John Catsimatidis: Climbing mountains...

 

 

The National Herald

 

Commentary: Climbing mountains, all his life
By A. H Diamataris

He’s been climbing mountains all his life
It is the topic of discussion throughout the community: The recently announced candidacy of John Catsimatidis for Mayor of New York.
Will he be elected or not, I am often asked.
There are no prophets especially in politics. From one day to the next, a lot can happen. But here it is:
First, ...Catsimatidis will surprise a lot of people who do not believe, at this stage, that he has a serious chance of mayor.
That's mainly because he has the gift of being able to communicate with the average citizens. He is humble, he understands them, he knows their problems, despite the fact that he is rich.
Second, it is clear that he has decided to seek the office of mayor after serious thought and careful study of the political scene.
I recall that in the past he had expressed a desire to run for mayor, but pulled back after carefully weighing the facts.
Third, the community should support him monokouki –total support-not only because he has a Greek name, but also because he is a true member of the community.
See, for example, what he told Cindy Adams in yesterday’s New York Post:
“Look, I’ve climbed mountains all my life. I’m from little Greek island Nisyros, where I could’ve stayed a sheep herder. My busboy father, who never made waiter, moved here. To 135th Street. Today I live in that restaurant owner’s same Fifth Avenue apartment.
“I’ve always climbed mountains. Working in a supermarket, 80 hours a week, $1.10 an hour — cashiers got $1.20 — my tip was 2 cents a bottle, 10 bottles — then I borrowed money and bought the supermarket. In ’77, I started buying properties, one a month. I got a pilot’s license. Bought Roy Disney’s plane. Bought Capitol Airlines with offices in 15 cities. Board member Sen. Fred Thompson had me write a check to Al Gore, and that started me on politics.
“A trustee for my airline was trustee for an oil company. I bought that company. We wrote the deal on a napkin.
“Listen, I once made a landing by myself, with one engine out. I was alone. I don’t like being alone. But I don’t sweat. Other candidates did 10 times worse things than I’ve done. Make my day. Let them go after me.
“I’ve never said no to anybody. I’m 64. A New York Republicrat who wants the next century’s kids to believe in heroes again.
“In ICU, 10 minutes after coming out of the operating room, I wanted my BlackBerry. I love life. I love my family. I love New York City.”
And he loves the Greek-American community Greece and Cyprus

Fascism and hatred hit Greece

 

Prosecutor orders probe into Golden Dawn documentary

A prosecutor on Wednesday ordered an investigation into a documentary aired on Britain’s Channel Four showing a parliamentary candidate for the neofascist Golden Dawn calling for immigrants to be made into soap.

The documentary, titled ‘The Cleaners’ and shot by Greek film student Constantinos Georgousis, who followed Alexandros Plomaritis around Athens for a month last summer, shows party members talking openly about beating immigrants. It also shows Plomaritis saying, “We are ready to turn on the ovens,” and calling for immigrants to be turned into soap and lampshades.

Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris described the video as “tragicomic” and the opinions expressed as “laughable.”

The Rich among the Richies are Greek!

Greeks who made it to the Forbe's list 2013

 

Three Greeks are on the annual list of the world's richest people compiled by American business magazine Forbes, which includes 1,426 names headed by Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim Helu and his family, with a fortune of $73 billion, followed by computing giant Bill Gates with assets worth $67 billion.

Greek banker and shipping leader Spiros Latsis , age 66, and his family rose in the ranking to the 412th spot this year from number 464 in last year's list, with assets of $3.3 billion. The second-wealthiest Greek on the list is British-born Aristotelis Mistakidis, 51, of Glencore International with a fortune of $2.7 billion, while art collector Philippos Niarchos, 59, came in 554th place with assets worth $2.6 billion.

