Karolos Papoulias

Former president Karolos Papoulias has been admitted to hospital for a routine checkup, his office announced on Monday.

"There is no cause for concern in regard to his health," the announcement said, responding to reports earlier in the day that the 88-year-old was suffering from a respiratory infection.

He is one of those people who you either love or hate. In that respect he is quite similar to his ‘arch rival’ and former colleague, Yanis Varoufakis. Only he is still in charge of the German economy, unlike Varoufakis. “Hungry like the Wolfgang” is the title used by online Politico on a feature about the second most powerful person in Europe after Angela Merkel.

VIENNA - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will attend in Salzburg on Saturday a meeting of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA), where he will be inaugurated as EASA protector on behalf of Serbia.

Nikolic to be named "EASA protector"

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will on Saturday attend a meeting of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) in Salzburg, Austria.

Nikolic will be inaugurated as "EASA protector," his press service announced.

PASOK chief Evangelos Venizelos on Tuesday accused the SYRIZA-led government of taking "steps back" in its reform proposal to international creditors, saying that "the Greek government is being forced to write the memorandum in its own hand."

Outgoing President Karolos Papoulias met with Chinese representatives, including Chinese Navy Adm. Zhang Chuanshu and crew members of the Changbaishan warship, whom he received at the presidential mansion on Thursday.

The Chinese navy delegation was accompanied by the Chinese ambassador in Greece, Xiaoli Zou.

Former conservative minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos was elected by Greece's Parliament on Wednesday evening as the new president of the republic, with 233 deputies voting in favor.

32 MPs voted "present", while his opponent Nikos Alivizatos garnered the support of 30 MPs.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his optimism on Wednesday that Greece will overcome the current crisis its in and move forward.

In the short dialogue he had with outgoing President Karolos Papoulias upon his arrival at the Presidential Mansion for their scheduled meeting, the Prime Minister characterized the current situation as very "critical" for the country.

Greece will submit a request to the euro zone on Wednesday to extend a "loan agreement" for up to six months but EU paymaster Germany says no such deal is on offer and Athens must stick to the terms of its existing international bailout.
  

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to meet Greek President Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Mansion on Wednesday at noon, the Athens-Macedonian news agency reported on Tuesday.