COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest

PRESS

Council of the European Union     31/10/2019  Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists – 2nd November 2019 Freedom of expression, in all its forms, is the very essence of democracy. Only with a thriving, free and independent media landscape, we can hold governments, businesses and society at large accountable. And precisely for this fundamental right, far too often, journalists and media workers are attacked, persecuted, harassed, or intimidated for carrying out their work. Most journalists are not wounded in the heat of war coverage, but suffer violence in our immediate surroundings. In 2018 alone, 94 journalists and media staff were killed in work-related incidents as reported by the International Federation of Journalists. Hundreds more have been subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention without ever having been tried in a court. Time and again, governments fail to protect journalists, hesitate to prosecute perpetrators or even perpetrate the crimes themselves. Impunity for these crimes multiplies their impact and erodes democratic societies by fuelling fear, mistrust, and anxiety. Only last month we remembered the killing of Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi, whose case still awaits court handling, and the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in the midst of Europe, proving that no region of the world is immune to such crimes. On this day we reiterate our commitment to combat impunity for crimes against journalists and to continue using all appropriate means possible to respect and protect freedom of expression and to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers. The EU provides support and legal assistance via the EU-funded mechanism for Human Rights Defenders, a network that delivers fast response to human rights defenders under threat, including journalists. The EU also funds the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and its important Media Pluralism Monitor that continues to measure threats to media pluralism in the EU and in neighbouring countries and informs our policy-making processes. In 2019, the European Commission committed a budget of €2.2 million to support ECPMF projects geared at promoting quality journalism, and cross-border cooperation between media professionals and self-regulatory bodies. In many countries, we provide financial and expert support to foster protection of journalists, bloggers and media workers. On this day dedicated to the end of impunity for crimes against journalists, we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives and suffered attacks in the exercise of their freedom of expression online and offline and stand by all those who have the courage to speak up for all of us. European Council     29/10/2019  Brexit: European Council adopts decision to extend the period under Article 50 The European Council has adopted a decision to extend the period under Article 50.3 (of the Treaty on the European Union), in the context of the UK's intention to withdraw from the EU. The extension will last until 31 January 2020 to allow more time for the ratification of the withdrawal agreement. The withdrawal can take place earlier on 1 December 2019 or 1 January 2020, if the withdrawal agreement is ratified by both parties. For the duration of the extension the United Kingdom remains a member state with all the rights and obligations set out in the treaties and under EU law. The decision was taken unanimously by the European Council by written procedure, with the agreement of the UK. This agreement was set out in a letter from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to President of the European Council Donald Tusk. The European Council also agreed a declaration accompanying the decision. European Council decision taken in agreement with the United Kingdom extending the period under Article 50(3)TEU Declaration of the European Council (Article 50) Brexit timeline Council of the European Union     25/10/2019 CO2 emissions from ships: Council agrees its position on a revision of EU rules The EU is making efforts to cut red tape for ship owners while maintaining its high standards for the monitoring of CO2 emissions from maritime transport. Today, the ambassadors of EU member states agreed on their position on a proposal which updates existing EU rules, and partially aligns them with the global data collection system for ship fuel oil consumption of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). "The maritime transport sector has to become more energy efficient and use less fuel to contribute to our climate goals. We want companies and the general public to know how much fuel each ship uses. This means we will be able to compare ships’ emissions and choose more energy efficient ones. This has environmental benefits. We are also looking to the future, as we are asking the Commission to review this regulation in light of further experience gained." Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Environment and Climate of Finland As of 2019, ship owners are obliged to monitor and report under two systems: the EU MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification) regulation and the global IMO DCS (data collection system). The Council agrees that partly aligning the definitions, the monitoring parameters and the monitoring plans and templates of the MRV regulation contributes to reducing the administrative burden for shipping companies and national authorities and facilitates compliance with the reporting obligations under the two systems. However, the Council believes that the monitoring and reporting of cargo carried should remain compulsory. This information contributes to a better understanding of the fuel efficiency of ships. The Commission had proposed to turn cargo carried into a voluntary reporting element. The Council also added a clause which asks the Commission to review the functioning of the regulation. The agreement reached among the ambassadors of EU member states at today's meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives means that the Council is ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament. The European Parliament has not yet reached a position on this proposal. The full text of the Council position will be linked to this press release within a few days. Background Global shipping activity emits significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change due to its consumption of fossil fuels. The emissions from international maritime transport are estimated to be around 2-3% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than the emissions of any EU state. If the shipping sector were a country, it would rank sixth in emissions in the world. At EU level, CO2 emissions from maritime transport increased by 48% between 1990 and 2008. In 2015, maritime transport caused 13% of the overall EU greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. In 2015, the Council and the European Parliament adopted the so-called MRV regulation, which for the first time set out rules for the monitoring, reporting and verification of CO2 emissions from maritime transport. Shipping companies have to report their annual CO2 emissions and other relevant information arising from their ships’ voyages to and from European Economic Area (EEA) ports, including CO2 emissions from these ships in ports. This concerns ships above 5000 gross tonnage - smaller ships are excluded from the rules. The monitoring of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and energy efficiency started in 2018, and shipping companies had to submit their first emissions reports in 2019. At global level, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) created its legal framework for a global data collection system (DCS) for fuel oil consumption of ships in 2016. Under the IMO DCS, monitoring obligations start in 2019, and first reports need to be submitted in 2020. As a result, since January 2019 ships performing EEA-related maritime transport activities have to fulfil monitoring and reporting requirements under both the EU MRV Regulation and the global IMO DCS. The main objective of this proposal is therefore to amend the EU MRV Regulation in order to take appropriate account of the new global IMO DCS, with a view to allow for streamlining and reducing administrative effort for companies and administrations as far as possible, while preserving the objectives of the EU MRV Regulation. Commission proposal Addendum to Commission proposal