Greek Americans in the Forbe's list 2013

1. John Paul DeJoria

Net Worth

$4 B As of March 2013

FollowFollowingUnfollow(46)

At a Glance

• Age: 69
• Source of Wealth: hair products, tequila, self-made
• Residence: Austin, TX
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Diploma, High School
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 4

Forbes Lists

#329 Forbes Billionaires

• #106 in United States

• 103
• 3

 

2.John Catsimatidis

Net Worth

$3 B As of March 2013

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At a Glance

• Age: 64
• Source of Wealth: oil, real estate, supermarkets, self-made
• Residence: New York, NY
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Drop Out, New York University
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 2

Forbes Lists

#458 Forbes Billionaires

• #150 in United States

#132 Forbes 400

3.George Argyros

Net Worth

$2 B As of March 2013

FollowFollowingUnfollow(17)

At a Glance

• Chairman and CEO, Arnel & Affiliates
• Age: 76
• Source of Wealth: real estate, investments, self-made
• Residence: Newport Beach, CA
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, Chapman University
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 3

Forbes Lists

#736 Forbes Billionaires

• #249 in United States

#250 Forbes 400 (2012)

 

4.Michael Jaharis

Net Worth

$1.9 B As of March 2013

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At a Glance

• Age: 84
• Source of Wealth: pharmaceuticals, self-made
• Residence: New York, NY
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Doctor of Jurisprudence, DePaul University; Bachelor of Arts / Science, Carroll College Wisconsin
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 2

Forbes Lists

#792 Forbes Billionaires

• #264 in United States

#250 Forbes 400 (2012

5.C. Dean Metropoulos

Net Worth

$1.2 B As of March 2013

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At a Glance

• Age: 66
• Source of Wealth: investments, self-made
• Residence: Greenwich, CT
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, Babson College; Master of Business Administration, Babson College
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 2

Forbes Lists

#1175 Forbes Billionaires

• #377 in United States

#360 Forbes 400 (2012)

Greece's Desperate Call

Greece's Desperate Call
Huffington Post

Justine Frangouli-Argyris


The Greek Foreign Minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, arrived in Ottawa on an official two-day visit last week where he held talks with his Canadian counterpart, John Baird. Amidst a climate of mutual respect and friendship, the officials emphasized the historic ties that bond the two nations and pointed to the fact that 2012 marked 70 years of formal diplomatic relations.

In an open invitation to Canadian business to explore the numerous opportunities available in Greece and especially its energy, mining, trade and tourist sectors, Mr. Avramopoulos asserted that the Greek government has made the long overdue necessary reforms to facilitate investment in the country.
Speaking to journalists, he declared:

"I briefed Mr. Baird on the deep changes we are making during this period in Greece -- deep radical changes -- because we have taken a decision through the crisis to lead our country in a new era. Changes that are putting us on the road to recovery and a return to growth... And we talked about the actions we are taking within the European Union to fight the wider European crisis. Investment is vital to Greece's return to growth... We also discussed the new potential for Greek-Canadian business co-operation in sectors where we can capitalize on the comparative advantages of both societies and both countries--sectors like energy, mining, trade and tourism."

Mr. Baird, on his part, praised the close working relationship of the two countries by way of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, delineating the key role of Greece in the region and declaring:

"Greece plays a very stabilizing role in the Eastern Mediterranean. They're obviously a good NATO ally. I think the biggest concerns we have in the Eastern Mediterranean is obviously the situation in Syria where I think we have like-minded views. Obviously security remains a significant concern whether it's the fight against terrorism, the recent events in Bulgaria, for example. Greece is a NATO ally and a like-minded security partner for Canada and we value our relationship."

Both the Canadian Foreign Minister as well as the Speaker of the upper house of the Canadian Parliament or Senate, Noël Kinsella, alluded to the fact that the Greek debt crisis has not been effectively addressed by Greece's European partners. Said Mr. Baird, "One is the fiscal side and the other is growing the economy," and, during a reception hosted by Mr. Kinsella in honor of Mr. Avramopoulos, the Speaker mentioned that the Greek Parliament has progressed by taking many measures but the Europeans are only now coming around to it.

It should be noted that Canada has always been clear about its insistence on a fiscal correction for Greece but has stressed that, on the other hand, economic development must take place as well. Through the words of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the government has continuously urged the European Union to tackle its economic problems by adopting policies that include strong stimulus measures alongside fiscal reforms: "It seems to me if you are going to have an economic entity like the eurozone, you have to be prepared to stand up for your neighbor in the eurozone," he has often stated.

