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Cyprus House of Representatives has unanimously condemned the policy of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime, to usurp Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish occupied and military controlled areas of Cyprus, violating every principle of the international and European law.

In a resolution approved on Thursday, the plenary of the House called on the government to use every available political and legal means and to intensify its efforts for the protection of the property rights and interests of the refugees, setting all its available mechanisms in alert and operation.

The House also noted the intense and illegal housing, tourist, enterprising and other illegal development of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, including their selling to foreigners and their predator exploitation.

The Cypriot House also condemned and rejected the illegal mechanism which Turkey and its subordinate administration have established in the occupied areas and called on every Cypriot citizen to realize the repercussions of his or her involvement to such procedures “encumbering in this way the process of assertion of the rights of the refugees and the real interests of the Republic of Cyprus in international and legal fora.”

It also called on the UN Security Council and Secretary General and the EU institutions to condemn these illegal efforts and actions of Turkey “which are contrary to every principle of law and legitimacy and to take the necessary preventive measures to terminate the process of exploiting Greek Cypriot properties and to lift this illegality.”

The Acropolis is among the leaders of a competition to choose the new Seven Wonders of the World, organizers said yesterday.

The winners will be chosen through a global online and phone vote that ends in a month. Some 50 million people have voted at www.new7wonders.com so far. The competition aims to produce a 21st century list of the world’s greatest man-made heritage sites. The winning list will be announced in Lisbon on July 7.

How to vote > VOTE FOR THE ACROPOLIS > ATHENS > GREECE!
Online: www.new7wonders.com (free registration required)

Phone: Call international voting lines or send SMS mobile text message (numbers available on www.new7wonders.com)

PLEASE SUPPORT GREECE BY VOTING THE ACROPOLIS! THANK YOU!

The final touches are being made to preparations for Athens’ hosting of the international travel trade exhibition City Break 2007 and the European Cities Marketing annual conference, which take place next week.

City Break 2007 will be held June 11 to 13 at the Faliro Sports Pavilion, while the conference will be staged June 13 to 16 at the Hotel Athenaeum InterContinental.

In June 2006 the City of Athens and the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Agency (ATEDA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), won the right to host the two events. The high-profile exhibition and conference offer a first-class opportunity for the international promotion of Athens. The exhibition plays a significant role in the specialized city break tourism market, which concerns the Greek capital directly. Tourism Minister Fanny Palli-Petralia’s personal initiative played a definitive role in the bidding process, while the Ministry of Tourism and GNTO support the event’s organisation on all levels.

City Break 2007 is being staged in cooperation with Europe’s biggest tourism exhibition organiser, Britain’s Reed Travel Exhibitions (the organiser of London’s World Travel Market and Barcelona’s EIBTM, among others), which guarantees the event’s success as well as the realization of significant, immediate benefits for the local tourism industry. This specific event counts among the so-called new generation exhibitions, which are strictly geared to tourism industry professionals and aim to facilitate agreements and strategic cooperation between buyers and exhibitors. Athens’ hosting of the event and 200 of the world’s most important tour operators offers a rare occasion for the promotion of the city’s new image, while it also lays the foundation for Athens’ classification as one of Europe’s leading urban destinations.

European Cities Marketing, the European network of city tourist offices and convention bureaus, is staging its annual conference whose theme will be e-tourism and destination management systems. Some 75 delegates will focus on successful methods employed in the United States and Europe, and engage in technological know-how transfer.

Fifty selected media organizations from within Greece and abroad are expected to provide extensive coverage of the exhibition and conference. A large-scale social activity programme has also been arranged, with the aim of providing participants with the best possible hospitality as well as highlighting the advantages of Athens as a tourist destination in comparison with its European competitors. Additionally, other urban Greek destinations are taking part in the exhibition either individually or with the support of GNTO.

City break travel is one of the fastest-growing forms of tourism, with significant increases in visitor numbers compared to traditional longer stays. City Break is the only travel trade exhibition dedicated to this specialised form of tourism and Greece’s hosting of the event marks the start of a new, coordinated effort to promote Athens and other Greek cities in the international tourism market.

ATEDA, the City of Athens’ official tourism board, is responsible for the development, management and promotion of Athens as a tourist destination.

Related Links > http://www.citybreakexpo.com

One of the delights of a self-catering holiday abroad is the ability to indulge in the local cuisine, and visitors to the Greek Ionian Islands of Lefkada and Meganissi will not be disappointed by the culinary surprises to be found.

A visit to one of the many mini-markets will reveal the veritable feasts that are waiting to be cooked up. There is an abundance of fish, freshly caught each day and to accompany it an array of local vegetables from tomatoes and lettuces to carrots, onions, parsley and garlic. Other locally harvested products include olive oil, fruit, herbs and cheeses such as Feta, Kasseri, Graviera and Manouri.

Freshly made bread can be purchased from the bakery each day and is delicious spread with local honey. Famous for its good quality, aroma and outstanding taste, the honey owes its wide diversity to the rich Greek flora which comprises a large number of wild flowers.

