Greece will not engage in exploratory talks with Turkey as long as Turkish survey vessel Oruc Reis remains in its continental shelf waters, the government’s spokesman said on Tuesday.
“As long as the Oruc Reis is in the area we will not hold exploratory contacts with Turkey,” Stelios Petsas told Skai Radio.
On Monday, Greece said Ankara’s decision to send the vessel close to Kastellorizo, a Greek island near the Turkish coast, was a “major escalation” and a “direct threat to peace in the region”.
Turkey had withdrawn the vessel from contested waters in the eastern Mediterranean last month to “allow diplomacy” before an EU summit at which sanctions against Turkey were discussed.
In this photo taken Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, Turkey’s research vessel, Oruc Reis, center, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey. Photo: IHA via AP.
At the time, Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, played down the significance of the move, saying the ship had returned to shore as part of scheduled plans and insisted it did not mean Ankara was “giving up our rights there.”
“There will be planned movements backwards and forwards,” Akar told state news agency Anadolu in Antalya, southern Turkey, in September.
At the summit, the EU said that if Turkey continued operations in the region, sanctions could be imposed as soon as December.
The Golden Dawn trial has commenced in Athens today and the Greek prosecutor has presented her proposals for the sentencing.
13 years for party leadership.
7 years for other former MPs.
Life imprisonment for man convicted of murdering Pavlos Fyssas and 6-8 years for his accomplices.
The court will now hear the case of the defense lawyers, before it issues its final ruling, probably on Thursday.
The court which ruled last Wednesday that the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party is a criminal organisation, also ruled on Monday that its leadership is not eligible for leniency.
Singer and actor, Zoy Frangos, has performed at theatres across Australia and in front of acting royalty such as Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts in New York. But despite his globetrotting ways, he’s never forgotten his roots.
Zoy grew up in the small Victorian city of Ballarat and is the son of a Greek migrant father and Indigenous Australian mother. His father migrated to Australia in 1952 from Mytikas in western Greece and ended up owning a fish shop in Ballarat, where he met Zoy’s mother who is also part Scottish.
Growing up with such a unique cultural background would be confusing for many people. But Zoy tells The Greek Herald exclusively that when he was younger, he actually didn’t even know much about his Indigenous heritage.
Zoy (centre) with his mum and dad at his cousin Bill’s wedding in the 80s. Photo supplied.
“I’d never really known much about my Indigenous heritage because growing up, my grandma had to sort of deny it and hide it. She wasn’t allowed to speak the language either. It was in that stolen generation era,” Zoy says.
“So I’d grown up in such a Greek family and at school, I was the Greek kid because I didn’t even appear Indigenous at all. I look Mediterranean. People would also always make fun of my family because we owned the “typical Greek” fish shop.”
Zoy says he didn’t let these stereotypes bother him.
In fact, he rose above them and worked hard at being a high achiever in athletics, competing internationally and winning 10 events on the Victorian Athletic League circuit. His heart was set on running at the Olympics for Australia but an injury forced him to take a new path of the musical kind.
Zoy Frangos in the Stawell Gift in 2003. Photo supplied.Zoy (right) and his late brother Alexandros (left) in Ballarat on Australia Day, late 80s. Photo supplied.
“I was a really good sprinter and I started training really hard to make the Olympics. But then I injured my hip and all that training meant nothing because I lost one second in my running straight away. Once you lose that amount of time, it’s sort of game over,” Zoy says.
“At the same time, my friend had started singing lessons and I was like, ‘If you can sing, I can.’ So I jumped on SingStar and when I heard my voice in the playback I thought, ‘that sounds in tune.’ I went to see my friend’s singing teacher after that and she says, ‘yeah, you’re a tenor’.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
‘Greek and Indigenous cultures are founded on storytelling’:
After performing in some local theatre productions, Zoy moved to Melbourne to pursue a career in performance, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theatre from the Victorian College of the Arts.
Zoy performed in New York in 2019 at the Australian American Awards in front of Hugh Jackman, Noami Watts and Simon Baker, to name a few.