Unfortunately, however, it appears that Canadian pleas have fallen on deaf ears as Greece continues to suffocate under ever-increasing measures of austerity demanded by its allies in the European Union. The country's descent into the economic abyss is evidenced by a gross domestic product that has contracted by over one-quarter over four years and by a rate of decline that continues to accelerate, exceeding, incredibly, 8 percent on an annual basis in the last three months of 2012.

Bravely, the Greeks forge on. Its leaders may, indeed, as the Foreign Minister said, be exploring and defining areas of potential foreign investment and fast-tracking new rules to eliminate much of the red tape surrounding these endeavors.

However, the inability of the government to implement measures to reduce rampant tax evasion continues to place an intolerable burden on the salaried and the retired and to discourage potential business.

Mr. Avramopoulos repeatedly called upon the Greeks of the Diaspora to invest in their homeland during his travels, claiming that the government has created an attractive place for capital inflows but, here, too, rules that stop the fiscal mistreatment of the expatriate community must be instituted if they are to heed his call.

A tax punishment???

Tax officials probe large bank loans to beat evasion Kathimerini, Greece Major bank loans for property purchases have become a new target in the fight against tax evasion, as authorities are petitioning banks to supply data on loans that have been issued to individuals or corporations whose financial capacity may not justify the size of the loan. The aim of tax authorities is to identify cases where loans for the acquisition of a professional property or a home have been effectively used for the legitimization of illegal funds or for laundering money from tax evasion. Tax inspections have already revealed hundreds of cases where loans have been used as a medium through which money acquired through illegal activities has been legitimized, which is why authorities are turning their attention to this category of credit transaction. Emphasis will initially be placed on loans of over 500,000 euros. According to sources, banks are processing 10 times more demands a day than they were three years ago, taking on the role of tax inspectors. They also say that banks receive dozens of requests every day to open up account data that may date as far as 10 years back. Such demands come not only from the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) but also from the Bank of Greece, anti-money-laundering authorities, financial prosecutors and a variety of agencies that have joined the fight against tax evasion. At the same time banks are also receiving requests from taxpayers who want certificates and documents identifying their revenues from interest on deposits from previous years, profits from stock transactions, bond revenues and the verification of banking transactions to justify the course of their money from as early as 2000. As far as capital flight is concerned, SDOE has undertaken the task of tracing some 22 billion euros that was transfered abroad between 2009 and 2012 by 54,000 account holders. SDOE’s efforts have so far uncovered some 24,000 cases of money being forwarded abroad that merit further inspection, with the account holders being summoned to explain why their stated incomes do not justify the size of their deposits. Finance Ministry sources admit, however, that tracking down the illegal money that left the country in 2009-2012 is no mean task, as depositors often offer vague explanations for their wealth, for instance that they had received very generous wedding gifts. Meanwhile, authorities are also focusing on an institutional framework activated by the Bank of Greece that allows them to monitor the activity of bank accounts held by individuals categorized as being high or medium risk.

ekathimerini.com , Sunday March 3, 2013 (21:06)

Baird Welcomes Greek Counterpart Dimitris Avramopoulos

"Obviously we see Greece as an important NATO ally which we’ve worked tremendously well. We have had and will continue to have a broad discussion on multilateral issues whether it’s the tragedy unfolding in Syria, the importance that Canada places on the issues and the concerns coming out of Iran, the western Balkans. And I was pleased to learn about Greece’s rapprochement with Turkey and to get a better sense of that and other issues"
(John Baird)

February 27, 2013 - Ottawa - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird meets with Dimitris Avramopoulos, Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is on his first visit to Canada as foreign minister.

Discussions focused on bilateral issues, such as strengthening trade and business links between the two countries. Minister Baird reaffirmed Canada’s support of Greece’s efforts to overcome its current economic challenges.

