Need to Know Greece

The Hellenic Republic, or Greece is part of the Balkan Peninsula on its northern boundary. Eighty percent of the country is mountainous due to continuous geological upheavals of the land that also cause volcanic activity. (The name Balkan is derived from a Turkish word meaning mountains.) The other three sides of Greece are bounded by seas - the Ionian, Mediterranean, Aegean and the Sea of Crete, which make deep indentations all along the coasts. Twenty percent of the total land area of Greece consists of the more than 1,400 islands along its coast that range from small barren rocks to Crete, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. About 170 of the islands are inhabited. Greece is divided into nine geographical regions - six mainland and three insular. The northern tier of regions are Thessaly. Ventral Greece and the Peloponnesus. The insular regions are the Ionian Islands on the western coast. Crete is between the Aegean and Mediterranean seas and the Aegan islands. Each region has its own distinctive characteristics and heritage.

There are approximately 9 million inhabitants in Greece. The population is about 96% native Greek and 4% Turkish. Smaller ethnic minorities include the Vlachs, Albanians, Slavs and Jews. Unlike most European countries, Greece is outstandingly cohesive. A tremendous binding force for the people is their pride heritage of ancient Hellenistic Greece shared by countrymen from the islands to the northernmost boundaries. The majority of the people follow the Greek Orthodox faith. Other religious denominations include the Muslims, Roman Catholics and Protestants. Greek is the nationally accepted language. A number of local dialects are spoken. Four basic forms of the Greek language are used - one for official purposes and most higher education, one for everyday conversations, one for newspapers and another for the liturgy of the Church. English and French are widely spoken. Greece is manly a rural country of tiny villages. Famous ancient cities such as Argos, Corinth and Sparta are small towns today.

The Ministry of National Education and Religions is responsible for the central administration of education. Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of six and fifteen. Education is highly valued and eagerly pursued in Greece. All villages have primary schools and most have high schools. Secondary education was designed to prepare students for college. The creation of Higher Technical Education Centers throughout Greece now enables students to have specialized training at the secondary level. Greece has four universities. The oldest one was founded in 1837, the National and Capistrian University in Athens. Overcrowding at the university level has been a major problem along with a shortage of teachers. Greek university education has traditionally emphasized law, philosophy and the humanities, but there has been a gradual change towards scientific and technical studies. Religious education is compulsory for Greek Orthodox students.

The Constitution declares that the state cares for the health and social security of the people as well as the acquisition of a home by those lacking one. Social insurance is the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Services which administers the major agencies that have been set up to provide old-age, unemployment and health benefits. There is no shortage of doctors in Greece as a whole but rural areas are at a disadvantage. There are housing problems with overcrowding and slum conditions in Athens, Salonika and in some smaller cities. Living standards in Greece compare favorably with other Mediterranean countries. The average per capita income (1980) is about $4,590. There is a movement of people from rural to urban areas and many emigrant workers have returned to Greece. There is a shortage of skilled workers and technicians in the industrial labor force. The General Confederation of Greek Labor, founded in 1918, is the principal spokesman for labor, representing about 3,000 smaller unions. A minimum wage rate is guaranteed and the standard workweek is forty-five hours.

Greece is primarily an agricultural country. About half the labor force is engaged in farming. Agricultural products constitute about 75% of the exports of Greece. The leading crop is tobacco. The country is self-sufficient in wheat and other cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. Major traditional crops include olives, citrus, raisins and currants. Production is inadequate on the small farms. Because of the terrain, the farms are fragmented and the soil is very dry and eroded. Industries established in the period after World War I were, to a large extent, destroyed during World War II. Manufacturing is gradually developing and more people are moving in to the cities. The leading manufacturing industries are food, beverages, tobacco, textiles, rubber, chemicals, mineral processing and oil refining. Two major sources of income for Greece are shipbuilding and repair. Greece is one of the world’s leaders in international shipping, exporting chiefly with the United States and the European Economic Community (EEC). There are ten major cargo ports, Piraeus, which serves the Athens area, and Salonik are the most important. Greece is poor in natural resources. Less than one-third of the land is arable; the rest is mainly barren mountains. The forests have been greatly depleted, there are extensive lignite deposits, which is the major solid fuel used. There are also newly discovered offshore petroleum deposits in the Aegean Sea. Other abundant mineral are bauxite and iron ore. Major exported minerals include magnesite, nickel and aluminum. The fishing industry is mainly to meet domestic needs although sponges are a big export item, Tourism is also a flourishing industry. Greece is an archaeological treasure trove that attracts tourists from the world over.

In 1973 the Council of Ministers abolished the monarchy and proclaimed Greece the Hellenic Republic. Under the new constitution, the president is the Chief of State and is assisted by a vice-president. The president is given direct legislative and judicial control over matters of national defense, foreign affairs and internal security. The president is given the authority to appoint the Premier and 20 of the 200 members of Parliament. There is an eleven member Constitutional Court that is empowered to dissolve any political party whose aims are opposed to the existing government and to deprive an individual of his constitutional rights if he is guilty of revolting against the regime. Ordinary civil and criminal cases are tried in courts of first instance. Higher appeals may be made to the courts of appeal and finally the Supreme Court. Greece is divided into ten regions (diamerismata), which are subdivided into fifty-two departments (nomes). A mayor and a city council administer these. The Minister of Defense administers the armed forces. All males between the ages of twenty-one and fifty are subject to conscription for a two-year period of active service and 29 years of reserve duty.

· Electricity is 220 volts 50 cycles AC on the mainland and 110 volts DC elsewhere.

· Currency is the Drachma, 100 leptas - 1 drachma.

· Drinking water is safe in Athens and resorts. Avoid well water. Bottled water is available. Wash or peel fruit before eating.

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What You Need to Know About Greece

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