Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, has called on the European Union to show the “same sensitivity” for Turkey’s application to join the bloc as it showed for Ukraine’s recent membership bid.
“Will you put Turkey on your agenda when someone attacks (us) too?” Erdogan said during a news conference in Ankara.
Erdogan speaks following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, February 28, 2022. Photo: Presidential Press Office/Handout via Reuters.
“Turkey has been waiting since the 1960s to join the EU and now the debate on Ukraine has begun. We consider Ukraine’s accession efforts positive. But why is Turkey not a member?”
The Turkish President also slammed EU member states for being “not sincere.”
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed his support for Ukraine’s European prospects following the appeal of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for immediate European Union membership.
“Full solidarity with President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. We welcome Ukraine’s EU choice; they are one of us,” Mitsotakis said on Twitter on Monday.
“I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
“I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening.”
Mr Morrison said his wife, Jenny Morrison, and daughters have tested negative “but will isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.”
The Prime Minister’s positive result comes after he attended a meeting of the National Security Committee earlier on Tuesday with senior ministers.
Mr Morrison also pulled out of an event at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night to light up the sails in yellow and blue in honour of Ukraine. The event was attended by NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet.
Thousands of people gathered in Greece’s capital on Tuesday afternoon to protest against the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and express their solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
People at the rally, which took place at Syntagma Square in Athens, were waving Ukrainian flags and holding banners such as ‘No To War’ and ‘Stop Putin’ as they called for an end to hostilities.
The Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, was also in attendance.
A video was also shown during the event with a message from Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik who thanked every protestor, described Ukraine as “the shield of Europe” and added that “what hurts her the most is that there will now be a new generation of Ukrainians who will know what war is.”
This protest comes as Russia warned Kyiv residents to flee their homes on Tuesday and rained rockets on the city of Kharkiv as Russian commanders intensified their bombardment of Ukrainian urban areas.
People gather on Athens’ main square, Syntagma, to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Giorgos Vitsaras/AMNA.
Greece backs EU sanctions against Russia:
Earlier on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told Parliament that Greece backs EU sanctions against Russia after its unlawful invasion of Ukraine and stands ready to host Ukrainian refugees.
“Greece was always on the right side of history and we are doing the same today. For Greece there are no dilemmas, we are on the side of Ukraine, freedom and democracy,” Mitsotakis said in his speech.
Η Ελλάδα συμπαρατάσσεται με όλες τις δυτικές χώρες στις κυρώσεις κατά της Ρωσίας. Μάχεται για την προστασία της ελληνικής ομογένειας. Και ενισχύει την Ουκρανία διπλωματικά, ανθρωπιστικά, αλλά, ναι, και στρατιωτικά. #Βουλήpic.twitter.com/XRdqyqHbqz
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) March 1, 2022
So far, about 1,500 Ukrainian citizens have entered Greece with biometric passports. All these people have relatives, friends and acquaintances in Greece.
Greece’s Minister of Civil Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, confirmed that the government and the Greek police will make it easier for Ukrainian refugees without biometric passports to enter Greece.
“This is a sign of humanity and full support for the Ukrainian people and the specific people who are being tested by the war in their country,” Theodorikakos said.
A woman carries her child as she arrives at the Medyka border crossing after fleeing from the Ukraine, in Poland, Monday. Photo: AP.
On Tuesday, Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Andreas Katsaniotis, also welcomed 50 Greek and Cypriot citizens who were rescued from Ukraine by the Foreign Ministry.
“Our Consular authorities in Mariupol and Odessa, which are located in the hearths of Hellenism in Ukraine, remain on the side of our expatriates and will provide all necessary support,” Katsaniotis said at the meeting.
Cyprus to provide humanitarian not military aid to Ukraine:
Greece’s continued solidarity with Ukraine comes as Cyprus’ Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis, also confirmed the country’s readiness to help Ukrainians.
Petridis, who participated in the EU Council of Foreign Ministers via teleconference, unequivocally condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, expressing his strong concern about the humanitarian crisis.
In response to EU Ministers question about whether Cyprus would provide military equipment to Ukraine, Petridis said that Cyprus will send humanitarian aid instead.
Since its official opening on February 24, 1979, the Hellenic Club of Canberra in Woden has become famous for its fine dining, live entertainment and community spirit.
