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.
• 1978: A 1-hour gun battle takes place at Larnaca International Airport between Egyptian antiterrorist forces and the Cypriot National Guard. The Egyptians, who were there without the knowledge or permission of the Cypriot government, had attempted to storm an aircraft with hijackers aboard who had murdered editor Youssef Sebai the previous day.
• 1993: The government of FYROM asks the Greek government for permission to open a consulate in Athens.
• 1994: 40-year old policeman, Apostolos Vellios, is killed when a bomb explodes in Perissos, 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.
• 2011: A disallowed goal by Panathinaikos in their derby match v. Olympiakos, sets off violent clashes on and off the pitch.

Births

• 1900: Giorgos Seferis, poet.
• 1956: Nikos Liakos, footballer
• 1962: Zoe Carides, Greek Australian actress.
• 1978: Michalis Konstantinou, footballer.

Deaths

• 1880: Konstantinos Broumidis, painter
• 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.