κ. ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗ ΝΑΤΣΙΟΥ,Δασκάλου Κιλκίς:ΒΛΑΚΕΙΑ, ΔΕΙΛΙΑ, ΠΡΟΔΟΣΙΑ: Η «ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΤΡΙΛΟΓΙΑ» ΤΩΝ ΣΧΟΛΙΚΩΝ ΒΙΒΛΙΩΝ

October 28, 2019 Capt. E.N.Rigos Δημήτριος Νατσιός

Τοῦ Δημ. Νατσιοῦ
Δασκάλου – Μέλος ΙΗΑ
ἀπὸ τὴν «ΑΦΥΠΝΙΣΗ»,
περιοδικὴ ἔκδοση Ἱ. Κοινοβίου Ὁσ. Νικοδήμου
(Πεντάλοφος Παιονίας)
ἀρ. τ. 21, Σεπτέμβριος 2014

Να μην ξεχνάμε τι διδάσκουν τα σχολικά βιβλία Γλώσσας για το Έπος του ’40. Μια αληθινή τιμή για τους νεκρούς μας ήρωες θα ήταν να φύγουν οι μαγαρισιές από τις τσάντες των παιδιών μας. Θα ήταν ένα πραγματικό μνημόσυνο στην θυσία τους….

Γιορτάζουμε τό «ΟΧΙ», γιατί ἄν γιορτάζαμε τό «ΝΑΙ», θά εἴχαμε κάθε μέρα ἐπέτειο!
(Φοιτητικό σύνθημα)

