Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on Tuesday for the creation of an EU-wide COVID-19 vaccination certificate to help restore cross-border travel that has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Greece, which relies on tourism for a fifth of its economic output and is keen to revive travel before the summer season, has already created its own standardised certificate to prove an individual has been vaccinated.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis proposed extending the scheme to the whole 27-nation EU. The certificate could be used when embarking on all forms of transport.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“While we are not going to make vaccination compulsory or a prerequisite for travel, persons who have been vaccinated should be free to travel,” he said in the letter.
“(It is) urgent to adopt a common understanding on how a vaccination certificate should be structured so as to be accepted in all member states,” Mitsotakis added.
The difficulty in agreeing a common EU digital Passenger Locator Form (PLF), established last year to try to track travel movements, has shown that there is a strong need for a high-level EU effort to move things forward, he said.
Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters
If EU states can agree a common formula “we can then push the issue forward in the relevant international fora, thus contributing to the re-establishment of mobility on a global scale,” the letter said.
“For countries such as Greece, which are dependent on tourism, it’s imperative that this issue is resolved before the summer season.”
Greece weathered the first wave of the pandemic relatively well but a surge in cases since October has badly strained its health system, weakened by a decade-long financial crisis, prompting authorities to order a second lockdown in November.
It has so far confirmed 145,179 cases of COVID and 5,302 related deaths.
Greek students have expressed their dissatisfaction at the governments decision to extend the mandatory military national service from 9 to 12 months, EURACTIV Greece reports.
According to the Greek news outlet, authorities in Athens are planning for the new law to be rolled out in May, affecting everyone except for those who will serve in the borders with Turkey.
According to a source, the decision was made in order to strengthen the military presence at the borders between Greece and Turkey and to avoid conscripts seeking to be transferred to the capital city.
“It’s a barrier for students and young workers that live abroad and wish to return to Greece. How is this decision supposed to reverse brain drain?” Konstantinos Vogiatzoglou, a post-graduate student at Wageningen University, told EURACTIV.gr.
Photo: EPA/KATIA CHRISTODOULOU
He added that “Greek youth has nothing to win from this experience”.
In Greece, the unemployment rate of young people up to 24 years old jumped to an alarming 33% last September, according to Greek statistics office data.The figure is expected to rise further due to the pandemic and the country’s debt is projected to reach 200% of GDP.
Fanis Friderikos, a post-graduate student at King’s College University, is mostly concerned about mass unemployment and believes that “it was the worst possible timing for the government to announce such a decision”.
According to Fanis, “now, young men have to cope with an extra unnecessary burden that can put on hold their future plans”.
Few other EU countries (Cyprus, Austria, Finland, Denmark) still have a mandatory military service in place.
Greece’s first openly gay minister said encountering homophobia in public life was “a given”, but hoped his appointment to the conservative government would make it easier for LGBT+ people to tackle discrimination.
Nicholas Yatromanolakis was named deputy minister for contemporary culture after being promoted last week in a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis aimed at boosting his government’s image as COVID-19 pummels the economy.
Yatromanolakis, 45, said he had often been discouraged from seeking elected office or prominent roles due to his “profile”, with some people saying the most he could aspire to was political consulting work.
“All LGBT people have at some point in their lives had to work in environments that were not entirely supportive or understanding of who they are,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a video call.
21 June 2019, Greece, Athen: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative party “New Democracy”, speaks to his supporters during a rally. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa
He recounted being told, “Hush, darling,” on live TV and receiving condescending looks and smirks throughout his time in public life.
“You can’t let that bother you, because it’s your life … and you have to do what you believe is the right thing,” he said, adding that he had sometimes been mistaken for a LGBT+ activist if he spoke about gay rights.
Still, Yatromanolakis said he would discuss LGBT+ issues with colleagues in the cabinet – at least one of whom voted against a law allowing same-sex civil partnerships five years ago, saying he would “not shy away from it if it comes up”.
Yatromanolakis said he was comfortable being in government with Interior Minister Makis Voridis – who opposed gay civil unions – and was confident of Mitsotakis’s support for LGBT+ rights.
