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Erdogan says Turkey will reinforce its military presence in occupied northern Cyprus

The Greek Herald
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Erdogan says Turkey will reinforce its military presence in occupied northern Cyprus

Turkey will reinforce its military presence in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Speaking with CNN Turk, the Turkish President said the reinforcements comes as a response to the decision by the United States made earlier this month to fully lift its defence trade restrictions on Cyprus for the 2023 fiscal year.

Erdogan said the US decision to lift the weapons embargo for Cyprus was “inexplicable in terms of content and timing.”

“The United States, which overlooks and even encourages the steps by the Cypriot-Greek duo that threaten peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean, will lead to an armament race on the island with this step,” Erdogan said.

He added that Turkey already has 40,000 troops on the island and they will be reinforced with further land, naval and aerial weapons, ammunition and vehicles.

“Everyone must know that this last step will not go unresponded and that every precaution will be taken for the security of the Turkish Cypriots,” he said.

This comes as overnight, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece has also boosted its military defences.

Whilst attending the ceremony of naming and joining the Navy of the newly built Fast Guided Missile Patrol Boat ‘Vice Captain Vlackahos’ at the Skaramangas Naval Fort, Mitsotakis said: “Today we welcome not only another modern vessel to our fleet, but an additional guarantee of safety and stability in the Aegean and the Mediterranean.”

“Every Greek weapon is a force of peaceful deterrence, a shield of dynamic protection of our sovereign rights, but also of international legitimacy,” he said.

Mitsotakis said the high-speed guide missile patrol car will contribute greatly to the strengthening of Greece’s navy.

“Our navy thus becomes more powerful, as does our air force, with the 24 new Rafale fighters, the renewed F-16 Vipers, the new International Training Center in Kalamata and next to them, of course, the land army,” he said.

SOURCE: Reuters

Aegean Airlines wins Best Regional Airline in Europe for eleventh consecutive year

The Greek Herald
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Aegean Airlines wins Best Regional Airline in Europe for eleventh consecutive year

Aegean Airlines has defended its title as Best Regional Airline in Europe for the eleventh year in row at the 2022 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Along with the award for Best Regional Airline in Europe, the Greek airline also received 2nd place for Best Regional Airline Worldwide and continued to be amongst the top 10 airlines in Europe for its cabin crew and the travel experience they offer their passengers. 

Skytrax is a UK-based airline and airport review ranking site that launched the World Airline Awards in 1999 with a focus on providing a study that was centered on customer satisfaction. 

The Skytrax awards are often referred to as the ‘Oscars’ of the aviation industry and at this year’s ceremony in London, many more prestigious awards were given to leading airlines around the world. 

Qatar Airways was named World’s Best Airline for 2022, with Singapore Airlines taking second place and Emirates taking third.

It is the seventh time that Qatar Airways has taken the top spot in the prestigious passenger satisfaction survey. 

Source: Greek Reporter, AMNA

New findings from Faliron excavation showcased at Archeological Musuem of Piraeus

The Greek Herald
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New findings from Faliron excavation showcased at Archeological Musuem of Piraeus

The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus has opened an exhibit showcasing some of the most important findings from the excavation in the Delta of Faliron Bay, south of Athens. 

The salvage excavation was on the site where the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre was meant to be built before some discoveries were made. 

The excavations revealed an extensive cemetery of 1500 ancient Greek skeletons dating between the 8th and 5th centuries BC, and also a mass grave containing 80 skeletons, 36 of which were in shackles.

Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni inaugurated the “Falirothen (Coming from Faliron): Between Two Worlds” exhibition in a ceremony with the Piraeus Mayor, Yiannis Moralis present. 

The exhibition is curated by Piraeus Archeological Ephorate head, Stella Chryssoulaki, with the help of fellow-archeologists Ioannis Pappas, Dora Evangelou, Alexandra Syrogianni, Ekaterini Panagopoulou and Andromachi Kapetanopoulou. 

Divided into four units, the first two will present the funerary practices in Attica during the Early and Late Archaic periods with the third focusing on Early Attic pottery, and the fourth presenting three burials analysed through bioarchaeology. 

Source: AMNA

A rare painting exhibition by European Hellenes debuts in Thessaloniki

The Greek Herald
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A rare painting exhibition by European Hellenes debuts in Thessaloniki

The Teloglion Fine Arts Foundation in Thessaloniki opened a rare exhibition of paintings by 19th-century European Philhellenes that will run through to January 29, 2023.

The exhibition, titled ‘Treasures of Philhellenic Painting’, features fifty works of renowned European Philhellene artists from the collection of the Anthony E. Comninos Foundation.