Στόν πανηγυρικό λόγο πού ἐκφώνησε στήν Ἀκαδημία Ἀθηνῶν, στίς 27 Ὀκτωβρίου τοῦ 1960, ὁ μεγάλος μας λογοτέχνης Στρατής Μυριβήλης, μεταξύ τῶν ἄλλων σπουδαίων ἀνέφερε καί ἕνα συγκλονιστικό γεγονός, πού διαδραματίστηκε, ὄχι «στό διάσελο τῆς Ἱστορίας» (Βρεττάκος), στίς ἀετοράχες τῆς Πίνδου, ἀλλά στά μετόπισθεν, ὅπου ὁ ἀπόλεμος πληθυσμός τῆς πατρίδας μας συναγωνιζόταν τήν ἀνδρεία τῶν μαχητῶν. Τό μεταφέρω:
«Εἶχε ὀργανωθῆ, κατά τή διάρκεια τοῦ ἀγῶνα ὑπηρεσία μεταγγίσεως αἵματος, ἀπ’ τόν Ἐρυθρό Σταυρό τῆς Ἑλλάδος. Εἶχα καί ἕναν φίλο γιατρό, σ’αὐτή τήν ὑπηρεσία, λοιπόν πήγαινα κάπου-κάπου νά τόν δῶ καί νά τά ποῦμε. Ὁ κόσμος ἔκαμε οὐρά κάθε μέρα γιά νά δώση τό αἷμα του γιά τούς τραυματίες μας. Ἦταν ἐκεῖ νέοι, κοπέλλες, γυναῖκες, μαθητές, παιδιά πού περίμεναν τή σειρά τους. Μιά μέρα, λοιπόν, ὁ ἐπί τῆς αἱμοδοσίας φίλος μου γιατρός, εἶδε μέσα στήν σειρά τῶν αἱμοδοτῶν πού περίμεναν, νά στέκεται καί ἕνα γεροντάκι.
-Ἐσύ, παππούλη, τοῦ εἶπε ἐνοχλημένος, τί θέλεις ἐδῶ;
Ὁ γέρος ἀπάντησε δειλά:
-Ἦρθα κι ἐγώ, γιατρέ, νά δώσω αἷμα.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT:Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting

Group photo of the heads of delegations taking part in the expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting
25 October 2019 16:00 Skolkovo, Moscow Region


Cooperation within the framework of the digital agenda and the interaction of countries in the areas of veterinary and the agro-industrial complex at the Eurasian Economic Union were the topics discussed.


Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the signing ceremony of an agreement on a free trade area between the Eurasian Economic Union and Serbia

List of delegation heads attending the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council:

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan;

Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Rumas;

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin;

Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziyev;

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev;

Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan;

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic;

Chairman of the Executive Committee, Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergei Lebedev.

Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks at the meeting:

Dmitry Medvedev speaking at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting

Good afternoon, colleagues and our chairman, Mr Pashinyan!

I would like to welcome all the meeting participants, all the delegation members once again. We reviewed a number of issues in the restricted-attendance meeting, including the elaboration of union documents, and exchanged opinions on further steps. This is our fourth meeting this year. We need to meet regularly given our busy agenda.

AHEPA:Action Alert | Armenian Genocide Resolution | House Vote Today!

AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION

ACTION ALERT October 29, 2019   CONTACT: AHEPA Headquarters PHONE: 202.232.6300 EMAIL: ahepa@ahepa.org Photo via U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. * * * Action Alert! * * * The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a bipartisan-supported resolution today that affirms the Armenian Genocide. H.Res.296, affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide, is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Take Action If needed, find your representative Call the Capitol Switchboard and ask for your U.S. representative's office: 202.224.3121 Urge your U.S. representative support passage of H.Res.296, a resolution that affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide. AHEPA Statement (view here) Supreme President George G. Horiates has issued the following statement as the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on H.Res.296, a resolution affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide, this week: "The Ottoman Empire brutally and systematically massacred 1.5 million Armenians during the Armenian Genocide, the first Genocide of the 20th century, along with Christian minorities who were systematically murdered during this time period, including Greeks and many others.   "The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association stands with the Armenian American community during this historically significant moment. It is high time the United States affirms a fact of history and end its denial.  We urge the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan-backed Armenian Genocide resolution when it comes to the House Floor this week and for the U.S. Senate to follow suit swiftly.  We echo strongly what many of our colleagues have noted--this is a matter of basic human rights. Moreover, the passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution is about education and awareness to prevent future atrocities from occurring." Additional Info The U.S. Senate's companion bill, S.Res.150, is sponsored by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Ted Cruz (R-TX). In addition to affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide: The two congressional resolutions cite the United States' "providing relief to the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians;" The resolutions also cite the work of the Near East Relief, which was chartered by an Act of Congress.  Near East Relief provided humanitarian aid to Greek refugees and to Greece during a period from 1915 to 1930. Additional Resources United States Holocaust Museum: Special Focus -- The Armenian Genocide  International Association of Genocide Scholars -- IAGS Resolutions Near East Foundation: Near East Relief history # # #      Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.     AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.    For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.