Voridis has been quoted as saying he supports gay people despite voting against the 2015 law.
Nicholas Yatromanolakis, photo via Yatromanolakis’ Facebook page.
As an opposition lawmaker, Mitsotakis – whose chief economic advisor is also gay – backed the civil partnerships law despite opposition from some members of his New Democracy party and the powerful Greek Orthodox Church.
While the legislation was hailed as a landmark for LGBT+ rights in Greece, gay and lesbian couples are still not allowed to marry, adopt children together or adopt the biological children of their partners.
He rejected the suggestion that his appointment to the culture ministry might be viewed as tokenism.
“People do not understand and see that the (cultural) sector … creates jobs, creates opportunities,” said Yatromanolakis, who used to work for a cultural centre housing the country’s national opera and library.
He said his priorities in the job included channeling state financial aid to people working in the arts during the pandemic.
Asked what measures the government could take to support LGBT+ people, Yatromanolakis said he wanted better implementation of existing anti-discrimination laws, including training in private companies and government bodies.
“No person growing up should feel they have to choose between who they are and what they want to become in life,” he said.
No.4 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus extended her career-best match-winning streak to 14 straight on Tuesday, charging past No.9 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the final of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open.
Sabalenka had claimed the last three of her four previous encounters with Sakkari, which included wins in the Middle East last season in Dubai and Doha. With her fourth straight victory over the Greek in Abu Dhabi, the Belarusian zipped into her 13th career WTA singles final, needing just 57 minutes to grasp the win.
World No.10 Sabalenka slammed 22 winners in the match, including eight aces, tempered by just eight unforced errors in a commanding performance. The Belarusian controlled the court by winning 83 percent of her first-service points, continuing her run of success in the Middle East which extends back to a title-winning run in Doha last season, her previous event in the region.
Photo by WTA/Jimmie48.
Sabalenka will now await the winner of the second semifinal to determine her final opponent, but she knows she will be facing a first-time WTA singles finalist in either Veronika Kudermetova of Russia or Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
Sabalenka got off to a thunderous start, dominating the early stages of the first set with her serve and forehand. The Belarusian powered to a quick break for 2-0 and was impenetrable during her first three service games, racing to 4-1 without dropping a point on serve.
After cracking a forehand return winner to break Sakkari at love for 5-1, Sabalenka was cruising to the one-set lead. However, at 15-0 in that game, Sakkari fired a return that landed square on the baseline, ending Sabalenka’s 13-point winning streak on her serve. The Greek grabbed some momentum from that point, forcing errors with her sturdy shots to earn a break for 5-2.
Sabalenka did regroup, and the Belarusian served out the set at 5-3 with more powerful groundstrokes, converting her second set point by forcing an error with a stirring crosscourt backhand. That shot ended a robust opening frame by the No.4 seed, who blasted nine winners and converted both of the break points she held.
At 2-2 in the second set, Sakkari surged back from 0-40 down to deuce with some clutch serving, but Sabalenka would not be denied, cracking forehand winners to keep herself ahead in the game. The No.4 seed eventually converted her fifth break point of the game with a forehand winner down the line, collecting a pivotal service break for 3-2.
Sabalenka eased towards the win from there, knocking off two straight service winners to hold for 4-2 before going up a double-break at 5-2, via some untimely double faults by Sakkari. Serving for the match, Sabalenka did not miss a beat, firing aces to clinch the last two points and romp into the final.
In 1896, Spyros Louis made Greek sporting history as the victor of the marathon race at the very first modern Olympic Games in Athens.
Spyros Louis was born on January 12, 1872 in Maroussi, Attica, from a poor rural family. When he conducted his military service as an early adult, he was distinguished for his endurance, surprising his superiors.
In March, 1896, the first celebration of the modern Olympic Games took place in its ancient birthplace: Athens. Spyros, encouraged by his commander Major Papadiamantopoulos, who was also a sports judge, entered ‘through the window’ to take part in the marathon race.
