International Herald Tribune

With a special event in the port of Piraeus, Kathimerini and The New York Times marked 25 years of a joint venture between the two media groups that share common values. Their encounter elevated English-language news coverage in Greece a quarter of a century ago.

Twenty years ago I was summoned to the office of Kathimerini's owner Aristides Alafouzos. In his usual decisive and succinct manner he gave board member Martha Dertili and myself a very clear mandate: "I want Kathimerini to be a truly international newspaper, we are citizens of the world and you should never forget that.

Nine years after buying Kathimerini in 1988 and turning the floundering conservative broadsheet into a healthy business and a robust voice for the modernization of Greece's economy and politics, Aristides Alafouzos was approached by the International Herald Tribune to forge a partnership that would combine the finest global and local journalism.

Production manager and long-time member of Kathimerini’s board of directors Nikos Naoumis died Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 67.

Naoumis, who worked in the Greek newspaper industry since the age of 15, earned a Sappi European printers award in 2003.

Thirty-five years ago, there were 40 democracies in the world. By the end of the 20th Century, that number had tripled. However, democracy has not triumphed everywhere, and emerging democracies face difficult dilemmas and obstacles.

Thirty-five years ago, there were 40 democracies in the world. By the end of the 20th Century, that number had tripled. However, democracy has not triumphed everywhere, and emerging democracies face difficult dilemmas and obstacles.