Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, criticised his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, on Saturday after he accused Turkey of exploiting the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In a tweet, Cavusoglu accused Dendias of ‘defamation’ and speaking ‘nonsense.’
“While the world is focused on the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, my friend Nikos [Dendias] is focused on his sole hobby: Defamation of Türkiye in any condition. Such dedication and so much effort put on such nonsense. So sad!” Cavusoglu wrote.
While the world is focused on the tragedy unfolding in #Ukraine, my friend Nikos 🇬🇷 is focused on his sole hobby: Defamation of Türkiye in any condition.
Cavusoglu’s anger came just hours after Dendias tweets on Saturday that Turkey should not be allowed to “exploit” the situation in Ukraine to advance its own interests in the region.
“It will only be detrimental for Turkey to try to exploit the situation in Ukraine in an opportunistic way, while the world public is extremely aware of the issue of respect for international law and the inviolability of borders,” Dendias said.
So far, Turkish officials have condemned Russia for its recognitionof the Donbas regions and for invading Ukraine, but they have declined to endorse sanctions against Moscow or close the Black Sea as requested by Ukraine.
At least ten Greek nationals have been killed and six others, among them one child, have been wounded in Russian bombing near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry.
This came as the Russian offensive in Ukraine enters the fifth day with massive sea, land and air attacks which has so far killed more than 200 civilians and wounded hundreds.
Greece is “appalled by and unequivocally condemns the bombing of civilians” by Russia, reads a statement issued by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, while Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his solidarity to Ukraine.
But as the conflict rages, thousands of Greek expatriates who live in Mariupol, the heart of the ethnic Greek community that dates back to the 18th century, fear for their lives.
Residential areas are among those that came under fire in Mariupol. Photo: Sky News.
“There is very heavy shelling in Mariupol and in Kyiv, especially since last night. The Russians started to bombard residential districts in Mariupol and there is damage to the children’s hospital and infrastructure. People are hiding in the basements and until Monday they can’t go out due to curfews,” Vice President of the Kiev Hellenic Community “Enotita”, Anton Savidi, told The Greek Herald on Sunday.
“In Mariupol the situation is worse because in many places there is no water, no electricity and yesterday there was constant bombing by land and air.
“The settlements where many Greeks currently live are under attack and there are people, most of them women, children and older people, who can’t be evacuated. People are scared.”
He said air raid sirens continue to sound across the state to warn people to run to underground shelters, while he mentioned the Ukrainian army is facing shortages in basic equipment.
A Ukrainian rocket launcher vehicle drives west of the coastal city of Mariupol, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria.
“There is a lack in protective equipment like helmets. There are no big shortages in food but we expect them to develop as people can’t go out. Ukraine now needs international support. Weapons, money, medicines to help stop this invasion,” Mr Savidi said.
On Sunday, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced that Australia will provide funds for “lethal aid” to Ukraine’s war effort while Greece will dispatch military equipment and humanitarian aid.
“Support Ukraine because we, Greeks here, suffer the same with other people who live in the country. Tell your government to pressure Russia,” Mr Savidi said.
Australia’s Greek community send messages of support:
In response to these personal accounts, Australia’s Greek community have sent messages of support to the Greek communities of Ukraine.
The President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis, sent a message over the weekend to the President of the Kiev Greek Society, Nina Paskal, expressing the Community’s “heartfelt thoughts, hopes and prayers” in the face of Russia’s invasion.
Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis.
“We want our compatriots in the Ukraine to know that the Greek diaspora in far-away Melbourne stands with them,” Mr Papastergiadis wrote in his message.
“If there is anything that we could do for you and your community, please do not hesitate to ask.”
Mr Papastergiadis also wrote to the Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Stefan Romaniw OAM, and the President of the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria, Liana Slipetsky, condemning “the aggression against the people of Ukraine.”
“We stand in solidarity with our local Ukrainian community members,” Mr Papastergiadis wrote.
Elsewhere, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia also condemned the “unprovoked attack” of Russia on Ukraine during a phone conversation with the Honorary Consul General of Ukraine in Sydney, Jaroslav Roman Duma.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
“In the last hours, we are watching with indescribable sadness the horrible face of the war… due to the unacceptable decision of the leadership of the Russian Federation to invade the territory of the Republic of Ukraine with military means,” His Eminence later said in a message.
“This is not the world that Christ envisioned for the human race! This is not the teaching of our Holy Gospels! The pursuit of war in our faith and conscience does not fit! It is the duty of every Orthodox Christian to call for peace!”
His Eminence concluded by declaring that “the Holy Archdiocese of Australia is unwaveringly in favour of law and truth.”