Spyros spent majority of the race in the bottom half of the ladder, with French athlete Albin Lermusiaux and Australian Edwin Flack battling it out for the title. Yet to the audience, and the competitors, surprise, a messenger was sent out to spread word that it was a Greek that led the race. The cry “Hellene, Hellene!” was taken up by thousands of spectators. Louis was the first one to cross the finish line, to the surprise of his opponents.
The athletic Greek soldier ran without any preparation and managed to prevail over his opponents, cheered by 80,000 spectators who had flooded Kallimarmaro.
Following his victory, rumours circulated that he had cheated and taken part of the route on a cart, yet the rumours were never confirmed. After receiving his laurels, Spyros settled as a farmer and lived a quiet life in Maroussi.
Spyros made appearances at multiple sporting events as an official guest, always being applauded with admiration. On August 1, 1936, he was invited by Hitler to the opening ceremony of the Berlin Olympics. Spyros attended the ceremony and reportedly offered Hitler an olive branch as a symbol of peace.
Spyridon Louis died in Maroussi, on March 26, 1940.
A statue honouring Sir James Martin was unveiled by NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, in Martin Place in November 2020, as a fitting tribute to one of the founding fathers of modern New South Wales.
The son of a horse groom from Parramatta, Mr Martin is well-known for walking 20km from home to school in Parramatta for two years to get an education.
He grew up to be a journalist, lawyer and politician, becoming Attorney-General, three times Premier, and Chief Justice of New South Wales. He also established the Mint in Macquarie Street, Sydney.
A statue honouring Sir James Martin was unveiled by NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, in Martin Place in November 2020.
With such an amazing repertoire, it’s no surprise then that the campaign to install the memorial was driven by passionate Sydneysiders John and Patricia Azarias, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Lysicrates Foundation.
“Thanks to the efforts of John and Patricia and support on both sides of the political divide, James Martin’s story won’t be lost to history and will serve as a constant reminder of what can be achieved through hard work and determination,” Mr Perrottet said at the time of the unveiling.
John and Patricia Azarias at the Lysicrates Statue in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Photo: FAIRFAX MEDIA/Sydney Morning Herald.
But when the Foundation isn’t championing for priceless statues to be erected, it has also grown into an organisation that is dedicated to upholding and expanding the dramatic arts in Australia through the ‘Lysicrates Prize’ competition.
The winner of the inaugural Online Voters’ Lysicrates Prize for 2020 was Matthew Whittet, with his funny and sympathetic play, No Need To Hide a Light When It Shines Like Hers, about a young woman’s self-realisation.
This clear passion to continue bringing the dramatic arts to life in Sydney and shining a life on typically unknown artists, shows how the Lysicrates Foundation has a bright future ahead of it.
A special online presentation of Professor Thomas Savvidis’ new book, Pontian Diet, will be given to Pontian Greeks and the wider Greek community of Australia on January 14 at 6pm.
The event, which has been organised by the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations, will be broadcast live on the Federation’s Facebook page.
The work by Mr Savvidis, who is a Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, was recently published by ‘Kyriakidis Publications.’
It contains 575 pages of knowledge about Pontian food culture, which has been gathered and presented from many perspectives: gastronomic, historic, folkloric, etymological, biochemical and culinary.
With rich authentic photographic material and excellent publishing quality, the book will be a must-have acquisition and will surely be a go-to book for all.
More information about the book can be found here.
Who is Thomas Savvidis:
Thomas Savvidis was born in Klimataki, Grevena, to parents from Ak Dag Maten, Pontos. He graduated from the six-grade High School of Tsotyli, Kozani. He studied Biology and Chemistry at the University of Thessaloniki.
He is a professor at the Department of Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He worked as a researcher at the Universities of Graz, Salzburg (Austria), Heidelberg, Göttingen and the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center (Germany). He also worked as a researcher at the University of Istanbul, where he was able to systematically study matters concerning Pontos.
Mr Savvidis has also taught at the School of the Holy Monastery ‘Holy Trinity of Halki’, to collaborate with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and to give lectures at the Phanar Greek Orthodox College (Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή) and at the Zografyon Lyceum in Istanbul.
