Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-08-17

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Government cites expatriates vote bill

[02] German high court postpones Christoforakos extradition

[03] Preserving eponymous Lake Stymphalia

[01] Government cites expatriates vote bill

Additionally, Pavlopoulos said ruling New Democracy party -- either as the main opposition or as the government -- has operated based on the rules of consensus and within institutional boundaries, especially regarding application of the Constitution and in the voting of relevant executive laws. Conversely, he charged that main opposition PASOK has merely adopted a rejectionist stance.

He referred to a 2001 Constitution revision when ND agreed with most revisions proposed by then ruling PASOK.

"Unfortunately, PASOK followed another way," he said, citing constitutional revision attempts in 2006 that PASOK did not support.

The minister stressed that the government is going to proceed with reforms and he called PASOK to support them. He reminded that a closely watched draft law finally granting eligible expatriates the right to vote in Greek general elections is still pending, because, as he charged, PASOK's opposition in Parliament has so far blocked ratification of the relevant bill.

Asked by reporters about the ongoing Siemens investigation, Pavlopoulos stated that "the state has done everything to bring (former Siemens Hellas CEO) Michalis Christoforakos to Greece and to shed light over the case," while declining to comment on German judicial rulings.

[02] German high court postpones Christoforakos extradition

Specifically, Greek Justice Minister Nikos Dendias said he was briefed on the matter by Supreme Court prosecutor Ioannis Tentes, who cited the German high court's ruling for a delay in Christoforakos' extradition to Greece.

[03] Preserving eponymous Lake Stymphalia

Stymphalia, located in Corinth prefecture, is the only mountainous lake in the Peloponnese, Greece eponymous southern-most province. Surrounded by Mt. Kyllini (Zireia), Mt. Oligyrtos, Mt. Mavrovounio and Mt. Garrias, the wetland is rich in bird, amphibian and plant life, and is a very important refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds, including 133 species of protected fowl and birds threatened with extinction. It is also home to the endemic fish taxom Pseudophoxinums stymphalicus. This species is quite interesting, because during dry periods it survives by sinking into the lake's mud and forming a slippery 'envelope' around its body.

During the Roman era, the lake supplied water to ancient Corinth some 65 kilometers away through an aqueduct constructed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Parts of the ancient aqueduct are still visible today.

On its north shore lie the remnants of ancient Stymphalos.

In Greek mythology, Lake Stymphalos is the site of Hercules' sixth labour, namely, to slay the man-eating Stymphalian birds (Stymphalides), pets of Ares, the god of war. The mythological creatures fled to the lake to escape a pack of wolves and bred quickly, taking over the countryside and destroying the area's crops and fruit trees.

The local government of the modern-day town of Stymphalia has launched a campaign to preserve the lake and the entire area's wetlands environment.

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