Last year the Embassy was involved in a number of successful cultural events. The year ended with an exhibition on contemporary Norwegian architecture, in both Thessaloniki and Athens. The co-founder of the well known Snøhetta architectural firm, Kjetil Thorsen, gave a lecture for an audience of almost five hundred people. Among Snøhetta’s many success stories are the Alexandria Library and the Oslo Opera House. In March this year, the architect Arne Henriksen will also give a lecture in Athens.
The Embassy, together with the Norwegian Institute at Athens, will continue to organize, or support, a variety of cultural activities. In 2010 these will include a book presentation, a photo exhibition, and classical and rock concerts. Two of the highlights will be a Norwegian evening at the Casa dei Mezzo festival in Crete in June, and the Edvard Munch engravings to be exhibited in Athens in November. Three Norwegian companies in Greece sponsor our cultural activities this year: Det norske Veritas, GARD and Yara International.
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As a non-member of the EU, but still with access to the internal market, Norway (and Iceland and Liechtenstein) contributes funds for projects in fifteen EU member states. Environment is number one priority, with cultural heritage and health among other important areas. Greece is among the countries that receive such funding from the European Economic Area – EEA. For the period 2004-09, Norway contributed more than 30 million euros for projects that will be implemented in Greece during the next two years. Last December, the three EEA members agreed with the European Commission on new financial contributions for the period 2010-14. In this period the donor states, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, will grant 1.8 billion euros in help to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe. Environment, climate change and renewable energy will be priority areas. Greece will be entitled to receive more than 63 million euros, and Cyprus almost 4 mill. However, Cyprus will receive another 4 million euros from an additional Norwegian Financial Mechanism.
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In the December Newsletter I informed about some of the travelling I made in Greece in 2009. I can now add Kalavrita in Northern Peloponnese. Some know the place for its ski resort, others for its role in history. The uprising against the Ottoman Turks is said to have started there, and in December 1943 the town suffered enormously from Nazi atrocities. For my wife and me, on our second visit to Kalavrita recently, a highlight was the 13 km walk from Zachlorou down the Vouraikos canyon to the seaside village of Diakofto. From there we took the train back to our starting point, through a fascinating landscape, rich in vegetation and beauty. I can warmly recommend Kalavrita and its surroundings for a visit.