NORWAY's news

Government.no

Your news alert

Week 44

Norway to provide 2 million NOK to support new international partnership on plastic waste News story | 24/10/2019 Today, Norway announced a contribution to the new established partnership on plastic waste under the Basel Convention. The partnership aims at securing better treatment of plastic waste and avoiding plastic pollution, in particular to the oceans. News alert about: Climate and environment

Commitments worth NOK 583 billion for the ocean at the Our Ocean conference in Oslo Press release | 24/10/2019 “I am very pleased with the great engagement shown at the Our Ocean conference these two days in Oslo. 370 commitments have been made, at a total value of at least NOK 583 billion (63 billion dollars),” said Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide. News alert about: Climate and environment and Foreign affairs

Government to provide NOK 3 billion to promote cleaner oceans News story | 23/10/2019 Norway will provide more than NOK 3 billion to a number of initiatives to promote sustainable ocean management in the period 2020-2024. The initiatives will be announced at the Our Ocean conference in Oslo, which begins today. News alert about: Climate and environment and Foreign affairs

Troika Statement on the South Sudan Peace Process - October 2019 News story | 21/10/2019 On a critical time for the peace process in South Sudan it's important with continued pressure to form an transitional government that includes all and shows the will for real peace, a statement from the so called Troika (USA, UK and Norway) says. News alert about: Foreign affairs

ΑHEPA Applauds Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution in U.S. House

