Greece arrests four over foiled Belgium terror attacks

At least four people were arrested in Athens on Saturday (Jan 17) as part of a probe into an extremist cell that was dismantled in Belgium this week before it could carry out any attacks, a Greek police source said.
Greece's anti-terror police were seeking to determine whether those arrested included Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the 27-year-old suspected mastermind of the cell who according to media reports may have been planning the foiled attacks from Greece.

The arrests took place in the Pangrati district of the Greek capital in the middle of the day, the source said. Several mobile phones were also seized.

European nations have arrested dozens of Islamist suspects in the wake of the Belgian anti-terror raids, during which two suspects were killed.

Belgium said the cell was planning to kill police officers.

Abaaoud, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, is a notorious extremist who spent time in Syria. His alleged involvement comes at a time of heightened fears in Europe about the threat posed by young Europeans returning home after fighting alongside extremist groups in the Middle East.

- AFP/fl

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/greece-arrests-four-over/1597312.html

17/1/15

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• Deaths in Belgium 'anti-terror raid' (Two suspects killed and one injured in police raid)

Συνάντηση ΥΦΥΠΕΞ Δ. Κούρκουλα με Σύνδεσμο Τουρκικών Βιομηχανιών (TÜSİAD)

ΥΠΕΞ, Παρασκευή, 04 Απρίλιος 2014
Ο Υφυπουργός Εξωτερικών, Δημήτρης Κούρκουλας, συναντήθηκε, σήμερα, Παρασκευή 4 Απριλίου, στο Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών με το Προεδρείο του Συνδέσμου Τουρκικών Βιομηχανιών (TÜSİAD).

Κατά τη διάρκεια της συνάντησης, αντηλλάγησαν απόψεις για τις σχέσεις Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης- Τουρκίας, καθώς και τις διμερείς οικονομικές σχέσεις.

Ο κ. Κούρκουλας ενημέρωσε το Σύνδεσμο Τουρκικών Βιομηχανιών για την πορεία της Ελληνικής Προεδρίας στο Συμβούλιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, την εμπορική πολιτική της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, καθώς και την πορεία της ελληνικής οικονομίας.
[mfa.gr]
4/4/14
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• TÜSİAD Yönetim Kurulu AB Dönem Başkanı Yunanistan'ı ziyaret etti

TÜSİAD Yönetim Kurulu başkanlığındaki TÜSİAD heyeti, AB Dönem Başkanı Yunanistan'ın başkenti Atina'ya 4 Nisan 2014 tarihinde bir ziyaret gerçekleştirdi. TÜSİAD'ın muadil kuruluşu SEV (Yunan Girişimciler Federasyonu) ile işbirliği içinde düzenlenen ziyaret kapsamında, Türkiye'nin AB üyelik süreci ve küresel ekonomik ve siyasi gelişmeler ile ilgili görüş alışverişinde bulunuldu.
 
Yunanistan Başbakanı Antonis Samaras ile biraraya gelen heyet, AB'den Sorumlu Dışişleri Bakan Yardımcısı Dimitris Kourkoulas ve Kalkınma ve Rekabet Bakanı Kostis Hatzidakis ile de temaslarda bulundu. TÜSİAD heyeti ayrıca, TÜSİAD'ın Yunanistan'daki muadil kuruluşu SEV ile bir toplantı gerçekleştirdi ve Türkiye Atina Büyükelçisi Kerim Uras ile bir araya geldi.................http://www.tusiad.org/blog/tusiad-yonetim-kurulu-ab-donem-baskani-yunanistani-ziyaret-etti/
4/14

ICRI 2014 – A conference with a view to the future...

The 2^nd International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI 2014) is taking place at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre on 2-4 April 2014, in the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The conference is organised by the European Commission and the Greek General Secretariat of Research & Technology (Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs) with the organisational support of the “Athena” Research and Innovation Center.
The strategic aim of ICRI 2014 is to highlight how global Research Infrastructures may respond to the local and global challenges the world is facing today (environment, poverty, sustainability, security), what lessons have been learnt from the past and what the priorities and directions for the future should be.
Over three days, 600 participants and 90 speakers will discuss and debate a plethora of subjects, from international research infrastructure management (i.e. laser, telescopes, accelerators, aircraft or deep sea crafts, for atmosphere or sea bottom observation, as well as electronic infrastructures, data networks, computer arrays and data bases), to food safety and marine research.