The Comninos collection in its entirety is on display at the Teloglion in Thessaloniki, unlike previous exhibitions whereby parts of it were showcased like on the island of Syros and in Athens’ Benaki Museum.

Josef Hoffmann (Austrian, 1831-1904), Nymphs Hill and Observatory. Credit: Teloglion Fine Arts Foundation

Famous works that cover all facets of Philhellenism in the 19th century are on display at the Treasures of Philhellenic Painting exhibition. This includes the love of antiquities among cultured Europeans, the support of Christendom, and the sympathy of liberals everywhere. 

“The collection is not only fascinating, but complete, as it also includes representations of the Greek landscape, in which the beginnings of visual Philhellenism can be traced, given that these Greek landscapes contributed to European Greece gaining territoriality,” the Teloglion Foundation says on its website.

The exhibition was coordinated by Dr. Fani-Maria Tsigkakou and prepared as part of the commemorations commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence.

Source: Greek Reporter

Greek Consul General of Sydney and Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia farewelled

Andriana Simos
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Greek Consul General of Sydney and Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia farewelled

The Greek Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, were fondly farewelled on Wednesday night.

Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza will be returning to Athens, Greece on Friday, September 30 after five years of service to the Greek community of Australia and specifically, Sydney.

The Greek Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza.

As a thank you for their hard work during their official tenure, an intimate reception was held for Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza at Con and Kerrie Dedes’ View by Sydney restaurant in Walsh Bay.

The reception was attended by a number of VIP guests including His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis representing Archbishop Makarios of Australia; the Deputy High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Stavros Nicolaou; the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism representing the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Mark Coure MP; the Mayor of Waverley City Council, Paula Masselos; Randwick City Councillor Alexandra Luxford; the Chief Commissioner of the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption, John Hatzistergos; and a number of Presidents and representatives from Sydney’s Greek community organisations.

On the night, all the guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvre as the Executive Director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, introduced Bishop Iakovos, Mr Coure, Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza to the stage to give small speeches.

Bishop Iakovos spoke first about how Mr Karras was recently awarded the Silver Cross of St Andrew the Apostle by Archbishop Makarios of Australia in recognition of his contribution to the local Greek community.

“In the years that you have been here, you have shared with all of us the common journey in attending many different events, church and social and community, and everyone has a good word to say because first and foremost, you are good people,” the Bishop added, before wishing Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza well on their return to Greece.

Next to the stage was Mr Coure who thanked Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza “on behalf of the NSW government for your leadership” and for working with the government on lighting up the Sydney Opera House in the colours of the Greek flag last year to mark the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution.

“I must say, you have a pair here of very strong leadership and I want to thank you for the leadership you have shown right across NSW for the Greek community,” Mr Coure said.

The Consul General spoke next and it was an emotional speech as he individually thanked every Greek community organisation and individual who has supported him throughout his five year tenure in Sydney.

“I would like to thank each one of you for honouring Katia and myself with your presence here tonight and, more importantly, for honouring the institutions of the Consul General of Greece in Sydney and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia,” Mr Karras said.

“I would like to thank all Greek Australian associations, Greek studies programs, associations and foundations, and Greek Australian media for the contributions you have all made to the Greek Australian community and consequently, to the broader multicultural Australian society.”

In his speech, Mr Karras also announced that the new Consul General of Greece in Sydney will be Yannis Mallikourtis.

Last to the stage to speak was Ms Gkikiza who said it has been “a pleasure” to work in Australia over the last five years.

“In Australia, I feel that I can make a difference, that the work we do here matters and this is because we can rely on the support of so many people,” Ms Gkikiza said.

“I would like to thank you all for helping us help Greece and for helping us at the Consulate General find ways to promote trade with Greece, to promote Greek investments. This could not have been done without you.”

At the conclusion of these formal proceedings, Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza were presented with a frame of photographs from their time in Australia curated by photographer Nick Bourdaniotis.

The rest of the night was spent mingling with the Greek diplomats and saying personal farewells.

The Greek Herald team would like to personally thank Mr Karras and Ms Gkikiza for their contribution to Sydney’s Greek community and for their constant support of Greek Australian media during their tenure. We wish them success in their next diplomatic posting.

*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

Parramatta Eels superfan, Manuel Dinoris, gets creative ahead of NRL grand final

The Greek Herald
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Parramatta Eels superfan, Manuel Dinoris, gets creative ahead of NRL grand final

Sydney butcher, Manuel Dinoris, is getting creative ahead of the NRL grand final this Sunday where his favourite NRL club, the Parramatta Eels, go head-to-head with the Penrith Panthers.