This success, at a time when other ethnic clubs in Canberra are permanently closing their doors, is a testament to the work of the local Greek community, the Club’s staff and members, as well as the Board of Directors who steer the ship from behind the scenes.
Andrew Satsias, who has been on this Board since 1997 in various roles including three terms as President, has been one of the people instrumental in the Club’s future development and evolution.
In saying this, The Greek Herald sat down exclusively with Mr Satsias to find out more about these future plans and about the continued role of the Club in Canberra society.
Andrew Satsias outside the Hellenic Club of Canberra.
‘I’ve never looked back’:
Mr Satsias was born in Cyprus but migrated to Australia with his family at the age of six. He spoke no English and tried hard to integrate into Australian society.
“I tried too hard to be the kid that doesn’t stand out. Being a young kid, you want to blend in and Anglicise everything you do,” Mr Satsias says.
It wasn’t until Mr Satsias finished studying law at university and travelled to Cyprus that his sense of pride in his Hellenism resurfaced and set him on a path to becoming a member at the Club.
“I saw my family and relatives [in Cyprus] and I started to build a pride in my Hellenism and my background,” he explains.
“So that’s probably what prompted me to make enquiries and turn up to a general meeting at the Club, where I was approached by Michael George [then President].
“Michael brought me onto the Board at a young age and was instrumental in bringing the next generation to the Board of the Club, helping to safeguard our future.
“I’ve never looked back.”
Mr Satsias is now the longest-serving President and Director of the Club, but he remains as humble as ever and always takes the time to acknowledge not only the people who’ve supported him on his journey, but also the Club’s dedicated staff.
This includes his wife and three children; the late Mr George; his father-in-law Michael Kouparitsas, who is Mr Satsias’ ‘greatest influence in both business and leadership’; and three of the Club’s longest serving staff members – CEO Ian Cameron, Lisa Andonaros and George Kazias.
“The tireless effort and contribution of our founding members and past and present board members has resulted in the successful Club that we have today,” Mr Satsias adds.
“We’re a big business. We’ve got a CEO, we’ve got staff, we’ve got senior managers, we’ve got probably 200 staff that look after the club.
“We [the Board] really are the captains of the ship. We steer the ship. We don’t manage the docks and I think that allows us to do the job well.”
Mr Satsias with his family.Mr Satsias with Lisa and George.Mr Satsias with CEO Ian Cameron.
From integration to embracing Hellenism:
‘Doing the job well’ is exactly what’s been happening at the Club in recent years, especially as it embarks on a changing of the guard and mindset.
Mr Satsias says the Club is now ‘more than just a physical venue’ and is moving ‘with the times.’
“Initially, the objective of the Club was to facilitate and allow the Greek community to integrate into Australian society and we did that very successfully. Canberra Greeks have grown to be one of the most influential ethnic groups in Canberra,” Mr Satsias explains.
“Our objective as a Club now is probably the reverse of that – to maintain our culture, remind our next generation of their heritage, make sure that we’re not just creating a large multimillion dollar community or brand.
“The Club has got to be true to the original ideals of the community but importantly, it’s changed and evolved.”
Mr Satsias with the President of the GOCCC, John Loukadellis.
‘We want it to be a new precinct’:
This successful evolution, Mr Satsias says, is tied to a number of things including the Club’s promotion of both Hellenism and multiculturalism; the closer working relationship between the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC) and its President, John Loukadellis; as well as the Club’s new income diversification strategy.
“We’re in the midst of strategic planning… It’s a reality that has to take place quickly because poker machines, which have been our primary source of income for some time, are declining in support from the politicians here,” the President says.
“So we’ve been doing this for probably over 20 years now – moving to diversify our income base away from our reliance on poker machines.
The Club is trying to move away from pokies.
“Part of that income diversification also includes our own site – changing it to meet the times. The Club’s site is getting older and it’s quite expensive to run. We’re not proposing to knock it down but rather develop further on our land.
“As part of that, there’s a number of things we’re looking at as to how we can generate that alternative income for the Club and that includes greater entertainment, potential office and commercial space.
“We want it to be a new precinct.”
With the current Board leading the Club and with the support of Club Staff and the local Greek Community, there’s no doubt this new precinct will be up and running in no time.