Like the food, the standard of self-catering accommodation offered by Greek villa specialists Travelux is exceptional with over 40 luxury villas on the Ionian Islands of Lefkada and Meganissi as well as walking holidays in the mountain region of Zagoria. Sleeping from two to eight people, all villas have excellent facilities including well-equipped kitchens, BBQ’s and private swimming pools. Off peak accommodation-only prices start from £865 per week for a villa sleeping five people.

Most villas are situated close to villages that are plentiful in tavernas. Visitors can enjoy an al fresco dinner and a fantastic choice of freshly prepared food from the more popular dishes of moussaka, souvlaki and choriatiki salata to local speciality stews, pies, salads and homemade honey cookies. Of course, all delightfully accompanied by a glass of ouzo or local wine!

Travelux can arrange accommodation, flights from London Gatwick or Manchester, car hire and a welcome pack. For further information or reservations, visit > www.traveluxgreece.co.uk

An elderly Cypriot couple from London have become an unlikely internet hit with their cookery videos.

Videos of pensioners Andreas Theodoulou, 76, and his wife Christina, 69, have been posted on YouTube. They joke around while cooking stuffed vine leaves, Greek meatballs and lentils and rice, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The films were shot and edited by their son Orthodoxos, who started making the clips because he wanted to practise his skills as a film editor. He said: “So far they are enjoying it immensely.” During one clip, ‘Stuffed Vine Leaves’, Andreas raps to music while squeezing some lemons, and slaps his wife’s bottom as she bends to pick one up off the floor for him.

When asked why he did it, Andreas replies: “My wife, my butt.” Christina counters by kneeing her “big guy” in what she calls his “crown jewels”.

Now the couple, who live in Haringey, have begun to be recognised for their kitchen antics. They were congratulated by worshippers when they attended Easter Mass at a Greek church in London, and were stopped by fans when they returned to Cyprus on holiday earlier this year.

Greek Fage brand > I love that it’s thick, rich and creamy, with just a bit of a tang. I’d have it for breakfast drizzled with honey and granola, or fresh fruit, or sometimes just enjoy it without any more embellishment than a spoon.

Here’s a great dessert or after-school snack to make with plain Greek yogurt (don’t attempt this with other brands of plain yogurt. They’re thin and skimpy, and not worth the bother). It’s low in calories and high in flavor, if you’re looking to slim down for summer, and it can be served for breakfast, lunch or dessert. Look for Fage brand at supermarkets.

Greek Yogurt Parfait >
1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon good-quality honey
1/4 cup chopped apples, bananas or strawberries
1 tablespoon slivered almonds, toasted, or almond granola

In a glass, place 1/3 of the yogurt, drizzle with half the honey, top with 1/3 of the yogurt, remaining honey and fruit. Top with remaining yogurt and sprinkle with almonds or granola. Serves 1.

Per serving: 263 calories (percent of calories from fat, 17), 15 grams protein, 41 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 5 grams fat (1 gram saturated), 4 milligrams cholesterol, 175 milligrams sodium.

Opah! While the name of the Dining Car Family restaurant may make it sound like a very average establishment, the new Oswego eatery is packed with surprises, such as having some of the best Greek food around.

With a great location and a broad array of menu choices, the family diner is filling a much needed niche in the fast-growing western region of Oswego. The entrees are very reasonably priced and the selection is superb.

The Dining Car’s owner, Jimmy Michalopoulos, likes to keep his business in the family. His son John is working with him on managing the Dining Car while his daughter, Constance Galanos, manages his other restaurant in Plainfield. Michalopoulos has been in the restaurant business since 1962, originally starting a restaurant with his brothers, all new immigrants from Greece.

Over the years he has entered and exited several ventures on the south side, but recently has recognized the opportunity of being in a growing location and has positioned himself and his restaurant for success. Of his new restaurant, he says, “we want everyone to come and try our food and be happy.”

The diner is decorated with interesting and beautiful murals, depicting the old American West. The rich-stained wood and dark colors help transport diners into the Old West, traveling along the rails in a classic dining car. Michalopoulos’s dining car theme was inspired by the fact that his restaurant is located in a Park’n'Ride plaza.

The menu is filled with standard American choices, and several signature Greek dishes. A house specialty, the Greek-style chicken arrives bursting with lemon and herb flavors, surrounded by unique elongated Greek-style potatoes that are presented bordering a bed of rice. There is also the juicy and tender Gyro, served on a warm piece of flatbread and drizzled with tangy pita sauce. Three soups are made fresh from scratch daily, and are all delicious and satisfying.

Make sure to save room for the restaurant’s ice cream service, known as the “Kwik Shake,” the Dining Car’s full ice cream bar. With sundae creations like “Turtle Madness” and “America the Beautiful” everyone will have something fun and new to try.

The Dining Car is located at 1055 Station Drive, Oswego, at the corner of Orchard and Mill roads. Call (630) 551-3999.