Whilst studying, Zoy made his professional opera debut as Jimmy in Pecan Summer, the world’s first Indigenous opera composed by Indigenous Australian soprano singer, Deborah Cheetham. This is something Zoy says helped him embrace his Indigenous heritage more than ever.
“I started getting gigs and celebrating who I was and celebrating me. It allowed me to learn more about that Indigenous side of my culture and I’m really indebted to her for that,” Zoy explains.
From there, Zoy played Feuilly/Enjolras in Les Misérables and understudied Jean Valjean, he was Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and performed alongside Tina Arena in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, EVITA. More recently, he sang in Greek for Taxithi 2: The Immigrants and performed in the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Big Night In.
Zoy played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar
In all these performances, Zoy says he loves to get in touch with his Greek and Indigenous heritage, especially the idea that both cultures are founded on “storytelling, song and dance, community and family.”
“The thing I love about Greek culture is that you dance on tables and have a lot of passion. It’s not caring what other people think. It’s just about living in that moment and giving your all without being like, ‘look at me, look at me’,” Zoy says with a laugh.
“That’s what I’ve always strived for in theatre and when I feel like I’ve lost my way is when I’ve gone away from that kind of idea.”
Time to rethink and find comfort in cooking:
Speaking of losing one’s way, many would think Zoy would be in that exact predicament right now, especially as theatres around the world closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Luckily, that’s not the case. Although Zoy and his Italian wife, Elisa, did have to put their dream of performing on the West End in London on hold, they’ve decided to launch food blog, ‘An Italian and a Greek,’ instead.
“Performing is one of the biggest sources of joy we have but… we looked at what else we can create together. We love cooking so we decided to launch ‘An Italian and a Greek’ and share Greek and Italian cuisine with people. It’s been really good and quite motivating,” Zoy says.
Motivating enough to give Zoy a chance to finally sit back and get his creative juices going again. Something he says he hasn’t always been able to do before due to his usual hectic theatre schedule.
“I think when you’re in something like music theatre, it can be all-encompassing and… then when it’s all sort of taken away, you have that time to reflect and go, ‘What do I really want to do? What impact do I want to have? and What’s my legacy going to be’?”
“So I’ve just been re-calibrating and this food blog has given me something else to focus on. I’ve now got this new sort of drive and passion.”
A passion we can’t wait to see on stage when Zoy is able to perform once again.
In a special event, which took place on Sunday, October 11, in the hall of the Cyprus Community of South Australia in Welland, Cypriot expatriates celebrated the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus.
A number of dignitaries and community leaders were present, including the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas, the State Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni, the expatriate Senator and Federal MP of the Labor Party, Steve Georganas, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (EOKNA), Bill Gonis, and the youth committee of the Cyprus Community, as well as representatives of other local and expatriate organisations.
Thank you to the Cyprus community of SA for inviting me to speak and attend the 60th Celebration of the the independence…
“I am happy to be here to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus, but at the same time I am saddened that Turkey continues to violate the EEZ. What [the Turks] are doing is unacceptable. We want a solution to the Cyprus issue. We want a Cyprus, for all Cypriots,” said the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, who, addressing Consul General Psiachas, thanked Greece for standing by Cyprus.
Mavrommatis also thanked the Australian government, which recently expressed its concern over the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and called on Turkey to negotiate under international law.
Steve Georganas MP (left) and High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Martha Mavrommatis (second from right), were in attendance. Photo: Cyprus Community Youth of South Australia.
“The struggle continues until we have a free and united Cyprus,” Ms Mavrommati concluded.
During the event, which was followed by a lunch, the President of the Cypriot Community of South Australia, Andreas Evdokiou and the High Commissioner, awarded members of the Community for their contribution and their social work.
Pavlos Melas was a Greek army officer and one of the most important defenders of Macedonia’s struggle for freedom. We take a look back at his short but impactful life.
