we can say that the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people have have paid off.
Because Greece has managed it. Contrary to the prophets of doom.
Because today, we are now in a position, without stewardship and commands from outside, to build our own future.
The future we deserve.
A future with people of work and creativity at the epicentre.
In 2019, the first year of being able to breathe and of freedom after so many years, we are again winning the battle of labour.
And we are moving ever faster to further reduce unemployment.
We have already won the battle to return to normality with 350,000 new jobs to date, but our goal remains to win the war.
The flight of young, capable, creative people abroad must be stopped.
Our homeland must become our homeland again, and not just a mother of her children.
That is why, in 2019, we are proceeding even more rapidly.
We are razing to the ground the work regime of the jungle, which was imposed in the years of the Memoranda.
We are fully restoring collective labour agreements.
We are abolishing the shameful sub-minimum wage for young people.
We are proceeding towards a generous increase in the minimum wage for all workers, without discrimination.
We are strengthening the social state, Health and Education.
We are strengthening the social state. First of all, Health and Education.
We are moving to the definitive protection of the primary residence by supporting borrowers so that they can repay their loans.
But we are also supporting the weaker sections who are without property, with rent allowances, so that they can access a decent roof over their heads.
2019, however, is also the year of the great and necessary institutional changes and reforms that for years nobody dared to take forward.
The Constitutional Revision will finally begin.
And it will give breathing room and space to democracy and civic participation.
It will give broader democratic rights to the people, and will take away privileges from the professionals of power.
Like the scandalous privilege of the Ministers' Responsibility Act, which entails immunity for those who are burdened by scandal and charges of misconduct.
The rationalization of Church and State relations will also proceed with the aim of strengthening the spiritual role of the Church, safeguarding the clergy in all respects, and at the same time safeguarding the role of the State as is appropriate in a modern and democratic state.
At the same time, however, 2019 will be the year of the great upgrading of the international prestige and the international role of Greece in the European and international spheres.
As a force for stability, peace and cooperation in a broadly destabilized region.
In this effort, an important step is the Prespa Accord, which will be ratified by the Greek Parliament, closing a barren 30-year cycle of inertia that has cost our homeland a great deal.
With the ratification of the Accord, Greece at last provides protection to the great cultural heritage and hellenicity of ancient Macedonia, while at the same time ensuring its leading role in the wider Balkan region.
Dear men and women compatriots, 
2019 will be the year of the rebirth of our homeland.
And with your own stamp, this rebirth will be definitive.
Greece will move forward.
It will not go back to the dark days of the Memoranda and austerity.
With confidence and optimism, 
With struggle and determination
We will definitively close off the road to those who want the restoration of the barons' sovereignty of vested interests and corruption.
I wish from my heart, for 2019 to be the year of courage, optimism and great recovery for our homeland.
And it will be.
Many Happy Returns and Happy New Year to all Greek women and men."

On New Year's Eve, Η Αυγή published this article by Kostas Douzinas, SYRIZA MP for Piraeus A' and Professor at the University of London.
Counting the days to B-Day
Although the Brexit episode is unique, we find all the elements of it in the rest of Europe. Britain is showing us the future if the European elites continue, like Nero, to recite poetry while Rome burns. 
The chaos, as dense as the fog of London, which is covering Britain's political life is a symptom of a time in Europe, characterized by a lack of vision, unworthy politicians, the destruction of the peoples' expectations. The laughter that covered May's speech in the British Parliament, when she announced that she was postponing the vote about Brexit because she would lose it, is symbolic of a poorly acted theatrical work that is nearing its end. An end that no one knows, not even its own authors. The endgame of Brexit has elements of farce, starring a number of second-class clowns like Farage, Boris Johnson, or the Brexiters’ leader, Rees-Mogg, a character that comes straight out of a satire on the arrogant stupidity of the aristocracy.
But at the same time it is also a tragedy, as the lives of millions in Britain and Europe are being put at risk. In the middle, May, a mini-Thatcher, without the decisiveness, the strength or the handbags of the original, is driving a train that runs without brakes towards the cliff.
In less than ninety days, on B for Brexit day, the UK will leave the European Union. They said that in World War I the train schedules decided who would be the victor. Today, the clock is running relentlessly towards March 29. But will Britain leave Europe?
In a sense, it was never in Europe. "Mist on La Manche (English Channel for the British), Europe cut off," said the meteorologists. Since the invasion of the Romans in the first century AD and the Normans in the eleventh century, the “Mainland” is the great wound of British society. It cuts across it diagonally and splits in two all classes, parties, interests. In the 1970s and 1980s it split the Labour Party. Now it's the turn of the Conservatives to get to know the intense europhobia of the ruling class. They are people who grew up with the experiences or memories of the empire and do not accept being members of a “club” that they do not run. It makes it worse that it is run by their greatest enemies who they defeated in two wars. Brexit has within it the whole history of the 20th century as well as also the traumatic end of the Empire.