Mr Dinoris is the owner of four Pryde Meats butcheries in Sydney and for the rest of this week he is stuffing his stores with blue and gold chicken sausages in honour of the Eels.

“Parra’s on fire and so are we at the moment,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “I didn’t realise it was going to take off so much.”

Pryde Meats at Top Ryde.

The Sydney butcher said they’ve sold 100 kilograms of the sausages so far across their stores at Narellan, Campbelltown, Miranda and Top Ryde. He expects to sell 200 kilograms before the grand final.

With such a clear passion for the Eels, will the 48-year-old be amongst the sold-out crowd at Accor Stadium on Sunday night cheering on his team for a win?

“I’ve never been more excited,” he said. “We’re the only team in the modern era that hasn’t won it in 36 years.”

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Dally M Awards: Jessica Sergis named in the NRL women’s Team of the Year

Andriana Simos
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Dally M Awards: Jessica Sergis named in the NRL women’s Team of the Year

The 2022 Dally M Awards, typically known as rugby league’s night of nights, were held in Sydney on Wednesday.

On the night, Cronulla Sharks player, Nicho Hynes, capped off a maiden season at the NRL club by claiming the Dally M Medal with the highest individual score in the award’s 43-year history.

Despite suggestions the final tally would be tight, Hynes polled a whopping 38 points to finish well ahead of Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco (33 points) and St George Illawarra’s Ben Hunt (32).

In the NRL Women’s (NRLW) competition, Raecene McGregor from the Sydney Roosters claimed the Dally M award.

McGregor is the first Roosters player to win the NRLW Dally M Medal, and also took out the Halfback of the Year title in the NRLW Team of the Year.

Speaking of the NRLW Team of the Year – it featured six members of the Roosters team that went through the regular season unbeaten.

Among the winners was Greek Australian Roosters player, Jessica Sergis, who tied with fellow teammate Isabelle Kelly in the Centre of the Year category.

Jessica Sergis.

Sergis joined the Roosters earlier this year after leaving the St George Illawarra Dragons. At the time, she said she was looking forward to the ‘massive year’ ahead.

READ MORE: ‘You’ve got to sacrifice things’: Jess Sergis on her fresh start at the Roosters.

Alexis Tsipras tells EU officials Greece’s wiretapping scandal endangers democracy

The Greek Herald
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Alexis Tsipras tells EU officials Greece’s wiretapping scandal endangers democracy

The leader of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, has discussed Greece’s recent wiretapping scandal during meetings with European Commission officials in Brussels on Wednesday.

Tsipras met with EU Commissioner for Values & Transparency, Věra Jourová, as well as the European Parliament’s Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar.

After the meeting, Tsipras told reporters he had the opportunity to express to the EU officials his “strong concern over the blows that the rule of law has received in Greece, blows that endanger democracy itself in our country.”

Alexis Tsipras met with EU Commissioner for Values & Transparency, Věra Jourová.

Greece’s main opposition party leader elaborated that the concerns he aired relate to the “big wiretapping scandal and its accompanying scandal of covering up the truth and those responsible behind the tracking of politicians and journalists, and the lack of pluralism in mass media.”

Tsipras also mentioned “the issue of the undermining and the instrumentalisation of the judicial system” in Greece.

According to Ekathimerini, Tsipras said SYRIZA will do whatever it can to protect democracy and rule of law in Greece.

“Wherever that is not feasible within Greece, we will seek it by utilising European institutions – and every other possibility – so that truth may shine and democracy is restored,” he added.

For her part, Jourová confirmed on Twitter that she and Tsipras had discussed “the basis of the annual Rule Of Law report, including situation in the media, independence of judiciary and the use of spyware.”

The wiretapping scandal emerged in August this year and refers to revelations that PASOK party leader, Nikos Androulakis, was put under surveillance for three months last year when he was running for his PASOK party’s leadership.

Jourová is expected in Athens on Thursday to further discuss these issues in meetings scheduled with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Justice Minister Konstantinos Tsiaras, among many others.

READ MORE: EU parliament to probe ‘inexcusable’ phone tapping of Greek politician.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greece’s Aegean islands: Key issue at Turkey’s National Security Council

The Greek Herald
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Greece’s Aegean islands: Key issue at Turkey’s National Security Council

Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) has called on countries supporting Greece’s actions in the Aegean Sea to “adopt common sense,” according to Ekathimerini.

A statement by the MGK said the meeting, which was chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focused on a range of issues including the standoff with Greece, counterterrorism efforts, Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions and more.