The plenary sessions of the Conference will address topics such as “Research Infrastructures for Global Challenges”, “Governance of Research Infrastructures”, “and Innovation Potential of Research Infrastructures” and “Big Data management”, while a panel of distinguished scientists will debate “The Way forward”. ICRI 2014 will be accompanied by a poster and video gallery of international research infrastructure projects, set up at the Nikolaos Skalkotas foyer. A series of parallel thematic sessions will deal with the Environment (special focus on Marine Research Infrastructure and the Arctic), Palaeoanthropology and Cultural Heritage, Food Safety and e-Infrastructure.

Greek minister of Education & Religious Affairs, Prof. Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos will deliver the welcoming speech, while Commissioner for Research, Innovation & Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Italy’s minister of Education, Universities & Research, Stefania Giannini, and Greek General Secretary for Research & Technology, Dr Christos Vasilakos will also address the conference, along with scores of high-ranking officials and a strong delegation from South Africa, which will host of the next ICRI, two years from now.
In addition, an exhibition of 53 works of art, selected after an international competition on the theme “Research & Art” theme, will be on display at a specially designated area of the Conference Centre.
More information here
[http://gr2014.eu]
1/4/14

Government of Greece and TAP sign host government agreement / Endgültiges Aus für Nabucco - Konsortium entscheidet für TAP

The Greek Government (the Ministry of Energy, Environment and Climate Change – MEECC) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project have today signed the Host Government Agreement (HGA) in Athens, agreed in principle last week.

The HGA sets out the framework by which the project will be realized and operated on Greek territory. This includes processes related to land easement and acquisition, the implementation of technical, safety, environmental and social standards and permitting.

TAP will be one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Greece, and is estimated to cost approximately Euro 1.5 bn for the Greek section. During construction, TAP is anticipated to create some 2,000 direct, and up to 10,000 indirect, new jobs across a number of industries including manufacturing and utilities, transport, communications and financial and business services. The project already collaborates with a number of Greek businesses and experts, and will seek to expand such cooperation in line with its commitment to Local Content.


TAP will enhance Europe’s energy security and diversity by providing a new source of gas. The pipeline will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II development in Azerbaijan, through Greece and Albania to Italy, from where it can be transported further into Western and Central Europe.

The longest section of the TAP pipeline will be in Greece. The pipeline will start at Kipoi at the Turkish-Greek border, and will cover some 550km entering Albania northwest of Dipotamia. As such, the project will support Greece’s ambition of becoming an important “Energy Highway.” Furthermore, the planned interconnection points and reverse flow capability of TAP will also support security of supply for other countries in the region.

Kjetil Tungland, TAP’s Managing Director, stated: “I am delighted to be here in Athens today on this very special occasion. I would like to thank the Greek Government and all those involved for their dedication, hard work and support, which has resulted in today’s signing of this Host Government Agreement.  We are well on our way to deliver a project that will have notable positive impact on Greece, the region as well as European energy objectives”

Rikard Scoufias, TAP’s Country Director for Greece, added: “Concluding on the contents of this agreement has required a significant amount of work from both parties. This achievement has resulted not only in an important component for securing Greece’s and TAP’s bid for the Southern Gas Corridor, but also constitutes an international benchmark for expediency in terms of establishing a positive investment climate. With the support provided by the Greek Government, as well as the Greek Parliament, I feel that we are well on our way to deliver a project that will have notable positive impact on Greece, the region as well as European energy objectives.”
- See more at: http://www.balkaneu.com26/6/13---Related:

• Συνάντηση Δ.Αβραμόπουλου με αντιπροσωπεία της Trans Adriatic Pipeline

• Ανακοίνωση του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών σχετικά με την υπογραφή Τριμερούς Διακυβερνητικής Συμφωνίας Ελλάδας-Αλβανίας-Ιταλίας για την κατασκευή του αγωγού Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)......

