Athens Dailies' headlines from May 18

[Tsontos]

The Sunday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance



The high prices on the market, and imminent reforms in the Education sector, were the main front-page items in Athens' newspapers on Sunday.



ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Who are responsible for the high prices - What is revealed in a confidential report in the government's hands".



APOGEVMATINI: "Greece (national soccer team, current champions) at the top of Europe (Euro 2008 championship held every four years) - Opinion poll by Pulse".



AVGHI: "OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) a catalyst - Conditions forming for new mobility (on political scene)".



AVRIANI: "The regime of impunity for politicians is ending - The legal suit lodged by Andreas Vgenopoulos (Marfin Investment Group vice president) against George Papandreou (PASOK leader and MP) signals the end of tolerance (of the business world to the petty politicians' games)".



CHORA: "They want to topple (prime minister) Karamanlis - Local and foreign interests 'pulling the strings' - Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) mulling information indicating an organised plan".



ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Souflias (environment, town planning and public works minister) exclusive interview: There is an organised plan against me", either because they consider him an obstacle to their broader plans, or because they want to have him ousted from the ministry.



ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "2 percent kickbacks for politicians - Documents on the Siemens ('black funds') scandal - Note from prosecutor in Munich 'fingers' the 'black money' in Greece".



ETHNOS: "Three 'bombs' in Alogoskoufis' (economy and finance minister) drawer - Government has prepared package of measures, (to be announced) in tranches".



KATHIMERINI: "Asphyxiation from the oligopolies and 'closed' professions - They bear a large part of the blame for the crisis on the market".



LOGOS: "High prices undefeatable - New wave of price hikes on the horizon".



PROTO THEMA (weekly): "Four years of Lyceum (grades 9-12), followed by university entrance exams - Stylianidis (education minister): Interview with three 'bombs' ", intimating that the nationwide end-of-Lyceum examinations (which currently double as university entrance exams for candidates) will be abolished by the end of the government's current term in office, with the introduction of another year of 'preparation' after Lyceum, followed by university entrance exams, which will also apply to private universities.



RIZOSPASTIS: "Fight for Universities 'for the people', and against the framework-law - Rapid developments in tertiary education".



TO VIMA: "End to smoking in all public spaces - The entire draft law - General prohibition as of January 1, 2010".



VRADYNI: "2 billion euros for young professionals - Large 'package' on the horizon, for boosting employment (being advanced by employment ministry, with the invaluable assistance of the European Union)".

[edessa]

Originally Posted by Tsontos

VRADYNI: "2 billion euros for young professionals - Large 'package' on the horizon, for boosting employment (being advanced by employment ministry, with the invaluable assistance of the European Union)".

i personally think the greek government needs to do more to entice its professional population amongst the diaspora to come back to greece. I know of plenty of young professionals at uni who would love to go back and live in Greece, many of them who werent even born there,yet can't because of the ridiculous red tape to get citizenship, then the army, then the fact that there are limited jobs.
Alvanoi, mavroi, pakistanoi, gyftoi etc are everywhere in athens and salonika, yet i with a university degree and greek background cant stay longer than 6 months - its a fukn joke

[Tsontos]

Originally Posted by edessa

i personally think the greek government needs to do more to entice its professional population amongst the diaspora to come back to greece. I know of plenty of young professionals at uni who would love to go back and live in Greece, many of them who werent even born there,yet can't because of the ridiculous red tape to get citizenship, then the army, then the fact that there are limited jobs.
Alvanoi, mavroi, pakistanoi, gyftoi etc are everywhere in athens and salonika, yet i with a university degree and greek background cant stay longer than 6 months - its a fukn joke

I disagree. Military service is only 3 months now for overseas permanent residents (me and you); absolutley nothing. The Greeks in Greece have to do it for 4 times as long. How can we as dispora Greeks complain about the toothless Greek foreign policy and then complain about doing 3 measley months of military service?

The bureacracy is another issue and to be honest, standing in line for a few hours over a couple of months shouldnt be that big an obstacle for Greeks who genuinely want to go back there to live.

The job situation is yet another issue and I think it's not as hard as some might tell you.

[edessa]

Originally Posted by Tsontos

I disagree. Military service is only 3 months now for overseas permanent residents (me and you); absolutley nothing. The Greeks in Greece have to do it for 4 times as long. How can we as dispora Greeks complain about the toothless Greek foreign policy and then complain about doing 3 measley months of military service?

The bureacracy is another issue and to be honest, standing in line for a few hours over a couple of months shouldnt be that big an obstacle for Greeks who genuinely want to go back there to live.

The job situation is yet another issue and I think it's not as hard as some might tell you.

I will be meeting with some general at the greek consulate to discuss military. I think 3 months is too good to be true, and that is a rumour - do you know if it is official? I will be considering it if this is the case

[Tsontos]

I know two people (Permanant Overseas Residents) who are currently serving 3-month tours. According to this American site its "3-6 months": http://americaninathens.wordpress.co.../#comment-3469

Should those with status of ‘permanent resident abroad’ wish to live in Greece for more than 6 months or work in the country, they will lose their special status, be reclassified as ‘repatriated citizens,’ and be assigned a tour of duty consisting of 3-6 months.

In my opinion 6 months (I believe you would be doing 3) is nothing anyway. Most countries with or without conscription have tours of more than 2 years. Military service should be seen as a Greek's duty anyway.

[edessa]

Originally Posted by Tsontos

I know two people (Permanant Overseas Residents) who are currently serving 3-month tours. According to this American site its "3-6 months": http://americaninathens.wordpress.co.../#comment-3469



In my opinion 6 months (I believe you would be doing 3) is nothing anyway. Most countries with or without conscription have tours of more than 2 years. Military service should be seen as a Greek's duty anyway.

Trust me there is nothing i would love more than to serve on the greek army. However it is not exactly convenient, especially when you will be looking for work at the same time in Greece. I'll speak with the consulate and evaluate my options anyway