The two-day Thessaloniki Summit began at the Porto Palace Hotel on Thursday.
Speaking at the summit, the Turkish Ambassador to Greece Burak Ozuergin underlined the importance of trust between the two countries.
Ozuergin said Turkey doesn’t take personally a US naval base at the Alexandroupolis port in Evros.
“What we are interested in is Eastern Europe and the Black Sea,” he said.
“Everything is related to the security of our allies in the Balkans and the Black Sea, which is very important for us because it serves as one of the key connecting points between Turkey and Russia.”
“We, therefore, want to guarantee that the balances in the region – which includes Eastern Europe and the Black Sea – will be secured because we will be the first to face the repercussions if this balance is disturbed.”
US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt reassured the naval base is “not a threat to Turkey” (Photo: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ/ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ/ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΤΟΣΙΔΗΣ)
US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt reassured that the naval base is “not a threat to Turkey”.
Pyatt said the US shares strategic interests with Greece.
“I am very proud of the progress of the last five years in bilateral relations and of Greece’s progress,” he said.
It comes less than a month after the US and Greece signed a military deal to grant US forces broader use of Greek bases.
Greece is pinning much of its defense strategy on close military cooperation with France and the US as it disputes with Turkey over sea and airspace boundaries.
The Greek Australian community will remember Kokkinos’ 1998 film Head On as the epitome of her bold and pioneering body of work but most importantly, her work speaks on behalf of second-generation migrants.
Ana calls me to talk about her new film Here Out West as the sun begins to creep through her home in Melbourne.
“…not only did we shoot in Western Sydney, but all the stories come from Western Sydney,” she tells me.
“I think for the first time, perhaps we’re seeing language and culture represented in a very honest and truthful way.”
Here Out West will debut to sold-out sessions on the opening night of the Sydney Film Festival (Photo: Supplied)
Here Out West brings together five directors and eight emerging writers from western Sydney who tell an engaging story about what happens over 24 hours after a grandmother steals a baby from a hospital.
It will debut to a full house on the Sydney Film Festival’s opening night.
Kokkinos says Here Out West offers a “tapestry” of different voices, faces, and experiences.
“I think Australian film culture would be denied something very vibrant, particular and something that, in a way, denies our existence,” she says.
“Without our storytelling, without diverse storytelling, it’s as if we don’t exist. It’s as if we are not part of the Australian community.”
Here Out West brings together five directors and eight emerging writers from western Sydney (Photo: Supplied)
Kokkinos agrees that diverse storytellers have a responsibility to represent their communities but that it doesn’t come so easy.
“It’s complicated. It’s like [writers] both have a responsibility, but that sense of responsibility comes from a desire to see something about themselves on screen.”
Kokkinos has worked with diverse non-actors her whole career. She says it gives a ‘truthfulness’ to their stories.
“The exciting thing about non-actors is what they do is they’re not bringing, you know, an actorly craft to the process.”
“What they’re doing is bringing their beings, their essence, their truth to the characters.”
Ana Kokkinos has multiple films and television directorial (Photo: Kokkinos with Miranda Otto on the set of Blessed)
Kokkinos knows better than most that the migrant experience in Australia is remarkably common regardless of your background.
Kokkinos showcases a new generation of immigrant stories, a niche and unique perspective of the emerging immigrant experiences in Australia.
Kokkinos sets out in Here Out West to achieve the same.
“I hope that there is a sense that the Western Sydney communities are seen for who they are, which is very courageous, extraordinary people who have chosen to create another Sydney, a different Sydney, an exciting Sydney, a Sydney for warmth, heart, and love,” Kokkinos says.
“A Sydney for them,” I add.
“A Sydney that is them. Not only for them but is them and so, therefore, can be seen by others.”
Ana Kokkinos is best known for her award-winning 1998 film Head On
Kokkinos directs half of the film’s eight chapters but says she was most drawn to the story of [Everything Changes], which features Christian Ravello as a Chilean security guard who writes poetry to get through his long shifts.