He is the president of the Organisation for the Internationalisation of the Greek Language, a founding member of the Association of Pontian Students of Thessaloniki and continues to play an active role in many organisations within the Pontian and national arena.
He has contributed considerably in the study and promotion of the Pontian diet and the adoption of traditional nutritional values in today’s society. He has also scientifically recorded the flora of Pontos with edible and medicinal plants.
He has published more than 100 original scientific papers in international scientific journals and through conferences. Among his recent books, which are addressed to the general public, there are: The Diet in Pontos, Encyclopedia of Pontian Hellenism, The Mastic Tree of Chios, Homer the Vine, Homer the Botanical,The Herbs of the Pontos and Pontian Diet.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia confirmed on Sunday during an interview with Greek media outlet, ERT, that he ‘will be vaccinated, even in public.’
During the discussion, His Eminence spoke of issues related to the current pandemic and the issue of vaccination, while mentioning the events planned in Australia to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821.
In his statement on vaccinations, Archbishop Makarios made it clear that citizens must take up this promising challenge in dealing with the pandemic, noting that he too will be vaccinated, even in public, to make a symbolic gesture of confidence in the vaccines and the procedure followed.
Last August, the Australian Government announced it would supply the AstraZeneca vaccine to the population and make it mandatory for Australians. Archbishop Makarios, as well as the Primates of the Catholic and Anglican churches, sent a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressing their concerns and asking the PM to provide more vaccine options.
Now, as the Archbishop pointed out during his interview, when the vaccinations start in Australia as of the middle of February, there will be other vaccines for which no moral doubt arises.
“I want to emphasise this and to be heard by our compatriots in Greece,” he added, “but also by the clergy and the monks and some bishops who raise concerns.”
He pointed out that, after having experience dealing with issues related to bioethics, the Archbishop has done extensive research, which shows that both the Phizer vaccine, which is currently available in Greece, and the company Moderna, there is no doubt of a moral, religious, spiritual or church nature.
“That is why people, without any difficulty and without any moral concern, should be vaccinated,” he stressed.
Archbishop Makarios paid a visit to Greek scientist developing coronavirus vaccination back in June 2020.
After discussing the vaccine, Archbishop Makarios then went on to discuss the events planned in Australia for the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.
“I will say something that I do not want to sound excessive and I certainly do not want to underestimate our homeland, Greece, to which we are grateful here in Australia. I believe that the events to be held here will not be similar to those in another part of the world,” noted the Archbishop.
He pointed out that the planned events would “embrace” Australia and added that the main goal was not only to address the Greek citizens of the country, but also “to give a testimony to Australian society.”
“That’s why in all Australian universities, there will be official events, either conferences, workshops or lectures, that will present this great event of our Nation. Among the many, we will unveil five monuments in major Australian cities,” the Archbishop says.
“These monuments will each be a point of reference for this great event of the 200th anniversary.”
The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ has announced its program of events for the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence this year.
One of the key events which has been revealed is the Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony to be held (Covid 19 permitting) on March 21. The event has been officially endorsed and accepted and will fall under the auspices of the «Greece 2021» committee.
FULL PRESS RELEASE:
The Organisational Council for Greek National Day is made up of representatives from all of Victoria’s major Greek organisations and has been busy planning and programming the events to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution.
The 25th of March 1821 commemoration is of religious and national importance for Hellenism. Hellenes around the globe celebrate on this day the Annunciation of Our Lady and the proclamation of the Modern Hellenic State, hence why this milestone is a very important one.
This Commemoration gives the community the opportunity to promote, educate and enhance the knowledge or understanding of our third, fourth and subsequent generations of what happened in 1821 thus, ensuring the significance of this historical event is not lost. In 2021, we respect our history, we remember our ancestors, we showcase Greece and we plan for our future.
The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ would like to congratulate and thank the following schools, parishes and organisations for taking the time to submit events for the 2021 Victorian Program, creating an annual program of events beginning in January and ending in December.
Over 80 schools, parishes and organisations have contributed to this program. FULL LIST HERE.