• Υπογραφή Μνημονίου Κατανόησης Ελλάδας-Ιταλίας-Αλβανίας σχετικά με τον αγωγό Trans Adriatic Pipeline

• Ο Έλληνας ΥΠΕΞ Σήμερα στην Ρώμη με Στόχο τον «Ενεργειακό» Συντονισμό Ελλάδας-Ιταλίας για το Σαχ Ντενίζ 2

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Aliyev praises his army, warns Armenia

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• Endgültiges Aus für Nabucco - Konsortium entscheidet für Trans-Adriatische Pipeline

Das von der EU und den USA favorisierte Nabucco-Projekt, mit dem Erdgas aus Aserbaidschan nach Europa fließen sollte, ist gescheitert.

Das für die Erschließung des riesigen aserbaidschanischen Gasfeldes Shah Deniz II zuständige Konsortium entschied für die Trans-Adriatische-Pipeline (TAP), wie der österreichische Konzern OMV, Aktionär bei der Nabucco Gas Pipeline Internationalen GmbH, am Mittwoch mitteilte. Aus der aserbaidschanischen Hauptstadt Baku verlautete am gleichen Tag, dass Vertreter des aserbaidschanischen Staatskonzerns SOCAR und der BP-Tochter BP Azerbaijan noch am Mittwoch nach Griechenland reisen, um Regierungschef Antonis Samaras über die Entscheidung persönlich zu informieren.


"Die Seiten werden voraussichtlich ein Abkommen über die Wahl der TAP-Leitung zur Versorgung Europas mit aserbaidschanischem Gas unterzeichnen", meldete die in Baku ansässige Nachrichtenagentur Trend unter Berufung auf die italienische Agentur ANSA. Über die TAP-Leitung soll Gas vom Kaspischen Meer via Griechenland, Albanien und das Adriatische Meer in den Süden Italiens transportiert werden.

Betreiber des Shah-Deniz-Konsortiums ist BP mit einem Anteil von 25,5 Prozent. Die norwegische Statoil hält ebenfalls 25,5 Prozent der anteile. SOCAR, der russische Konzern LUKoil, die iranische NICO und die französische Total besitzen jeweils 10 Prozent und die türkische TPAO 9 Prozent der Anteile.
http://de.rian.ru
26/6/13
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Mehr zum Thema:

• Προκρίθηκε ο αγωγός TAP, σύμφωνα με τον αυστριακό ενεργειακό όμιλο OVM

• Υπογράφηκε η "Συμφωνία Φιλοξενούσας Χώρας" με την κοινοπραξία του αγωγού TAP

 

 

Ten years since the signature of the Treaty of Athens

Ten years ago, on April 16, 2003, the Treaty of Accession to the European Union of 10 European countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia – was signed in Athens. This historical event took place during the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is enshrined forever as one of the most important documents of the reunited Europe.Later, on May 1, 2004, all our countries became fully fledged members of the reunified European family comprising 25 member states at that time. It was the largest single expansion since the Paris Treaty of 1951, the forerunner of the EU, in terms of population, number of states and territory.
Moreover, it was the symbolic completion of the vital strategic goal of all the acceding member states to finally put an end to the post-World War II period by returning to the common space of freedom and stability, democracy and prosperity. The signature of the Treaty of Athens opened a new era for the acceding countries, for their citizens and ultimately for the whole of Europe.