“Sitting under a story like [the chapter] ‘Everything Changes’ is really a strong history, not unlike the Greek history where a lot of people left that country because of the politics of that country.”
“So, I felt very connected to that story in particular because I saw parallels between the Chilean experience and the Greek experience.”
Kokkinos says co-directing Here Out West was more than just sharing her seat with four others. She says Here Out West involved working “intensively” with the writers, “finessing” and “tweaking”.
“So, there’s nuance difference in each chapter because the stories are different. The scripts are different, the demand is slightly different. The same goes for TV shows.”
Here Out West opens in cinemas on February3, 2022. You can find cinemas playing Here Out West here: https://hereoutwestfilm.com/
The Australian Hellenic Choir (AHC) held its first Soiree for 2021 on June 11 to a packed house at the Beta Bar.
The event featured songs of the Rebetes and a medley tribute to Giannis Poulopoulous, which the choir sang in four-voice harmony adding colour to songs never heard before in Australia.
The Choir operates on a charitable basis and all net proceeds from this event were earmarked for the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas in Marrickville, who will use the funds to support the Food Kitchen run by the Ladies Auxiliary.
Bishop Elect Christodoulos of Magnesia, with Elias Dimakis, Parish Secretary, accepting the net proceeds from the event from Despina Lucas, Vice President of the Australian Hellenic Choir, and James Tsolakis, President of the Australian Hellenic Choir. Photo supplied.
A total of $1,650 was donated to the parish and although the Choir was hoping to raise more, the NSW Government announced its lockdown on the day of the soiree which meant plans changed. Still, the event went ahead and it was a fantastic fundraising achievement overall for the Food Kitchen.
The Choir also wanted to acknowledge the Hellenic Club for its wonderful support. A special thank you to Ms Sophia Belagiannis, it said in a press release.
“The Choir is gaining more and more recognition within the community as it delivers wonderful music with its repertoire of songs from Theodorakis, Markopoulos, Hadjidakis, Xarhakos, Savvopoulos, Mikroutsikos and Plessas,” President of the AHC, James Tsolakis, said.
The AHC’s soiree back in June. Photo: The Greek Herald.
“We are also pleased to announce our first Soiree for 2022 to be held on Sunday, 27th February. We will announce details shortly.
“The Choir begins rehearsals in the next few weeks under the conductorship of Mr Leon Vitogiannis. A big thank you goes out to our Choir members who dedicate time, energy and love to bring wonderful music to our audiences.”
If you are interested in joining the choir, you can contact: James Tsolakis (President of the AHC) on0416 060 700 or Despina Lucas (Vice President of the AHC) on 0438 289 699. You can also email: au.choiraust@gmail.com.
The ABC podcast, Days Like These, has today shined a spotlight on the incredible true story of two women, Sonya and Tess, and their journey to the Greek island of Crete.
In the episode titled The Orphan from Crete, ABC reporter Monika O’Hanlon speaks with Sonya, who was born in Brisbane but lives in London, and her wife Tess, about the one thing they believe was missing from their lives – a baby.
Cue a trip to Crete where they came across an orphan with big eyes and a hungry stomach as they took a tour around the ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos.
Sonya and Tess in Crete. Photo supplied.
“She skipped on over, just so carefree. She just really touched our hearts,” Sonya says in the podcast.
The couple offered the orphan a sandwich which disappeared so quickly they bought another one. Back in their hotel, they kept thinking back to this orphan wandering the night all alone. So they decidekd to take her in.
“We were convinced that we were doing the right thing in deciding to give her a home,” Sonya says.
Sonya and Tess. Photo supplied.
But of course, bringing her back to the UK from Greece was quite the logistical operation, as well as an ethical question. Was it even legal without the appropriate paperwork?
While we won’t spoil the ending by sharing the answer to that question, what we can say is that the podcast leaves you in anticipation for what will come next.
As O’Hanlon tells The Greek Herald, it really is “a beautiful story” which proves that “family comes in every shape and size.”
Arthur Papas has spent most of the past 10 years in various football roles across Asia, but when he was asked to return to Australia for a chance to coach the Newcastle Jets in the A-League he jumped at the chance.