Early Life:
Pavlos Melas was born on March 29, 1870 in Marseilles. He was the son of Michael Melas, an elected MP for Attica and mayor of Athens.
In 1886, Melas decided to go to Athens to study and later joined the Hellenic Army, graduating from the Hellenic Army Academy as an artillery lieutenant at the age of 21.
In 1892, he married Natalia Dragoumi, the daughter of a famous politician from Macedonia’s city of Kastoria, Stephanos Dragoumis. They had two children.
Pavlos Melas married Natalia Dragoumi. They had two children.
Melas’ relationship with Dragoumis played a crucial role in his decision to start raising money for the financial support of Greece’s overt and secret efforts in the region of Macedonia.
The Greek Struggle for Macedonia:
At the beginning of the 20th century, Melas became concerned about the situation in Turkish-occupied Macedonia.
In February 1904, together with three other officers, Sergeants Alexandros Kontoulis and Anastasios Papoulas and Lieutenant Georgios Kolokotronis, Melas participated in a secret mission to Macedonia under the pseudonym Mikis Zezas.
The group of four officers, accompanied by Macedonian fighters, was active in western Macedonia, but its movements were noticed by the Turks, who asked the Greek government to withdraw them. So Melas, along with the three other officers, returned to Athens on March 29.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Melas became concerned about the situation in Turkish-occupied Macedonia.
In July, while serving at the Guards School, he asked for a 20-day leave and made a second trip to Macedonia.
As soon as he arrived in Kozani, he met with the local Greek community and decided to not only form an armed corps by recruiting men from the surrounding areas, but to also take immediate action in western Macedonia.
He returned to Athens on August 3 full of optimism for the outcome of the struggle. After 15 days, he asked for and received a four-month leave from the army to officially take over the leadership of the Macedonian Struggle in the area of Kastoria.
Death and Legacy:
Pavlos Melas’ statue in Thessaloniki.
On August 28, Captain Mikis Zezas (Melas) crossed the border, accompanied by several Macedonians, Laconians and Cretans.
On October 13, 1904, Melas and his men entered the town of Statista near Kastoria, to rest. Betrayed by the people he trusted, more than 150 Ottoman men surrounded Melas and killed him.
The exact conditions under which Melas died are still unknown.
What is sure is that his death sparked a wave of support throughout Greece for the Greeks in Macedonia who were fighting a dual fight, both against the Ottoman oppressors and the Bulgarian nationalists.
A national symbol of the Greek struggle for Macedonia, Melas is still a source of inspiration for many.
Former AFL boss, Andrew Demetriou, has been criticised at the NSW government’s Crown Resorts inquiry after he compromised his evidence by referring to secret notes during his testimony.
Demetriou has admitted that he had written notes in front of him when giving evidence on Monday, and reading from the notes when he gave an answer about potential money laundering at Crown.
However, he denied other evidence was based on notes.
The notes included a definition of “culture” which Mr Demetriou said he got “off the net” but insisted he did not read from while being asked about cultural failings at the casino giant.
Crown resorts director Andrew Demetriou had been accused of being dishonest while giving evidence at an inquiry into the casino after reading from notes. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.
“You wrote them down because you couldn’t remember them without being reminded,” counsel assisting the commission, Scott Aspinall, said to Demetriou on Tuesday.
“No, that’s not correct,” Demetriou responded.
“You weren’t acting with honesty and integrity, were you?” Aspinall said.
“Respectfully, I disagree, Mr Aspinall,” Demetriou said.
The inquiry then replayed the video recording of Mr Demetriou’s testimony from Monday, which showed him appearing to look downwards while delivering the near verbatim reproduction of his notes.
“You saw yourself look down there, did you not Mr Demetriou?,” Commissioner Bergin asked.
Mr Demetriou was also grilled about inaccuracies in the evidence he gave on his close relationship to James Packer (left).
“I did see myself look down, Madame Commissioner, but I suspect I would have looked down for a lot of the day.”
