Avramopoulos Tells TNH That Athens-DC Ties Maybe Best Ever

S o C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news W ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of E ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek- Americans N c v A weekly Greek-AmericAn PublicAtion www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 16, ISSUE 795 January 5-11, 2013 $1.50 Avramopoulos Tells Archbishop Anastasios: I am Not Afraid of Threats TNH that Athens-DC Extremists Call upon Religious Leader to Ties Maybe Best Ever Depart from Albania By Aris Papadopoulos done its best, because if we By Theodore Kalmoukos TNH Staff Writer want to overcome the crisis it is TNH Staff Writer important to consolidate the po - ATHENS – Greek Foreign Min - sition of the country and safe - BOSTON, MA – “I am not afraid ister Dimitris Avramopoulos, in guard its vital interests at the of any type of threats,” Arch - an exclusive interview with European, regional, and inter - bishop Anastasios of Tirana and TNH, looks back on 2012 and national levels. As far as the All Albania told TNH, concern - expresses his hopes for the fu - neighbors are concerned, every - ing some recent threats chan - ture. body now understands that neled against him by an extrem - Avramopoulos characterizes Athens is and will remain in the ist group called “Red-Black Greek-American relations the Eurozone. In other words, after Coalition” that called upon him best they have been in a long a brief period of doubt and un - to leave Albania. time and expresses the view that certainty, Athens remains, for its Although the tone could be Washington can play a more ac - neighbors, the nearest point of interpreted as “life threats,” tive role in the financial crisis contact with the hard core of Anastasios said “I am not sur - in Europe. the EU, and its relations with prised by the threats. They come Here is the interview: Greece are critical if not decisive from a small group. It is a polit - TNH: You took over the For - for their European prospects. ical party which was formed eign Ministry amid a deep eco - TNH: You mentioned eco - lately with strict chauvinistic nomic crisis. How difficult is for nomic diplomacy. Do you think programs and purposes. It does - you to implement foreign policy, that the credibility of the coun - n’t have any appeal to the public when there is a lack of funds, try has improved, and how this opinion in Albania.” especially when the country has has affected your diplomatic ac - The threats came as a result problems with its neighbors? tivity? of a recent statement made by DA: The Greek diplomatic DA: The determination of the the Autocephalous Church in Al - service, not only has not been government to adopt and imple - bania concerning the last census affected by the reduction of the ment a broad program of re - in Albania: “The Orthodox economic support, rather, it has forms has already changed the AP Photo/Petros GiAnnAkouris Church possesses evidence (bap - climate. This is something that Haze of smoke hangs over the cityscape in Athens, early Thursday, Jan. 3. The cloud is the tismal registers, from both be - it is confirmed not only by the result of a massive switch to wooden stoves and fireplaces for heating as many households, al - fore and after the persecution, positive comments by European ready hard hit by the economic crisis, cannot afford to buy heating oil after the cash-strapped and the registers of 460 Ortho - officials and our partners in the government decided to harmonize taxes on heating oil and diesel fuel, leading to a 40 percent dox parishes throughout the Eurozone, but also by the ac - rise in the price of heating oil. country) that the number of Or - tions and choices of interna - thodox Christians in Albania ex - tional business groups. Despite ceeds 24% of the population. the crisis and the inevitable The question may rightfully be shocks, the country remains a Samaras Sees Greek Recovery in 2013 raised, where the census hides pillar of stability and predictabil - the other 17% of Albanians that ity, both in comparison to our are Orthodox Christians” the immediate vicinity and to the By Andy Dabilis easy coalition of his New recovery that includes speeding statement said. The statement wider regional environment. Po - TNH Staff Writer Democracy Conservatives, the the pace of long-delayed priva - also noted that “we denounce litical and economic diplomacy embattled PASOK Socialists, and tizations and trying to lure more the unscientific method fol - cannot be separated, but they ATHENS – Accentuating the the tiny Democratic Left that are foreign investors. He will start lowed for this sensitive religious have a relationship of intercon - positive – an influx of $69 bil - all plummeting in polls for un - with a visit to Qatar this month, issue. We protest the lack of pro - nected containers. The firmness lion in rescue loans as part