The Jets have been in decline for about a decade now, finishing second-last in last year’s season and having only made the A-League finals twice.
But according to The Narooma News, as the team’s new coach, Papas’ ambition and goal is to transform the club “into a A-League force.”
“Over the last 10 years there’s probably been one or two seasons that would be the kind of season that allow the supporters to smile for the majority of them,” Papas told AAP.
Papas has worked closely with Ange Postecoglou.
“I’m under no illusions that it is a challenging job but it’s also an opportunity… It’s been an opportunity to come in here and try to make a difference in the way we go about recruiting, the way we want to play.”
Papas’ revolution has seen a dramatic overhaul of the Jets’ squad.
Club stalwart Nigel Boogaard has retired and is one of 15 players from last season’s squad who won’t be returning, including Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Roy O’Donovan, Connor O’Toole, Johnny Koutroumbis, James Donachie and Ali Abbas.
Greek forward, Savvas Siatravanis, has been signed by the Jets.
In their place Papas has brought in a dozen new faces including fringe Socceroo Matt Jurman, New Zealand international Dane Ingham, Cameroon international Olivier Boumal and Greek forward Savvas Siatravanis.
Papas says these changes will set the Jets up for their future.
“I consider it really the first step of what needs to be quite a few steps to give the opportunity for this club to not only just have one good season, but try to create a system that allows them to build year-after-year because I think that’s what our supporters deserve.”
The State Library of New South Wales has announced its Library Fellows for 2022 and among the list of exceptional people is Dr Alexandra Dellios.
Dr Dellios has been named the CH Currey Fellow and this will allow her to uncover new stories and offer fresh insights into the library’s extensive collections.
The research project she will be working on is titled, Greek-Australian Women and Building Alternative Multiculturalisms: Grassroots histories of migrant welfare in New South Wales, 1960s–1980s.
It is said to be a grassroots history of early multiculturalism from the perspective of ethnic minority communities (especially women) who worked at the ‘front-lines’ of migrant welfare and service provision from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The State Library’s Fellowship program has been providing research funding since 1974. Well over one million dollars in scholarship support has been provided through the Fellowship program, providing an invaluable contribution to Australian culture, history and society.
Nikolaos Plastiras was a Greek general and politician, who served as Prime Minister of Greece twice.
A distinguished soldier known for his personal bravery, he became famous as “The Black Rider” during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, where he commanded the 5/42 Evzone Regiment.
To mark the occasion of his birth, we take a look back at his incredible life.
Early Life:
Nikolaos Plastiras was born in Vounesi (today Morfovouni) of Karditsa on November 4, 1883.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted as a volunteer in the army with the rank of Dean in 1903 and took part in the Macedonian Struggle.
Plastiras actively participated in the “Military League,” which brought Eleftherios Venizelos to power.
In 1912, after his graduation from the Military School in Corfu, he participated in the Balkan Wars and was distinguished for his valour. His fellow soldiers nicknamed him “the Black Rider.”
Plastiras as a soldier.
During the National Schism of 1916, he supported Venizelos and participated in the National Defense Movement.
Greco – Turkish War:
In 1919, Plastiras commanded the 5/42 Evzone Regiment in Ukraine, supporting the Russian “White Army” against Lenin’s Bolsheviks.
After the failure of the operation, Plastiras was sent to the Asia Minor Front. The Turks named him “Black Pepper” (because of his dark skin) and his units “Satan’s Army.”
Plastiras was distinguished during the Turkish counterattack in Sangario, which caused the collapse of the Front. He led his unit to Cesme and from there to Chios, while rescuing thousands of refugees who followed him.
The Disaster in Asia Minor in 1922 caused the uprising of the army in Chios and the creation of a “Revolutionary Committee” under the command of Plastiras, Gonatas and Fokas.
Plastiras with Gonatas (L).
The Committee demanded the dethronement of King Constantine and the resignation of the Gounaris government. Constantine resigned in order to place his son George II on the throne, and Krokidas became the new Prime Minister.