Commissioner Bergin responded that she was “not so sure about that.” Mr Demetriou insisted he only read from notes on Monday when he was explaining the role of independent directors at ASX-listed companies.
The inquiry then went on to re-examine Mr Demetriou’s evidence about Crown bank accounts that were repeatedly used for suspected money laundering, in which he said the company had identified about 100 suspicious transactions.
Mr Demetriou was also grilled about inaccuracies in the evidence he gave on his close relationship with Crown’s biggest shareholder, James Packer, including an email in which he told Packer he would look out for the company’s best interests but “most importantly” those of the casino magnate.
The NSW inquiry is considering whether Crown should keep the licence to its new Sydney casino and was launched in response to revelations by Nine Entertainment group about Crown’s dealings with “junket” tours operators linked to criminal syndicates and failures to prevent money laundering at its Melbourne and Sydney casinos.
The inquiry’s public hearing will continue on Tuesday afternoon with evidence from Crown director Antonia Korsanos.
Dr Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid, has said there is much to celebrate on National headspace Day tomorrow with increased funding and support for young Australians living in Reid.
Dr Martin was joined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at Reid’s local headspace centre in Ashfield to discuss how the 2020-21 Budget is boosting the headspace network.
“The Morrison Government has invested an unprecedented $5.7 billion in mental health support in 2020-21 alone,” Dr Martin said.
“We’re driving the largest expansion of the headspace network, from 124 services to 153 services nationally by 2022. Over the next four years, the Government will invest $630.4 million in this national network.
“We’re also doubling the number of Medicare-funded psychological services from 10 to 20 through the Better Access Initiative, which will be especially helpful to those who are being treated for complex conditions.”
Dr Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid, following her recent visit with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to Ashfield headspace in light of the 2020 Budget’s mental health funding boost.
Ashfield’s headspace centre acts as a one-stop-shop for young people who need help with mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drugs or work and study support.
The Treasurer said the increased funding for mental health support in the 2020-21 Budget will help young Australians through the challenges of the COVID-19 recession.
“This is a year like no other, and the stresses and strains particularly on young people is immense because of COVID-19. headspace is doing a tonne of good work helping people through the challenges that they face,” Treasurer Frydenberg said.
“In coming weeks, we will release the Productivity Commission’s Mental Health final report and the interim report into suicide prevention commissioned by the Prime Minister. These reports will guide our future actions, working together with states and territories to save lives.”
Dr Martin encourages young people struggling with their mental health to use services available.
“headspace offers comprehensive clinical services as well as community engagement that helps break the stigma around mental health,” Dr Martin said.
“It’s important that young people build their resilience and take care of their mental health with the resources and services available, so they can overcome the uncertainty and challenges of this year.”
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.
If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.
Greek Australian, Lukas Tsimopoulos, started his small-time eBay business at just 14 and now the 20-year-old from South Australia is making a staggering $100,000 a month by selling products online.
He told Australian media outlet, news.com.au, that he first started selling items on eBay as a teenager driven by “boredom” at school.
“When I first started my business ventures I was 13 or 14 and still at school. I started with eBay, selling random products on the side sourced from suppliers. I did it on and off to make enough money for a 14-year-old to get by,” Lukas told news.com.au.
The 20-year-old from Adelaide started selling things online at the age of 14.
At the same time, the Adelaide local was working in the family restaurant his parents ran until they sold the business. Lukas eventually decided to go out on his own, using his previous experience with selling on eBay to create a now lucrative online business.
Lukas’ business involves “dropshipping.” Acting as a middleman, dropshipping doesn’t require a business to keep products in stock. Instead, the store sells the product and passes on the sales order to a third-party supplier who then ships the order to the customer.
“I was just trying to make enough money to replace a normal income. I just wanted a decent income like $1500 a week,” he said. “I didn’t think it would turn into a $100k-a-month business.”
This success sees Lukas approached all the time by young entrepreneurs who want to do the same thing.
“Friends approach me and say they want to start dropshipping. But it takes time and work, it doesn’t just happen overnight,” he said.