of a relenting support for more pay where interest has already been fessionalism, ignoring interna - of a country as a recipient of second bailout of $173 billion – cuts, tax hikes, and slashed pen - expressed in buying two Greek tional standards. We do not rec - foreign investment is not only a Greek Prime Minister Antonis sions, said the sacrifice will be defense companies. ognize the final results function of its internal economic Samaras said he believes the worth it for Greece and that the The government is awaiting regarding religious affiliation of situation, but also depends on country’s debt-crushed economy country will not be forced out the return of inspectors from the the population given by INSTAT. its foreign policy, and at this will start to recover by the end of the Eurozone. Troika of the European Union- Plans and actions of this type point the orientation of Greek of 2013, but he’s fighting to fend “In 2012 we disproved the International Monetary Fund- undermine the religious coexis - diplomacy leaves no room for off the distractions of a growing worst-case scenarios for Greece European Central Bank (EU- tence and harmony for which misinterpretation. number of scandals and dealing and in 2013 we will exceed the IMF-ECB) and a series of votes we strive. The search for the TNH: Greek-American rela - with more social unrest over best-case scenarios,” he said, in Parliament over more reforms truth is foundational for a civi - Greek Minister of Foreign Af - austerity. without providing specific de - fairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos. Continued on page 2 Samaras, overseeing an un - tails beyond a broad outline for Continued on page 9 Continued on page 3 Unlike the Sinatra Song, it Ups and Downs of 2012, a Look Ahead to 2013 Was Not a Very Good Year By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer NEW YORK - For the United dent and chief executive officer NEW YORK – The year 2012 has States and the Greek-American of JPMorgan Chase, who was in come and gone, and while it may Community, 2012 was a tumul - the hot seat regarding his firm be in the nature of old years to tuous year. Herein, TNH notes and his views on financial in - overstay their welcome, this New some of the highlights and low - dustry regulation, to John Cat - Year’s Eve’s message of “good rid - lights through excerpts from its simatides, who is exploring run - dance,” was more fervent than articles. ning for mayor of New York. usual. It is TNH’s custom to sur - BUSINESS NEWS Other Greek-American vey leaders of the community Big names made big news bankers were busy buying, sell - about the old and new year, and outside the community from ing, or being shut down, while we begin with Archbishop Jamie Dimon, chairman, presi - a Greek shipowner ran aground Demetrios of America. on Uncle Sam’s laws. He acknowledged the more painful parts of 2012, but noted Probation and $1.2 Million that “there were also quite a Fine for Greek Cargo Ship Op - number of blessings,” evidence 2012: Salute erator of the strength and bright future NEW ORLEANS, LA (AP) — of the community. Numerous A federal judge in New Orleans parishes celebrated their 100th To Some We has ordered the operator of a anniversary and the new build - cargo ship to pay a $1.2 million ings including sanctuaries and criminal penalty for violating cultural centers have been Shall Miss pollution laws and obstruction added to the community’s infra - of justice. structure, but the high points in U.S. District Judge Stanwood that regard were the final agree - In this space TNH remembers Duval Jr. also on Wednesday ment announced by Governor a handful of the people the sentenced Athens, Greece-based Andrew Cuomo for the rebuild - Greek-American community lost Odysea Carriers to three years ing of St. Nicholas at Ground Mary Jaharis cuts the ribbon at the opening of the new Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of in the past year. Some were of probation. Zero, and the purchase of a Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago on November 10 as her family celebrities whom we felt we Federal prosecutors say en - and special guests look on. (L-R) Archbishop Demetrios, Douglass Druick, Mary Jaharis, Michael knew better than we really did, gine room crew members on the Continued on page 4 Jaharis, Dr. Steven Jaharis, and Elaine Jaharis. others were lesser known but company's ship, Polyneos, used touched countless lives. When a hose to pump oil waste di - a priest dies who has ministered rectly overboard in 2011. The to the needs and shared times ship's chief engineer allegedly of joy and sadness of genera - tried to conceal the illegal dis - In a Dream 60 Years Later, Father Revisits Son tions of parishioners, especially charges from the Coast Guard if he passes when still serving by falsifying the vessel's records.

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