“We appreciate that many Greeks have seen their living standards change and that this change has been difficult for some,” said Baird. “But we hope the long-term benefits of such change will prove worthwhile.”

At a time when the global economy remains fragile, both countries’ governments must remain focused on creating jobs, growth and opportunity. As the two ministers noted, the recent implementation of the Canada-Greece Youth Mobility Agreement is an important step in that direction. The new agreement makes it easier for Canadian and Greek young people to travel and work in each other’s country. The ministers also discussed the state of negotiations for the comprehensive economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.

The visit of Minister Avramopoulos highlights the important role of the Greek-Canadian community in Canada, whose academic, economic and political contributions form the foundation of the strong Canada-Greece relationship.

French Kiss

Justine Frangouli-Argyris
Huffington Post


Amongst much glamour and optimism, French president Francois Hollande arrived in Athens last week, bringing words of hope and following in the footsteps of Germany's Angela Merkel who herself dropped in on the Greek capital last October bearing a similar message of solidarity to the suffering nation. The local government proclaimed satisfaction with the visit and emphasized the fact that such importance given Greece by the two major European allies would help boost the country's shattered image on the international scene prior to the beginning of the all-important tourist season.
Mr. Hollande's sojourn, which lasted all of eight hours, outlined three key areas where France could be instrumental in helping its southern neighbor:

1) in offering French support for Greece, the president stressed that "no people in Europe have undergone such a test so we must be at their side;"
2) in encouraging private investment in Greece, Hollande declared, "I am here to mobilize French companies so they invest in Greece" and invited French participation in bids for the privatization of the Greek state's water and rail enterprises as well as others;
3) in promoting cooperation between the two countries, he focused on the energy sector stressing that
Greece aimed to become an "energy hub in the Aegean" and declaring that "should France be able to commonly exploit hydrocarbon reserves with Greece, it will do so."

Beyond the pomp and circumstance, however, the true picture is one of a startlingly different reality with the French beating a path to exit the country as quickly as possible. For, recently, the two banking giants with major Greek subsidiaries, Credit Agricole and Société Générale, as well as the dominant retailer with a large Greek joint venture, Carrefour, have hastily sold their holdings for a pittance or abandoned them altogether.

On the other hand, rumours continue to circulate about important French businesses eyeing Greece for expansion and investment, but can this really improve the lot of a country in the midst of its sixth consecutive year of economic downturn, with unemployment at a record 27 percent and with a population crippled by never-ending austerity measures that have slashed salaries and boosted taxes?

Meanwhile, the Greek government, reeling under the demands of its bankers, the so-called "Troika," the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, continues to alter an already incomprehensible taxation system, literally by the day, in the quest for new sources of revenue thereby confounding and alienating entrepreneurs, be they French or otherwise.

As well, the demoralized work force, suffering under widespread negative publicity as being "lazy and rebellious" even though official figures indicate the Greeks put in a longer work week than any of their European compatriots at 42.2 hours, is looked upon as another negative by any potential investor.

All this is leading the political leadership in Greece to fear the worst for, as Arnaud Leparmentier writes in Le Monde, things that must be done need time and Greece has to endure at least until autumn, when the federal elections are over in Germany. Until then, any accident can happen. This is the fear of the president of the Hellenic Republic, Carolos Papoulias, who confided as much in the French President, Francois Hollande.

Leparmentier goes on to specify that a so-called "accident" could come from any of a number of factors including the downfall of the current Greek coalition government, a violent social revolution brought about by Greece's youth whose unemployment rate stands at a bewildering 60 percent or even as a result of a meltdown of European financial markets should Silvio Berlusconi triumph in Italy and follow through with his threats to pull his country out of the Euro.

Yes, it is true, Francois Hollande went to Greece. Unfortunately, he had nothing of substance to offer the Greek people. In the future, it may be wise, before any other great "benefactors" such as Mr. Hollande and Mrs. Merkel stop by on an official visit spreading cheer and good will, that they come humbled knowing that they, themselves, are the ones responsible for having imposed this tragedy on the Greek people by continuing to insist on an untenable program of austerity.