Later Years:
Plastiras brought Venizelos back from exile, in order to be the main negotiator of the terms with Turkey, which were settled during the Treaty of Lausanne (1923).
The Revolutionary Committee successfully quenched the pro – royalty coup of Gargalidis and Leonardopoulos. Believing that a soldier’s role is in a bunker and not in a place of power, Plastiras declared that elections would be held in December 1923. The new government paved the way to the Second Greek Republic. On that same day, Plastiras resigned from the army.
Until 1933, Plastiras did not participate in politics and lived between Greece and Italy. Then, the anti – Venizelist party “United Opposition” won the elections and Plastiras tried to organise a coup that failed miserably, as he was not even supported by Venizelos.
Plastiras became a politician later in life.
In the danger of being called treasonous, he went via the Dodecanese to Beirut and finally France. Although he was not prosecuted for the coup of 1933, he was sentenced to death with Venizelos in absentia for the revolutionary movement of 1935.
Death and Legacy:
After the liberation by the Germans, Plastiras became Prime Minister in 1945 as a widely accepted figure. During the Civil War he did not participate in politics, but instead criticised both the Left and the Right Wing for their vile contributions to the schism.
After the end of the Civil War in 1951, he became prime minister forming a coalition government. During the elections of 1952, he lost.
Plastiras died shortly after, having suffered from many heart attacks and strokes in the previous years.
Greece has called for international action to mitigate the effects of climate change on cultural heritage at the UN COP26 climate talks in Glasgow this week.
According to Ekathimerini, Greece’s Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Christos Stylianides, held a meeting at COP26 and stressed how culture is increasingly vulnerable to the adverse social and environmental effects of global climate change.
\Greece’s Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Christos Stylianides.
“Recent scientific reports clearly show that if we do not act now, the damage to the world’s cultural heritage could be irreversible. We have to act now,” he said.
Stylianides stressed the role of education in raising public awareness on climate change, while calling for local, national and international initiatives to help mitigate its effects.
He added that the Greek government plans to organise a leaders’ summit to hammer out a roadmap for further action.
South Australian former senator and lawyer, Nick Xenophon, is hopeful the legal battle between Australian ugg boot manufacturer, Eddie Oygur, and US footwear giant, Deckers, will be heard in the US Supreme Court after receiving federal government support.
Deckers holds the ‘UGG’ trademark in more than 130 countries and, in 2019, successfully sued Mr Oygur over the sale of about a dozen products into the US.
According to ABC News, after losing a US court appeal against Deckers in April, Mr Oygur owes $572,629 in damages and millions in legal fees.
Australian ugg boot manufacturer, Eddie Oygur. Picture: Toby Zerna.
Mr Xenophon is part of his legal team and said the Australian government had briefed a senior American appeals lawyer to file a “friend of the court” brief that would provide “critical support” to help take the case to the US Supreme Court. His team has also filed an appeal in the Court.
Ships and aircraft from eight nations took part in annual drills on Wednesday to boost safety and security procedures on vessels and oil rigs off Cyprus’ southern coastline amid ongoing tensions with Turkey over competing claims to hydrocarbon reserves.
According to Ekathimerini, the “Nemesis” exercise, in which the US, France, Italy, Britain, Israel and Egypt took part, involves search and rescue, medical evacuation and anti-pollution operations.
One drill also involved a fictional scenario where Cypriot forces had to liberate an oil rig and support ship that fell into the hands of terrorists.
Officials observe Cypriot forces conducting rescue and counter-terrorism drills streamed live to monitors during the “Nemesis” exercise in Larnaca, Cyprus, November 3, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Karadjias.
“We recognise that the utilisation of our exclusive economic zone comes not only with benefits, but also with responsibilities and I would like to assure you that the Republic of Cyprus is committed to adhere to them,” Cypriot Defense Minister, Charalambos Petrides, said before the start of the exercise.
In response, Turkey said those areas where the exercise took place lie inside waters that Turkish Cypriots claim as their own and have licensed the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) to conduct its own hydrocarbon search.