Marietta Giannakou, a former education minister and a veteran lawmaker with the country’s ruling conservative New Democracy party, has died at 70.
The news was announced via a statement from the 251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, where she was recently treated.
In response, tributes and expressions of sympathy have poured out immediately from across the political spectrum.
“I am devastated in saying goodbye to our Marietta. A great woman, a good friend and an indomitable fighter,” Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Twitter.
“She never broke down, saying that difficulties had steeled her. And yet, she lost the (latest) of her many battles over her health. It is not easy to accept that this personality, with her calm passion for life and public service, is no longer with us.”
Η Μαριέττα υπήρξε σύμβολο ατομικής ανέλιξης και προκοπής. Πνεύμα αδάμαστο, τολμηρό που δεν λογάριασε στιγμή κατεστημένες απόψεις και μυωπικές αντιλήψεις. Στην κόρη της Ζωή, στην αδερφή της Φανή και στους δικούς της ανθρώπους, τα ειλικρινή μου συλλυπητήρια. https://t.co/N6rRJnbrMdpic.twitter.com/yh1yhVCkoW
Former socialist Prime Minister, George Papandreou, said Marietta “was a brave woman and politician with a restless and fighting spirit.”
“She was always known for her moral character and her steadfastness to her principles, her ideals and a special, distinctive philosophy of life and the practice of politics,” Papandreou added.
Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, also expressed his condolences to Marietta’s family and said “her death is a great loss for the political life of the country.”
Η Μ. Γιαννάκου ήταν μία καλή φίλη από τα χρόνια της ΟΝΝΕΔ. Διακρινόταν για την ευπρέπεια & το ήθος της & υπηρέτησε με συνέπεια τον δημόσιο βίο από διάφορες θέσεις. Ο θάνατός της είναι μία μεγάλη απώλεια για την πολιτική ζωή της χώρας. Ειλικρινή συλλυπητήρια στους οικείους της.
Born on June 6, 1951, Giannakou became active in politics early in the New Democracy youth wing. She served in the Greek parliament from 1993-99, from 2000-2007 and since July 2019. She was also a member of the European Parliament from 1984-1990, 1999-2000 and 2009-2014. She was Minister of Health, Welfare and Social Security from 1990-1991.
As Education Minister from 2004 to 2007, Giannakou came under fire from the left-wing opposition for her proposed university reforms, as well as Greek nationalists over a 6th-grade history book that was considered insufficiently patriotic. In the end, the reforms and the book were shelved.
Giannakou had a history of health problems, including a recent fall at home, a heart attack six years ago and the amputation of a leg in 2008, due to complications from diabetes.
Greece is sending ammunition, “Kalashnikov-type assault rifles” and missile launchers to Ukraine, authorities have confirmed.
The military aid was decided at a meeting on Sunday morning between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Chief of the National Defence General Staff Gen. Konstantinos Floros.
Two C-130 planes with the equipment have left a military airport west of Athens bound for Poland.
Two more planes carrying humanitarian aid have also left Athens International Airport and are bound for Poland. They carry items such as blankets and food.
10 ethnic Greeks killed in Ukraine air strikes:
This aid comes after news emerged that ten ethnic Greeks were killed during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine late on Saturday night.
According to Ekathimerini, they were killed during Russian air strikes in the city of Mariupol in the country’s south.
Air strikes in Ukraine. AP Photo / Vadim Zamirovsky
There was also six other fatalities in Ukraine’s Greek community on Saturday, including four in the Buhas village in the Donetsk region and two in Sartana on the outskirts of Mariupol.
The Greek political world unanimously condemned the Russian strikes.
“Stop the bombing now!” Mitsotakis said in a statement released on social media.
More innocent people dead in Ukraine. Deepest condolences to the families of our compatriots that were killed. The Russian invasion has to stop immediately. We need to return to the path of diplomacy.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, also released a statement on social media written in Greek and condemning the attack.
“It is not just the people of Ukraine who are in mourning today because of the war caused by Russia, but all the people of Europe. Tonight, with grief, we think of Greece who unjustly lost 10 members of its community who lived in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol,” Macron wrote on Twitter.
Δεν είναι μόνο ο λαός της Ουκρανίας που πενθεί σήμερα εξαιτίας του πολέμου που προκάλεσε η Ρωσία, αλλά όλοι οι λαοί της Ευρώπης. Απόψε σκεφτόμαστε με θλίψη την Ελλάδα που έχασε άδικα δέκα ομογενείς που ζούσαν στην Oυκραvιά κοντά στην Μαριούπολη.
In response to the deaths, Greece lodged a demarche with the Russian Ambassador to Greece, Andrey Maslov, on Sunday.