With regards to Greece, the statement said the MGK urged “the circles encouraging Greece to deploy arms on islands with demilitarised status… to adopt common sense.”

Turkey’s National Security Council. Photo: Turkey’s National Security Council website.

The meeting also called on the US to reverse its decision earlier this month to lift the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration.

The MGK said this decision “contradicts the spirit of the (NATO) alliance.”

In response to this meeting, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement which said Greece will defend its legal interests and rights if the need arises.

“Turkey has every right to defend its interests by all legal means, subject to the basic condition that it accepts the rules of International Law,” the statement reads.

“However, it has no right to flagrantly violate International Law and threaten Greece with war (casus belli).”

This meeting comes at a low point in relations between the two neighbours, who are separated by centuries-long enmity and contemporary disputes, including Aegean Sea boundaries and immigration.

READ MORE: Greek Prime Minister doesn’t believe armed conflict with Turkey ‘will ever happen’.

The Greek Bar Jacket: Marianna Economou’s documentary takes us behind-the-scenes at Dior

Eleni Patsalides
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The Greek Bar Jacket: Marianna Economou’s documentary takes us behind-the-scenes at Dior

French fashion house Dior is synonymous with luxury clothing, accessories and fragrances.

So synonymous, in fact, that Greek director Marianna Economou jumped at the chance to produce a documentary about last June’s spectacular Dior fashion show at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece.

This documentary, titled The Greek Bar Jacket, is now set to be screened at this year’s Greek Film Festival at Leichardt’s Palace Norton Street Cinema from October 13 – 23.

The Greek Bar Jacket will offer viewers rare behind-the-scenes access to the fashion house, as the documentary follows Dior’s Artistic Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and her creative team from Paris to Athens to small rural cities around Greece, as the emblematic Cruise Show 2022 gradually comes to life.

To find out more about the documentary, The Greek Herald spoke exclusively with Marianna and this is what she had to say.

Tell us about yourself and your role in the film.

I am a documentary film-maker based in Athens. I direct films of Greek and international co-production, as well as documentary series for Greek television. Most of my documentaries have a social perspective and focus on personal stories. I am the director of The Greek Bar Jacket.

How did you get involved in the film?

Somebody from Dior Paris had seen my previous documentary When Tomatoes Met Wagner and when they were thinking of making a film about the Athens Cruise Show and the collaboration of Dior House with small Greek artisans, they contacted me.

Maria Grazia Chiuri told me that she was interested in a Greek female point-of-view and a focus on the human and cultural interchange and aspect of the project. Once we decided on the cooperation, I was given ‘carte blanche.’ 

Marianna Economou.

What drew you to the story of Dior?

I am not a fashion person and the making of this documentary was a true challenge. However, I was immediately taken in by the process of creation and how Maria Grazia Chiuri and her team developed the concept of this project in collaboration with Greek historians, artisans, craftsmen, etc. She is a woman of great vision who believes strongly that big fashion houses like Dior have a social responsibility as well.

Her aim was to promote the idea of gender equality and support small artisans and cottage industries in Greece. Making a film that shows the collaboration of Dior House with small traditional Greek artisans, was an extremely important opportunity to tell the world that folk art is invaluable in designs and techniques and that it should be supported. Also, that traditional arts and crafts can have very interesting expressions in modern design as well.

Why do you think it’s important to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Dior?

It is revealing to see the different stages of production for a fashion show, the large numbers of expertise and special talents involved, the hard work and time put into the making of a single garment, the anxiety, excitement, pressure and all the different emotional moments. Behind-the-scenes images reveal the whole process of creation but most importantly the human factor involved.

For me, it was fascinating to observe how different people worked, collaborated and were miraculously coordinated for the spectacular show in the end.

In Paris, designers developing and trying out ideas and in the haute couture ateliers manufacturing garments by hand, Aris in Argos embroidering the bar jacket, Kostas in Soufli producing silk materials, Christiana drawing in Thasos, the Tsalavoutas family manufacturing fisherman’s hats in Piraeus, the Benaki Museum operating antique looms for the production of a cordon, models, musicians, painters, technicians, hairdressers, makeup artists, photographers and production crews from different countries… and hundreds more.

What is next for you?

I am working on something completely different now. It is an extraordinary story about an accidental discovery in a hospital in Athens, which revealed a secret and a personal and collective trauma.

The Greek Film Festival runs from Thursday, October 13 to Sunday, October 23. Screenings will be at Palace Norton Street, 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt, NSW, 2040.

For more details visit: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

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