The ‘2021 Victorian Council’ consists of the following representatives from within the Organisational Council for Greek National Day: His Grace Bishop of Dervis Iezekihl (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – District Melbourne), Rev. Fthr. Evmenios Vasilopoulos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – District Northcote), Tony Tsourdalakis – Convenor (Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand), Natasha Spanos (Oakleigh Grammar School), Peter Andrinopoulos (Federation of Messinian Organisations), Chrissa Kanatas (Panarcadian Association of Melbourne), Michael Karamitos (Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne), Jorge Menidis (Greek Community of Melbourne), Andrew Ballis (Panmacedonian Association of Melbourne), Sophia Siahos (Australian Pontian Federation), Ross Alatsas (Greek Media Group & Hellenic Museum), John Pantazopoulos (World Hellenic Interparliamentary Council), Sam Vlahos (Kalamata Society 23rd March), Anastasia Theodoropoulou (Neos Kosmos).
The program of events is under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne. The Organisational Committee for Greek National Day would like to thank the Department of Premier and Cabinet of the Victorian Government for the ongoing support and advice.
We are also pleased to announce that the Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony to be held (Covid 19 permitting) on Sunday 21st March 2021 has been officially endorsed & accepted and will fall under the auspices of the « Greece 2021 » committee.
Furthermore, the 2021 Victorian Council would like to thank the General Secretary for Greeks Abroad & Diplomatic Relations Mr. John Chrysoulakis and the major Benefactor the Bank of Piraeus for offering a plethora of initiatives and events to the Organisational Council for Greek National Day including some of the following:
Copies of the Poem of Dionysius Solomos Hymn to Liberty (Ύμνος στην Ελευθερία).
Copies of the Publication of the General Archives of Greece highlighting the heroes of 1821.
Copies of the Commemorative Medal for the 200th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution produced by the National Museum of Greece.
An exhibition titled «Το ’21 αλλιώς». The Revolution in figurines using Playmobil.
Eleven online conferences with common themes titled “200 years of the Modern Hellenic State.”
Official Series of Lectures in Greece titled “21 Lectures for 1821-2021” under the auspices of the National Kapodistriako University of Athens.
The 2021 Victorian Committee would also like to thank the following partners, sponsors and financial supporters. Our Government partners, the State Government of Victoria, The General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad and the City of Moreland. Our Media Partners Neos Kosmos, Radio 3XY / TA NEA Newspaper, Greek Herald, SBS Greek Radio, Greek City Times, ERT and Antenna Pacific. Our Commercial Sponsors, Peter Tziotzis Orthodox Funeral Services, Hellenic Museum, St.Johns Greek Orthodox College, Oakleigh Grammar School, Nestoras College and our Community financial supporters, the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, the Federation of Messinian Organisations of Victoria, the Greek Australian Ex Servicemen Association of Victoria, the Epirotic Federation of Oceania (Aus), the PanArcadian Federation of Victoria, the Central Pontian Association of Victoria ”PONTIAKI ESTIA”, the Lefkadian Brotherhood of Victoria and AHEPA.
It’s a new year and Greece is already smashing records. According to data from the National Observatory of Athens released on Monday, January has already proven to be Athens’ hottest month in at least 160 years.
In early January, temperatures in Greece’s capital city ranged from 18.3 degrees Celsius to 12.1 degrees Celsius, with an average temperature of 14.8 degrees Celsius.
People wearing protective face masks walk on a beach during an unusual warm day, amid the coronavirus pandemic, in the southern suburb of Faliro in Athens, Greece, January 10, 2021. Photo: REUTERS/Costas Baltas.
On January 9 specifically, Athens recorded its hottest day in 160 years, with temperatures reaching 22.2 degrees Celsius.
According to Greece’s METEO weather service, January’s temperatures are as much as 15 degrees Celsius higher than normal for this season, which is traditionally the coldest time of the year.
The country is reveling in this unseasonably warm winter weather, with many Greeks rushing to the beach in an effort to cool off and get out of the house during lockdown.
Last year, along with 2016, was already the hottest year on record in Greece, attesting to the devastating impact of climate change on global temperatures.