Ten years after the signature, as members of the European Union, we all can state that it was the right decision. This was the overwhelming choice by the people. It was not only based on the perspective of future benefits of the common economic area, or the single market offering free movement of capital, goods and people; it was also founded on the understanding of inevitable internal structural reforms that had been carried out along the integration path toward the European Union.The 2004 EU enlargement would not have been feasible without the strong and sincere support of all EU member states. The prospects of EU membership acted as a catalyst and the main driving force for positive changes in the social climate, economic growth, better living standards, higher incomes, more jobs and more development. However, among the most important aspects of this change was the hope to share and enjoy those European values that our societies had missed for so long. Our citizens, the real players in establishing the foundation for societies, made it possible for all 10 new EU member states to have a successful journey. Today, they continue to serve as an example and motivation for those candidates who wish to join the EU in the future.As an inseparable part of the EU, we contribute to strengthening the European project, to keeping its values alive and to spreading them in our neighborhood in the East and the South. Moreover, all 10 members actively participate in the shaping of European policies, and seek to make the EU more competitive and technologically and innovatively more advanced. They contribute to making the Union better prepared for future challenges in the current globalized world as an active player in dynamic international affairs. Above all, the main task to be addressed is to ensure that the EU continues to be a reliable and safe place to live in. If necessary, all member states have to offer solidarity based on the genuine efforts of all of us to show the necessary responsibility for the benefit of the whole EU.Looking back at those events 10 years ago, one is struck how appropriately the Greek EU Presidency chose the venue for the solemn act of signature by heads of states, prime ministers and foreign ministers from all the member states. It took place in the Stoa of Attalos at the Ancient Agora of Athens, in the cradle of democracy that the Athenian philosophers developed in ancient Greece. Democracy still prevails as the best form of government, offering guarantees for free and open societies and nations.As such, the Treaty of Accession to the European Union in Athens of these 10 European countries remains a symbol of the heritage of democracy being extended from the very place where it was born.Hana Sevcikova, Ambassador of the Czech RepublicAndres Talvik, Ambassador of EstoniaJoseph Joseph, Ambassador of CyprusIvars Pundurs, Ambassador of LatviaAlfonsas Eidintas, Ambassador of LithuaniaEszter Sandorfi, Ambassador of HungaryWalter Balzan, Ambassador of MaltaMaciej Krych, Ambassador of PolandRobert Basej, Ambassador of SloveniaPeter Michalko, Ambassador of Slovakia
 .ekathimerini.com

"THE 7 MOST ENDANGERED" PROGRAMME LAUNCHED. This programme will identify endangered monuments and sites in Europe....

European Investment Bank teams up with Europa Nostra to save Europe's Cultural Heritage 

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The Hague/Luxembourg, 24 January 2013 - Europe's leading heritage organisation Europa Nostra has launched today its new flagship programme ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ with the European Investment Bank Group, represented by the EIB Institute, as its founding partner. This programme will identify endangered monuments and sites in Europe and mobilize public and private partners on a local, national and European level to find a sustainable future for those sites.

“Cultural Heritage is Europe's greatest asset: our crude oil, our gold reserve. Our heritage is Europe's bread and butter, as much as it is Europe's heart and soul. Together with the European Investment Bank, Europa Nostra is proud to launch ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme. If we all work together, we can stimulate a true renaissance of Europe’s unique cultural heritage “ said Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.

“The preservation of the cultural heritage in Europe is a huge task and without any doubt a common responsibility for all of us. The European Investment Bank is therefore pleased to be the founding partner of Europa Nostra’s new programme of “The 7 Most Endangered”. Its contribution to this project via the EIB Institute will be to provide analysis and advice on how funding could be obtained for the projects selected within this programme.” added Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank.

The first list of ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ will be announced during Europa Nostra’s 50^th anniversary Congress in Athens on 16 June 2013. An international Advisory Panel will prepare the short list of 14 most endangered sites and the final list of 7 will be selected by the Europa Nostra Board. Nominations of most endangered sites can be made by Europa Nostra member or associate organisations or Europa Nostra’s country representations, the full list of which is available on the Europa Nostra website.  Deadline for the submission of nominations is 15 March 2013. (For the nomination form click here)

After the selection of ‘The 7 Most Endangered’, the experts selected by the EIB Institute and the other associated partners will visit each of the 7 sites in close consultation with local stakeholders and will propose realistic and sustainable action plans for saving those sites. The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) based in Paris will be one of the associated partners for this phase of the programme. The plans would include advice on how funding could be obtained, e.g. by drawing on EU funds or, in appropriate cases, on EIB or CEB loans. Europa Nostra’s extensive network of heritage organisations will mobilise local communities and public or private bodies to strengthen the ownership and commitment for the 7 selected heritage sites in danger.

 

‘The 7 Most Endangered’ is inspired by a successful programme of the US National Trust for Historic Preservation, based in Washington. This programme will not only identify a priority list of heritage sites in danger; it will also propose concrete rescue plans indicating what could and should be done to save those sites. Besides generating public interest and enthusiasm the programme will bring people together to create sustainable solutions through feasibility studies, technical advice, capacity and funding assistance, project management support and wide-scale publicity. In this way, ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ will work as a catalyst for action.

.europanostra.org

25/01/13

TOP 20 MOST AMAZING PLACES ON THE PLANET

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Some of the most amazing places and destinations on the planet.

(#7 Athens, Greece)