February 19

Events

• 1908: There is a big uproar in educational circles as the Demotic version of the Greek language is introduced in Primary Schools.
• 1912: Greek reporters are expelled from Turkey having been accused of writing "divisive" articles.
• 1956: ERE controversially defeat the Democratic Union coalition - which polled more votes - to win 165 seats in the Greek Parliament.
• 1959: The London Agreement is signed granting independence to Cyprus.
• 1968: A major earthquake (7.1 on the Richter scale) strikes the island of Agios Efstratios.
• 1993: The government of FYROM asks the Greek government for permission to open a consulate in Athens.
• 1999: Alexandros Papadopoulos, Evangelos Venizelos and Philippos Petsalnikos resign from their ministerial posts subsequent to the Ocalan arrest.

Sports

• 2005: Panathinaikos win the Greek Basketball Cup after achieving a 72-67 victory over Aris at Lindo in Heraklion, Crete. This was the eighth time Panathinaikos won the Basketball Cup, equalling Aris' successes.

Births

• 1900: Giorgos Seferis, poet.
• 1978: Michalis Konstantinou, footballer.

Deaths

• 1962: Dr. George Papanicolaou, inventor of the Pap smear.
• 1964: Giorgos Kalafatis, founder of Panathinaikos FC.
• 1970: Christoforos Nezer, Greek actor.
• 1973: Kostas Negrepontis, football player and coach.