From medical pioneers to motorsport legends, The Advertiser, SkyCityand Sunday Mail have announced their finalists for the Woman of the Year Awards 2022.
There are six categories in this year’s awards including: Leader, Inspiration, Innovation, Rising Star, Community Champion and Hospitality Hero Awards.
In the Community Champion Award category, two Greek women have been recognised and they are: Anastasia Bougesis and Christina Vithoulkas.
Bougesis is a trained nurse and paramedic who has led relief operations in response to Hurricane Irma in the United States and Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean.
The Flinders University alumna is now the chief development officer at Disaster Relief Australia, a charity that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams when disaster strikes.
Vithoulkas, on the other hand, is a paraplegic drift car racer after a motocross accident in 2018 changed her life forever.
After the accident, Vithoulkas returned to her childhood home of Bermera and now uses her platform as a social media influencer on YouTube and Instagram to break down the stigma of spinal injury.
Both Bougesis and Vithoulkas join a number of other inspirational women in their category, including Zoe Simpson, the founder of the Mount Gambier Hay Run, and Chanceline Kakule, who leads the Mount Gambier chapter of E-Raced which aims to “erase racism one story at a time.”
SkyCity, The Advertiser and Sunday Mail ‘Woman of the Year Awards 2022’ winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at the SkyCity Ballroom on Monday, March 7.
Dr Michael Lyristis from Bentleigh Secondary College in Victoria has been labelled a ‘vaccine champion’ for his work in building COVID-19 vaccine confidence in local schools and workforces.
Dr Lyristis has completed a PhD in Microbiology and postdoctoral research on infectious diseases, and says this has allowed him to better understand the science behind the vaccine and share facts with students.
Dr Michael Lyristis helps build COVID-19 vaccine confidence in Melbourne schools.
In fact, whenever Dr Lyristis is asked by students about COVID-19 and why they should get vaccinated, he always says the vaccine is safe and the only way to get back to a normal life.
“I often ask the kids: do you know anyone who has polio? When they say they don’t, I say that’s because we have a vaccine that prevents it. But 50 years ago, you would have,” Dr Lyristis says in an interview with Victoria’s Education Department.
Dr Lyristis says students have embraced the vaccine.
So far, Dr Lyristis says he’s been really impressed with the way his students have embraced the necessity of receiving the vaccine.
“The kids want to get on with their lives,” the Head of Senior School and Biology teacher at Bentleigh says. “They recognise that getting the vaccine is the answer.”
Alleged fraudster and Forum Group figure, Bill Papas, has appointed his girlfriend, Louise Agostino, to the board of Xanthi FC as a director, The Gold Coast Bulletin reports.
Mr Papas has also been confirmed as managing director of the sports club.
These appointments come regardless of attempts by Westpac to freeze the assets of Papas and Agostino and seize the club.
Papas and Agostino at an Xanthi FC match last year.
In early February, the Greek Professional Sports Committee ruled that Mr Papas owned Xanthi FC, despite providing evidence to Westpac that he had sold his stake.
The committee had ruled “there was no illegal transfer of the shares” and “the data so far do not show the illegal origin of the money, which was allocated for the increase of the share capital of PAE Xanthi.”
Westpac are pursuing both Papas and Agostino as part of allegations the two were key to a nearly $400 million lease fraud scheme that has also captured Societe Generale and SMBC.
There are concerns for people missing in Queensland floodwaters as the intense deluge that caused widespread damage in the state’s south-east continues and now threatens lives in northern NSW.
New South Wales:
Flood rescues in northern NSW will resume this morning after emergency services were forced to stop due to dangerous conditions,ABC News reports.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) carried out about 1,000 rescues yesterday across the Northern Rivers.
The Lismore CBD under water. Picture: NCA NewsWire.
80 percent of the rescues were in Lismore, where the level of the nearby Wilsons River rose to 14.37 metres – more than 2 metres higher than the previous 1954 benchmark.
But many people were still waiting for assistance overnight after safety concerns, including low-hanging power lines and surging torrents of water, forced rescue efforts to be stopped.
This comes as Sydney, the Hunter and the South Coast are bracing for a similar rain event today with authorities warning the deluge is heading south and will possibly hit by the end of the week.
Lismore. Photo: ABC North Coast / Bruce Mackenzie.