Lukas offers a “blueprint” program to help get other entrepreneurs started with dropshipping, which involves detailed advice on how to create stores and validate products to be able to sell them online successfully.
“I’ve had a lot of people reach out. I offer a lot of free advice on my profile as well as open mentorship programs,” he said.
In terms of his future, Lukas plans “to continue to scale up and better myself.”
“I’ve earned money but that’s not my overall goal,” he said. “It’s to build brands and to continue to grow the business… I definitely want to grow the business beyond $100K a month.”
On Monday, Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attended the ceremonial raising of the Greek flag on the Acropolis in honor of the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Athens from the Nazis on October 12, 1944.
President Sakellaropoulou also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside of the Greek Parliament building.
President Sakellaropoulou laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside of the Greek Parliament building. Credit: President GR / Twitter.
In her speech, Sakellaropoulou made reference to the recent trials of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, which ruled that the fascist group had indeed been a criminal organisation fronting as a political party.
She strongly denounced the criminal organisation and its ideology, while honoring those who fought for freedom so long ago.
“On this day, 76 years ago, Athens was liberated from the Nazi yoke. It was a day of national exaltation, of collective joy and returning hope. A day that justified the struggle and the sacrifices of the Greek people during the years of the German Occupation,” the President said.
“We bow with respect to the memory of those who fought for freedom, with the hope that we will never see again in our homeland, in the country that gave birth to democracy, those who are nostalgic for ideologies that steeped the world in blood, or those who express the ideas of, and support, Nazism and fascism.”
An additional $100,000 will be provided to the Greek precinct on Lonsdale Street over the next two years, according to Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp.
The Mayor of Melbourne has promised that if she is re-elected in the upcoming municipal elections, she will offer the additional financial assistance to promote the Greek precinct on Lonsdale Street and encourage Melburnians to return to the city center again.
The Lonsdale district is one of nine areas to receive financial support.
The Greek precinct on Lonsdale Street has been around since the 1940s.
“The unique and different areas are what really make our city,” Mayor Capp said in a media release.
“We can find pasta on Lygon Street or ‘yum cha’ in Chinatown, have a coffee and enjoy art in the downtown streets, enjoy a spinach pie on Lonsdale Street, dine on the waterfront in the Docklands or on the Yarra River in Southbank, stroll through the funky shops of Kensington or check out the latest deals from North Melbourne.
“I want to ensure that these areas are revitalised as we prepare to reopen. A $50,000 boost this year and next year will be just what we need to get these areas back on track. We want more people to support local businesses, supporting local jobs and local providers of goods and services.
“With extra money for marketing, partner clubs will be able to communicate their unique stories and remind Melbourne residents of what we lacked during the COVID restrictions.
“Councilor Kevin Louey, who leads my advisory ballot, is also a big supporter of the special areas. If we are both re-elected, Kevin will work with District Representatives to give them a stronger voice and the support they deserve from the City of Melbourne.”
Councillor Louey added that it has “never been more important to be proactive in supporting local areas and businesses.”
“As Sally says, we want Melbourne to be a ‘Yes’ town… We have experienced an economic downturn and I know how difficult it can be for businesses to get back on track. My priority, if re-elected, will be to work closely with each of the regions to do what I can to support every business, every job and every local craftsman,” Mr Louey said in a statement.
The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, welcomed the statement of the Mayor.
Bill Papastergiadis with Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp. He was given an award by the Asian Executive Group before 1000 people at the Palladium for leadership in the property industry.
“For the last two years, the Community and I personally have worked closely with Mayor Sally Capp,” he said.
“She is always by our side, as a Community and as a Greek region. Her goal is to constantly help us in our projects. She attends our events and communication with her is always direct and effective.
“We thank her for the promise to keep the small piece left on Lonsdale Street, Greek. Because as we all know, the great migratory flow started from there in the 60s and 70s. We know that the Greek quarter around Lonsdale Street has shrunk, but we can never forget the history and the role that this Greek quarter played in our community and in the wider society in general.”
