Information about Hellas (Greece)

Not official info. Reproduced from information widely available without permission. (Economy/Milit. data from a posting to s.c.g by Mr. C. Evangelinos, copied from: IISS/ THE MILITARY BALANCE 1993- 1994/ Published by BRASSEYS for/ THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, 23 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7NQ. Turist info from the s.c.g. FAQ.)

Geography

to be completed

People

Population: 	10,127,600
           	13-17    18-22    23-32
Men 		362,400  374,500  764,400
Women 		339,400  351,800  723,900

to be completed

Global Information

to be completed

Tourist Information

Greece - Consular Information Sheet / [ VERSION: April 29, 1993 ]

Embassy and Consulate Locations: The U.S. Embassy in Athens is located at 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, telephone (30-1) 721-2951. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy may be reached at (30-1) 721-8561. The U.S. Consulate in Thessaloniki is located at 59 Leoforos Nikis, telephone (30-31) 266-121.

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet issued October 7, 1992, to provide information on driving conditions in Greece, and to add information on reporting the loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport.

Country Description: Greece is a developed and stable democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.

Entry Requirements: A passport is required. A visa is not required for tourist or business stays up to three months. An AIDS test is required for performing artists and students on Greek scholarships; U.S. test results are not accepted. For further information concerning entry requirements to Greece, travelers can contact the Embassy of Greece at 2221 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 939-5800, or the nearest Consulate General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, New York, or San Francisco.

Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are available. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline on (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information: Greece has a low rate of crime, but some pickpocketing, purse-snatching, and luggage theft does occur in Greece at popular tourist areas. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. It provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad.

Terrorist Activities: Civil disorder is rare. However, there are several active terrorist groups, including the "17 November" organization, which at times has targeted U.S. Government and U.S. commercial interests. Between 1975 and 1991, "17 November" assassinated four Americans assigned to U.S. diplomatic or military installations in Greece. Terrorists in Greece have seldom targeted tourists.

Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. In Greece, penalties for possession, use, and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Arrestees may spend up to 18 months in pretrial confinement.

Dual Nationality: U.S. citizens who are also considered to be Greek citizens could be subject to compulsory military service and other aspects of Greek law while in Greece. Those who may be affected can inquire at a Greek Embassy or consulate to determine status. In some instances, dual nationality may hamper U.S. government efforts to provide protection abroad.

Driving: Visitors to Greece must be prepared to drive defensively. Greece has the third highest fatal accident rate in Europe. High casualty rates on Greek highways led to a recent toughening of traffic laws and new increased traffic police presence on major roads. The use of motorbikes on the islands can be dangerous because of heavy traffic and difficulty of the terrain. The majority of U.S. citizen traffic casualties in Greece have involved motorbikes. Owners of rental motorbikes are not required to carry insurance coverage; the renter is liable for damages caused to the rental vehicle and to property of third parties.

Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can obtain updated information on travel and security in Greece.

GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organisation) or EOT (Ellinikos Organismos
Tourismou) has many offices around the globe. Some of these are:

 645, Fifth Avenue, Olympic Tower

 New York
 N.Y., 10022, U.S.A.
 Tel. 421 57 77

 611, West Sixth Str.,
 Los Angeles,
 California, 90017, U.S.A.

 168 North Michigan Avenue,
 Chicago
 Illinois, 60601
 Tel. 782 10 84

 51-57 Pitt Str.
 Sydney
 N.S.W. 2000, Australia
 Tel. 241 1663/4

 1233 rue de la Montagne
 Montreal
 Quebec, H3G 1Z2, Canada
 Tel. 871 15 35


 68 Scollars Str., Lower Level
 Toronto
 Ontario, M5S 1G2, Canada
 Tel. 968 22 20

 3-16-30 Nishi Azabu, Minato-Ku
 Tokyo 106, Japan

 Tel. 403 18 11

 2 Amerikis Str.
 Athens, Greece
 Tel. (01) 322 31 11

 8, Aristotelous Place
 Thessaloniki, Greece
 Tel. (031) 271 888, 222 935

Average Temperatures
---------------------
                   Athens and           Thessalonki and
Months            Southern Greece       Northern Greece
------------------------------------------------------------
January             52 F  12 C             45 F   8 C
February            54 F  13 C             51 F  11 C

March               58 F  15 C             54 F  13 C
April               65 F  19 C             65 F  19 C
May                 74 F  24 C             74 F  24 C
June                86 F  30 C             86 F  30 C
July                92 F  33 C             90 F  32 C
August              92 F  33 C             90 F  32 C
September           82 F  28 C             80 F  27 C
October             72 F  23 C             69 F  21 C
November            63 F  18 C             58 F  15 C

December            56 F  14 C             50 F  10 C
 
 
(in degrees)

History

Goverment

to be completed

Economy

GDP    		1991: DR 12,863.4bn ($70.57bn)
       		1992: dr 14,558.6bn ($76.37bn)
Growth          1991: 	1.8% 	1992: 	1.5%
Inflation	1991:  19.5%  	1992:  15.8%
Publ Debt	1992:  92.4%

Def bddt  	1992e: dr 838.80bn ($4.40bn)
		1993e: dr 977.20bn ($4.41bn)    
NATO defn  	1992: dr 809.39bn ($4.25bn)
FMA        	1993:  $315.27m
$1 = dr    	1990:  158.51     1991:   182.27
           	1992:  190.62     1993:   221.51
dr = drachmas

Communications

to be completed

Defense Forces

TOTAL ARMED FORCES:
ACTIVE: 159,300 (122,300 conscripts, 5,900
women).
Terms of service: Army up to 19, Navy up to 23, Air

Force up to 21 months.
RESERVES: some 406,000 (to age 50). Army
some 350,000 (Field Army 230,000, Territorial
Army/National Guard 120,000); Navy about 24,000;
Air about 32,000.

Disclaimer: this guide is still under construction. The information contained herein is NOT official information of any kind. It is the sole responsibility of the author who is NOT represending here his organization (FORTH-ICS), or the Greek Turism Organization, or the official Greek Agencies, or anybody else except himself. All information is provided in good faith. Contributions are welcome.