But will Brexit happen? This still remains the most likely outcome. But not because the majority wants it either in Parliament or among the people. If it does happen, it will be the result of the complete failure of the political class. May’s agreement will not get through Parliament when it comes before it in mid-January. And as the clock runs toward B-day, it's not certain there will be time to apply the brake to the train. 
There are three possible scenarios. 1.The United Kingdom leaves with a "managed No Deal". This will prevent the creation of chaos in air and sea travel, in the importation of medical supplies, personal data protection, etc. 2. As B-day approaches, politicians will panic and accept the May deal or something similar. 3.The general paralysis and the lack of a majority for any version will force May to ask for a postponement of B-day. Then we will have either an election or a second referendum. However, Corbyn's victory is not certain. The fact that he remains a spectator at the moment waiting for the break up of his opponents before he makes his move, as well as his statement that he supports Brexit, has disappointed many of the supporters of Remain. The first scenario is slightly more likely at the moment.
In the last three months, when it became clear that the negotiations could fail, the demand for a "second vote", a new referendum, became deafening. Corbyn, a child of Tony Benn and the radical left of the 1970s, believes that the capitalist Union will not allow leftist governments to pursue an independent industrial policy. It is the belief of a left-wing Euro-scepticism, which still believes that socialism can be built in one country, by a powerful movement and with the help of the trade unions. But there is also pragmatism in the decision. The popular preference for Brexit has not been radically overturned. As he told us recently, to win the election, he must take fifty seats that all voted Brexit, from the Conservatives. But the chief characteristic of Corbyn is his belief in democracy.
As long as the Executive, the MPs and the members decide in favour of Remain, Corbyn will follow in spite of his misgivings.
Brexit, the end of the social contract
Brexit was a result of economic distress and cultural alienation. When Europe was still social democratic, it put up some barriers to the capitalist extremes of Thatcher and Blair. Since the 1990s, the European elites have adopted the most extreme neo-liberal prescriptions. When jobs departed en masse, leading to systemic unemployment, when wages and job protection were destroyed in the name of competitiveness, justifiably, popular dissatisfaction turned against the EU. Between 2009 and 2014 the economy grew by 10%, but real wages declined by 6%. The referendum gave the opportunity to traditional Labour voters and those left behind by globalization to vote against the political castes. 64% of the poorest strata voted Brexit. The majority of those voting for Brexit are victims of capitalist globalisation.
For many, certainly, immigration was also important. In globalized capitalism, while capital is freely circulating, there are constantly restrictions on the movement of people. But the rationale of xenophobia is political, not economic. Economic migrants are useful demographicly and keep wages low. Thus, industry associations have supported them. Blair allowed Eastern Europeans to come to Britain without restrictions and, of course, Merkel invited refugees. In order to turn the legitimate concern of workers about jobs and dignity into racism, a political intervention is required. That's what Brexit's rightwing propagandists did. Xenophobia is the last prop of the Right, which has ruined with its policies those who, supposedly, its supports with its rhetoric.
But behind everything lies the violations of popular confidence by the elites: the lies that led to the war in Iraq, the failure of the occupation, the financial collapse of 2008, which led to a huge recapitalization of the banks at the same time as citizens lost their homes and their businesses. It was the final failure of the post-war social contract and the transition from a traditional paternalistic capitalism that believed in the public interest to a narrow-minded caste that believes only in the market.
Although the episode of Brexit is unique, we find all of its elements in the rest of Europe. Brexit was a pre-announced divorce. But Britain is showing us the future if European elites continue like Nero to recite poetry while Rome burns. The diminution of the Union is a result of the diminution of minds. From the [Movement of the]Squares and the Indignados to the "Yellow Vests", the peoples learned to revolt. This is our great hope.

Greece facing demographic challenge
Greece’s population has declined by 360,000 in the last seven years and is projected to drop by a further 770,000 people over the next 12 years if birthrates remain at today’s levels, according to recent data collected by experts at the National Centre of Social Research (EKKE) and a special parliamentary committee on demographics and social affairs.
Greece’s population could plummet by up to 50% in 35-50 years if nothing is done to tackle the low birthrate, the aging population and the brain drain sparked by the emigration of young people to foreign lands in search of a viable career.
As a result, Greece’s workforce will shrink even further and analysts fear this will have a devastating impact on the economy and the country’s already severely burdened social insurance system.