The Russian embassy in Athens in a statement expressed “deep sorrow” over the deaths, but insisted that Russia was “exclusively” targeting military units and installations in Ukraine.
Refugees and solidarity with Ukraine:
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, support for Ukraine is growing in Greece with hundreds of Ukrainians holding protests outside the Russian Embassy in Athens and the Consulate in Thessaloniki.
Syntagma Square, Athens now: Emotional scene as a sizable Ukrainian community speaks of family trapped inside, thanks Greece/Europe for their help & denies Russian propaganda.
The Greek Parliament, the fountain on Omonia Square in central Athens and the building of Technopolis in the district of Gazi were also illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on Friday night, as a sign of solidarity to Ukraine.
Omonia fountain.
Mitsotakis also announced that Greece is ready to accept refugees from the Greek communities of Ukraine.
“Greece will stand by the Greek communities in Ukraine and especially the community in Mariupol. If there are Greeks who want to leave Ukraine we will warmly welcome them,” Mitsotakis told Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in a meeting at the Presidential Mansion.
Mary Politis from Mary’s Kouzina gives us the scoop. That is, a huge scoop of her incredible Baked Soutzoukakia and Potatoes. This recipe is the perfect combination of flavour and good old fashioned warmth food.
Prep time: 45 mins | Cook time: 60 mins | Serves 4
Soutzoukakia mixture:
500g Beef mince
1 whole grated onion
2 grated cloves of garlic
handful of chopped parsley
¼ cup of breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/8 tsp All spice
½ tsp on cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper
Photo: Lucy Leonardi
Potatoes:
5-6 potatoes peeled and cut into wedges
1 tsp dried oregano
8 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Sauce:
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 whole grated onion
2 grated crushed garlic
400ml tomato passata
½ cup of water
½ tsp dried oregano
2 bay leaves
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp all spice
Photo: Lucy Leonardi
1. To prepare dish, preheat the oven at 180°C. Begin by combining all potato ingredients in your baking tray. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 30 mins.
2. While potatoes are in the oven, begin the sauce. Over a medium heat, combine olive oil, onion, and garlic. Sauté for approximately 3 minutes or until soft. Add tomato passata and water, bring to the boil. Then add oregano, cinnamon, all spice, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat down to medium-low and allow the sauce to cook (stirring occasionally) for approximately 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to some extent while you prepare the soutzoukakia. By now the potatoes should be soft enough to remove from the oven. Check to ensure they have softened enough, then set aside.
Photo: Lucy Leonardi
3. To prepare the soutzoukakia, combine all listed ingredients into a bowl. Using clean hands combine all the ingredients until they are well incorporated (if you feel the mixture is not coming together or holding well enough, keep working it with your hands. The more you work it the better it holds).
4. Once you are happy with the consistency, form the soutzoukakia into oval sausages, about the size of your palm. Once you have formed all the mix, it is time to arrange on the tray with the potatoes. You may need to move the potatoes around to fit the soutzoukakia. When this is completed, spoon the tomato sauce over the soutzoukakia and potatoes. Return the tray to the oven and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes ensuring soutzoukakia have cooked through and the potatoes have developed a little colour.
From Joe Avati to The Veronicas, these are comedian Anthony Locascio’s top five favourite personalities of Greek and Italian heritage.
The Veronicas:
The Veronicas
I’m not sure how well known it is that one of our greatest musical exports is a pair of Calabresi.
When I first started uni, I wanted to seem cool to some older guys I met so I told them the Veronicas were my cousins. I’m Italian, they’re Italian, who’s going to check?
The problem with lies like these are, you have to remember them. One of these uni mates recently asked me “how my cousins’ career is going” and I had no idea what they were on about.
Joe Avati:
Joe Avati
My teenage comedy hero, when my parents got divorced watching Joe’s videos and live shows were the only things putting a smile on my face. Every Italo-Australian knows this man.
I’m now friends with Joe. I’ve opened for him/worked with him numerous times and we’ve recently been writing together. This is so crazy to me.
This man was somehow selling out theaters in the US and Canada in the early 2000s without the help of social media or Youtube. Simply astonishing.
A real mentor and the best ‘ethnic’ comedian in Australia.
Gia Carides:
Gia Carides, as Nicky in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
I loved Gia in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and on TV when I was younger, she randomly started following me on Instagram in 2020 and said she was a fan which totally blew my mind!
She also has a private IG with only like 500 followers so I genuinely didn’t believe it was her for a while, but she passed my test! We’re now regular likers of each other’s posts and I do find myself screaming “that’s my friend!” whenever she pops up in movies and on TV.