Queensland:
In Queensland, searches are still underway for three people who have been missing in the floodwaters, including one man who has not been seen for three days after he fell from a boat in the Brisbane River.
On Monday, more than 1,000 schools were closed, over 1,500 people were in evacuation centres, trains were shut down and 43,000 residents were without power, with floods yet to peak in at least three regions.
The death toll from the flood disaster remains at eight, but authorities have warned this will likely rise as tidal and river flows continue to hit highs.
Despite similarities to the 2011 floods with thousands of homes inundated in Brisbane, Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said there was little more the State Government could have done to lessen the damage in the city due to the extreme conditions.
In response to this crisis, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia issued a message of support to those who’s homes have been damaged by the floods.
“You are not alone!” Archbishop Makarios said in his message, before urging the faithful not to lose hope and trust in God.
A total of 1,032 Ukrainians have arrived in Greece since Russia’s invasion began five days ago, authorities said on Monday.
36 of these Ukrainian refugees arrived in Athens via bus on Monday morning, after first crossing into Romania following Russia’s invasion.
In a telephone call with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Greece, Sergii Shutenko, the Greek Citizen Protection Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, vowed that Greek authorities would take all the necessary measures to facilitate the Ukrainian refugees.
This comes amid reports from Ukrainian officials that Russian artillery bombarded residential districts of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv on Monday, killing possibly dozens of people.
The strike came as Ukraine and Russia were meeting for peace talks on the border with Belarus. ABC News reports that no immediate agreements on a ceasefire were made.
Ukranians take shelter from shelling. Photo: AP / Evgeniy Maloletka.
Greece evacuates 26 Greeks and dependents from Odessa:
The arrival of these refugees comes as the Greek Consulate General in Odessa evacuated a total of 26 Greek citizens and their family members from the Ukrainian port city on Monday.
According to a statement, the Consulate proposed the evacuation, called operation ‘Nostos 2,’ due to the ongoing critical situation in Ukraine. The plan was approved by the Foreign Ministry in Athens.
«Επιχείρηση Νόστος 2»: Λόγω της κατάστασης ασφαλείας στην περιοχή της Οδησσού, πραγματοποιήθηκε επιχείρηση απομάκρυνσης 26 Ελλήνων πολιτών και μελών των οικογενειών τους, κατόπιν εισήγησης του αρμόδιου Γενικού Προξενείου. https://t.co/hitY5KmokX
The 26 evacuees were accompanied by Consul General Dimitris Dochtsis to Moldova, where they were received by Greek Ambassador to Romania, Sofia Grammata.
Mr Dochtsis has since returned to Odessa to continue his mission there.
Ukraine’s EU membership appeal:
As the crisis grows in Ukraine, Greece has continued to express its solidarity with the country.
In fact, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, released a statement on social media on Monday to express his support for Ukraine’s European prospects following the appeal of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for immediate European Union membership.
Full solidarity with President @ZelenskyyUa and the people of Ukraine. We welcome Ukraine’s EU choice; they are one of us.
St Basil’s NSW/ACT is set to launch for the very first time in Australia the ‘1821 Greek Art Exhibition’ in collaboration with the Athens War Museum.
The free exhibition will run from 13 March to 3 April, 2022 and will feature rare objects inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821, as well as the ‘Heroes Made of Metal’ collection of traditional Greek costumes by internationally renowned sculptor Nikos Floros.
“This is an event of national importance and cultural significance, and we are proud to host such an event as these exhibits are coming for the very first time to Australia,” a St Basil’s NSW/ACT spokesperson told The Greek Herald.
“We believe that this exhibition is very important for the Greek Australians of second and third generations and the wider community.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to visit and admire up-close these rare exhibits, which represent a very important part of Greek history and shed light on key events leading up to the Greek Revolution.”
Objects which are part of the exhibition.
People are encouraged to attend and take in the breath-taking exhibition, which will be open at Sydney Town Hall from 9.30am to 4.30pm every day.
St. Basil’s NSW/ACT is a non-for-profit organisation created by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia to provide quality care to ageing Greek – Australians.
A costume from the ‘Heroes Made of Metal’ collection.
Full Details:
‘1821 Greek Art Exhibition’
Exhibition dates: March 13 to April 3, 2022
Open 7 days, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St, Sydney NSW 2000.