ΑHEPA Applauds Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution in U.S. House In a victory for human rights, AHEPA applauds the passage (roll call vote) of H.Res.296, a resolution to affirm the United States record on the Armenian Genocide, by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. "We commend and congratulate the Armenian American community for its decades of relentless hard work and persistent advocacy to attain the rightful recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States government," Supreme President Horiates said. "The House affirmed a historic truth and a commitment to human rights and ended the United States' denial of the first genocide of the 20th century. We also appreciate the resolution's recognition of a genocide against Greeks by citing the United States' history of providing relief to 'the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians.'   Horiates added, "We are grateful to the champions of the resolution in the House of Representatives, and we call on the U.S. Senate swiftly to follow suit. Finally, we thank community members who responded to all the action alerts issued and contacted their member of Congress. Your advocacy made a difference." On Monday, AHEPA issued a statement that urged the U.S. House to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution.  Philly IOCC Committee Honors AHEPA, Supreme President Horiates; AHEPA Donates $5,000 Photo credit: The National Herald The Greater Philadelphia Committee of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) honored AHEPA and Supreme President George Horiates, Oct. 27.  IOCC Development Officer Lou Zagami and IOCC Greater Philadelphia Committee Chairman Anthony Pantazopoulos presented the award to Supreme President Horiates. On behalf of AHEPA, Horiates presented IOCC with a $5,000 donation to secure yet another shipping container that will be filled by IOCC with medical supplies for hospitals in Greece. AHEPA Happenings | Ottawa Chapter Donates $10,000 to Local Greek School  Canadian President Christos Argiriou and District 23 Gov. Anastasios Moussas attended a presentation by Sir Edward Codrington Chapter CJ-5, Ottawa, Ont., where the chapter donated $10,000 to Hellenic School Ottawa. Chairman George Mamalis, Past Chapter President Nikos Hatzitheodosiou and Chapter President Peter Mavridis presented the donation to community president, Tony Vanikiotis. House Passes Sanctions Bill, Senate Must Act "The American Hellenic community is outraged with the West's inability to take appropriate measures to stop Turkey from: pursuing its expansionist agenda, maintaining its ties with terrorist organizations, and perpetuating its violations of international law in the Eastern Mediterranean; all at the expense of the security and best interests of the United States, our NATO allies, and strategic partners. It bears repeating, Turkey is not a United States ally." - Supreme President George Horiates. It is time for the United States to impose strong sanctions on Turkey. Your Advocacy Is Working! The U.S. House of Representatives did vote to impose sanctions in overwhelming bipartisan fashion yesterday, passing H.R.4695 (see roll call vote), for which AHEPA conveyed its gratitude. Now the U.S. Senate must do the same. Take Action: Contact the U.S. Senate. Hold Turkey responsible. Learn more Participate: Protest the announced President Trump-President Erdogan November meeting. Get details Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines November Greek American News Digest Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.   Former AP Civil Rights Reporter Kathryn Johnson (Giannakopoulos) Dies The National Herald  (Oct. 29) Greek-American Kathryn Johnson (Giannakopoulos), a trailblazing reporter for The Associated Press whose intrepid coverage of the civil rights movement and other major stories led to a string of legendary scoops, died October 23. A longtime member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, she was 93.  read more House Passes Resolution Recognizing Armenian Genocide New York Times (Oct. 29) The House voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to formally recognize the Armenian genocide and denounce it as a matter of American foreign policy, a symbolic vindication for the Armenian diaspora made possible by a new torrent of bipartisan furor at Turkey.  read more Greece wins European creditors' approval to repay IMF early Associated Press (Oct. 28) Greece has won approval from its European creditors to repay part of its debts to the International Monetary Fund earlier than required, thus avoiding cumbersome interest payments. read more Turkish ambassador: Drillships to remain in Cyprus until resources are shared Ekathimerini (Oct. 28) Turkey's drillships and seismic research vessels will not leave Cypriot waters unless Nicosia includes Turkish Cypriots in its decision-making concerning hydrocarbon exploration, the country's ambassador to Greece said in an interview with Kathimerini.  read more Greece Offers Incentives, Diverse Locations for International Productions Variety (Oct. 24) As they began preparing "The Trip to Greece," the fourth installment in Michael Winterbottom's acclaimed comedy franchise starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, the creative team returned to the time-tested formula that made the previous three chapters so successful: a combination of food, wanderlust and the comedians' impeccable improv skills.  read more US Ambassador, Greek Foreign Minister Inaugurate Greek-US World War II Exhibition in Athens The Pappas Post (Oct. 25) An exhibition featuring a private collection of more than 300 historical items from the World War II era opened in Athens, Greece on October 24 at the Hellenic American University.  read more Little Greek Kitchen serves up food from scratch, fantastic view on Okinawa Stars and Stripes (Oct. 24) Five years ago, I discovered a lovely Greek restaurant housed in an old metal shipping container on Ikei Island, part of a small island chain on the east side of Okinawa.  read more AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION ACTION ALERT October 29, 2019 CONTACT: AHEPA Headquarters PHONE: 202.232.6300 EMAIL: ahepa@ahepa.org The U.S. must impose strong sanctions on Turkey.  Uphold American values and security interests. Hold Turkey responsible. Contact Congress NOW! H.R.4695, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act, sponsored by Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX), is being considered on the House Floor right now. Take Action! Call your U.S. representative (find here) via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard and ask for your representative's office: 202.224.3121 Urge your U.S. representative to support H.R.4695, the PACT Act.  AHEPA Commemorates Oxi Day;  FDR's Words About Greece's Defiance Remembered WASHINGTON, DC - Supreme President George G. Horiates issued the following statement on the 79th anniversary of "Oxi Day" when Greece issued a defiant "No" to the fascism of the Axis powers, opting instead to say "Yes" to freedom on October 28, 1940. The Greeks successfully fought the Italian army, pushing the invaders back into Albania after one week. It would prove to be a costly military campaign for the Axis powers. "On this day, 79 years ago, the citizens of Greece took a courageous stand against tyranny and fascism and fought heroically to defend their autonomy," Horiates said. "President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had been an AHEPA member of Delphi Chapter 25 since 1932, took note of the gutsy defensive stand the Greeks made of their beloved homeland against the Italians, and eventually the Germans, when he told the AHEPA Supreme Lodge in an April 25, 1941 meeting: 'The heroic struggle of the Greek people to defend their liberties and their homes against the aggression of Germany after they had so signally defeated the Italian attempt at invasion has stirred the hearts and aroused the sympathy of the whole American people.' "Today, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, of which many of its members, including members of its Junior Order, the Sons of Pericles, fought heroically behind enemy lines in Greece during World War II, commemorates the 79th anniversary of 'Oxi Day.' It is a day to celebrate freedom, justice, liberty, and the passion of the Hellenic spirit. "Also, we sincerely thank members of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus who introduced a resolution to commemorate the anniversary of 'Oxi Day' and encourage the community to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to pass it. "Please take a moment to pause and reflect on this remarkable moment in our Hellenic history and grant consideration to how it is still very relevant today."