Mark Bresciano:
Mark Bresciano
My favourite Socceroo growing up. Very Italian surname, played the same position as me and played for Palermo, my Nonno’s home town club.
The greatest ever Socceroos team was the 2006 World Cup squad and the likes of Bresc, Grella, Lazaridis, Viduka, Popovic, etc made for a very woggy team indeed. I think it really made kids like me (I was 14 at the time), feel truly represented.
Bresc was the last Aussie to score in Italy’s Series A until literally days ago, when 18-year-old Christian Volpato scored for Roma. The cycle continues!
Hugh Jackman:
Hugh Jackman
Oh you didn’t know Wolverine was a secret Greek? Well now you know!
I really don’t think I need to go into why Hugh Jackman should be your favourite everything, but if you need any proof, go watch The Prestige. He also met my mum and sister once at Fox Studios and was apparently very nice.
Athens’ streets are known to be rich in history and wherever you look around you there is a piece of the past that is yearning to be unlocked.
The city has quite literally ‘illuminated’ history with the addition of 62 new smart signs around the streets of Athens depicting 29 key personalities of the Philhellenic Movement.
The exhibition, ‘Walking with the Philhellenes,’ showcases the honourable foreigners who helped secure Greece’s independence from the Ottoman rule.
Bakoyannis at the sign launch.
The honoured foreign figures whose names adorn the street signs across downtown Athens are Hamilton, Santarosa, Webster, Treiber, Lord Byron, Lenormant, Heiden and Meyer.
The new smart signs include a portrait of the honoured, along with detailed historical references in both Greek and English.
At the unveiling ceremony, Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, said that Greece “owed a great deal” to the Philhellenic movement.
“It is therefore very important for us to get to know them, to follow in their steps with our mind’s eye and to reacquaint ourselves with our past by exploring our city,” Mr Bakoyannis added.
Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis and guests at unveiling ceremony
In a recent interview, Philippa shares how her higher education set her on a path to success in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) as a female.
“[It] started when I was in high school and I had an amazing female physics teacher who really inspired me,” Philippa explained.
Philippa Tsirgiotis (left) and Adam Perryman received Playford Trust Honours Scholarships last year.
“[There were] female role models at uni as well… Everyone in the teaching teams and everything was always extremely supportive.
“I never felt sort of put down or discriminated against or anything. I felt like Flinders was a really amazing place to be a woman in STEM.”
Philippa at the award ceremony with Senior Lecturer from Flinders University, David Hobbs. Photo: Twitter / David Hobbs.
In her time studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) at the university, Philippa was offered an opportunity to be involved with the development of a medical device known as a shoulder mobiliser.
Later, she was asked to continue working on the project as part of her Master of Engineering (Biomed) and says it was a great opportunity “to have continuity work on something that could have a real-life impact to patients.”
Now, she encourages others to study at the university and get involved in a STEM career.
Yanna Dascarolis, along with a number of her friends, are looking forward to the launch of their new boutique motel in Bateman’s Bay in March.
The Isla motel was “designed by friends, for friends” and is aimed at meeting the needs of travellers looking for a holiday “rooted in mindfulness” as they explore Australia’s coastal towns.
Speaking with hotelmanagement.com, Dascarolis said many travellers have fond memories of Batemans Bay and her friends wanted to provide a stylish new environment from which to rediscover the area.
“I have fond memories of holidays in Batemans Bay as a kid…” Dascarolis said.
“It was important for us to keep in touch with the things we love about Batemans Bay and create something that was a fitting reflection of its charm.”
The boutique motel has been redesigned to feature 18 guest rooms, including three guest suits, with ocean views available and even a private pool.
Photo: Facebook.
Guests can also enjoy locally sourced artisan products, such as Dangerous Ales beer, cocktails from Poor Toms Gin and ST ALi espresso martinis via bespoke vending machine Cantina.
Located just minutes away from the beach, the motel is the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday on the South Coast.
The cast of Netflix’s new reality TV show, Byron Baes, has finally been unveiled ahead of the series launch next month.
Among the cast are familiar faces such as former Bachelorette star, Nathan Favro, and Elias Chigros, who has Greek and Irish heritage and starred in Love Island Australia 2018.
Chigros describes himself as a model and marketer who loves the great outdoors. He currently works as a Chief Marketing Officer at a social media marketing company.
Elias will star in Byron Baes.
Shot in northern NSW last year, Byron Baes will follow Chigros and others as they navigate life, love and career.
The reality TV show was the subject of controversy last year with Byron Bay locals pushing hard to boycott the show, fearing it would perpetuate stereotypes and attract the “wrong crowd” to the tourist hot spot.
