Thursday, December 10, 2015
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Trilateral talks between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt concluded in Athens with the signing of a declaration in which the three countries agreed to work closer on security and energy issues.
Wrapping up the trilateral summit, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexis Tsipras, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, and President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades, noted in a joint statement the continuous and significant progress being made at various levels of cooperation, including that of peoples with long-standing ties and of countries in the same geographical area with common understanding and approach on a number of issues.
The three leaders issued a joint declaration pledging to deepen trilateral cooperation on all fronts: "Our 3rd Trilateral Summit underlines our well-established and continuous tripartite partnership aiming at promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean in various fields (political, economic, trade, culture, tourism)" the Athens declaration said, making note of the mutually beneficial nature of the EU–Egypt relationship and stressing the need for the EU to support Egypt politically and economically (including its fight against terrorism) and acknowledging its pivotal role for the security and stability in the East Mediterranean region.
The three leaders also agreed to establish a standing joint committee to work on tourism, investment and energy projects of trilateral interest, including cooperation in the shipping industry and the linking of their ports. As regards the energy sector, they agreed to accelerate negotiations relating to the delineation of the three countries’ adjacent maritime zones and explore the potential for new pipelines in the region, depending on the level of gas reserves found in the eastern Mediterranean.
See also from Greek News Agenda: Egyptian President in Athens
An updated Athens Guide (Winter 2015- Spring 2016) is now available and in the process of being delivered to 96 leading hotels in Athens. The Guide is published by City Contact, under the auspices of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (HATTA).
The publication aims to help Athens visitors to be updated on the best spots for entertainment, shopping, food, drink and recreational activities in the city. The 2015 Athens Guide also includes updated practical information (useful contact and emergency numbers, taxis', postal offices, country codes etc), as well as information on excursions in Athens and surrounding areas, sightseeing & culture, health & safety and various maps.
Athens Guide was first published in 1998 as a bilingual (English & Greek) guide to Athens. Eight editions are published annually and distributed to hotels in Athens, and it is estimated that over 650.000 tourists per year consult it.
City Contact developed the Info Stand system in 1996, providing visitors with useful information through free publications about Greece. The company also created, in 2004, Athens Walking Tours (offering, e.g. Acropolis and museum tours, as well as culinary tours in the city), aspiring to offer Athens guests a high quality cultural experience during their stay in the country. 
The Hellenic Art Galleries Association, following the success of Gallery Weekends 2013 and 2014, is holding Gallery Weekend 2015, dedicated to galleries in Athens and Thessaloniki. The event is organized in collaboration with Art-Athina, the City of Athens Culture, Sports and Youth Organization and the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The event will take place this weekend (December 12-13) offering a detailed exhibitions programme of participating galleries in Athens and Thessaloniki. The organizers aim is to establish Gallery Weekends as an annual feast enabling the public to discover the most vibrant artistic aspect of the country’s two largest cities and its place on the international art scene.
Orhan Pamuk in Athens
Celebrated Turkish author - and winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature - Orhan Pamuk, will deliver a lecture at the Athens Concert Hall, on December 10, on the occasion of the publication of his new book, "A Strangeness in My Mind". The event is being organized in association with Okeanida Publishers and Public Bookstores.
Cirque Eloize at the Athens Concert Hall
Canada’s Cirque Eloize brings its spectacular show "iD" to Athens for a series of performances from December 15 to 20. The show, created in 2009, combines circus arts and urban dance, including breakdance and hip-hop. The setting is in the heart of a city, in a public space where people seek refuge and a chance to shed their anonymity; a place where identity is forged and individuality is expressed to a stimulating soundtrack by composers Jean-Phi Goncalves and Alex McMahon. The company has integrated multimedia for the first time, giving this show a unique feel.
"Views of fantasy"
"Views of Fantasy", the annual festival dedicated to the fantasy genre will take place in Athens December 11-12. On both days of the festival, writers will present their books, artists their works, and there will be screenings of the fantasy movies, including "The seed" (directed by Ifigenia Kotsoni) and "Edith", starring Renos Charalambidis (directed by Domenik Papaemmanouil).
The Festival, organized by Universe Pathways, is an annual event that has been held since 2011. Finally, the event includes the presentation of the Larry Niven Awards for 2015.
La Boheme at the National Opera
The Greek National Opera presents Giacomo Puccini’s "La Boheme", in a production directed by acclaimed director Lina Wertmuller, from December 10 to 17. The love story between Mimi and poet Rodolfo unfolds in Toulouse Lautrec’s Paris in the 1830s. Alternating in the role of Rodolfo is Matteo Lippi and Yannis Christopoulos, while sopranos Cellia Costea, Elena Kelessidi and Anna Stylianaki alternate in the role of Mimi. The National Opera Orchestra is conducted by Myron Michailidis.
Oneiroupoli 2015 in Drama
The Christmas Festival "Oneiroupoli" in the town of Drama (northeastern Greece) takes place for the twelfth consecutive year inviting residents and visitors to take a trip into the fairytale world of Christmas from December 3, 2015 to January 7, 2016. Located in the Municipal Garden of Drama, in an area of 20,000 m², Oneiroupoli hosts a number of activities and events for both children and adults.
