Ahead of a crucial EU Summit on October 1-2, Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wrote a letter to EU officials informing them about Turkey’s stance on the Eastern Mediterranean.
In his letter, Erdogan urged European leaders to take an impartial stance against Turkey after Ankara dispatched a research vessel to survey for gas and oil in an area over which Greece considers its exclusive economic zone.
“Ankara’s policy aims to determine maritime jurisdiction in line with international law and protect its sovereign rights and jurisdiction regarding its continental shelf and guarantee Turkish Cypriots’ rights on access to hydrocarbon resources,” Erdogan wrote in the letter.
“I hope that the EU supports our thoughts, abandons the biased stance against Turkey as a candidate country and stops giving unconditional and unjust support to Greece and Greek Cypriot administration’s maximalist discourse.”
The Turkish President said finding a peaceful solution to the Eastern Mediterranean issue is everyone’s joint responsibility and that the EU should support cooperation and dialogue and avoid taking steps that would further deteriorate the crisis.
“We hope that hydrocarbon resources form the basis for a resolution and a greater EU in the same way coal and steel formed the basis for the EU’s point of origin,” Erdogan wrote.
Later in the letter, Erdogan went on to say Turkey “is not behind the tensions.”
“Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are,” he claimed. “Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration have consistently disregarded Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, have taken unilateral steps and have adopted a fait accompli policy.
“Greece’s demands for Turkey to halt hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean are unjust.”
EU officials said they were considering new sanctions on Turkey over their gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. European Council President, Charles Michel, said on Wednesday that “all options are still on the table.”
A new lighting system was unveiled at the Acropolis on Wednesday that Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said would serve to illuminate the democratic principles of ancient Greece as well as the temples overlooking the city of Athens.
“The light of the 21st century now hugs the Acropolis, a celebration that goes beyond borders and languages. The values born here spread all over the earth as the right answer on how to organise society,” Mitsotakis said during a speech.
A new lighting system was unveiled at the Acropolis on Wednesday. Credit: Greek Government.
“The Acropolis is a mine of memory, an eternal compass. Democracy and the principles of classical Athens need more light in our days.”
It was in the fifth century BC under the rule of Pericles when construction of the site’s most important remains, including the Parthenon, one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments, was completed.
An enduring symbol of ancient Greece and Athenian democracy, the Parthenon was seriously damaged during a siege by the Venetians in 1687 when gunpowder stored at the temple was hit by a cannonball and exploded.
The new lighting system, designed by Eleftheria Deko, better exposes the geometry of the site’s monuments and their relief, illuminating the rocks of the hill, the Acropolis walls and the temples with different intensities.
The reveal ceremony on Pnyx Hill was also attended by Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, and the president of Onassis Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, which has funded the project.
The Archdiocesan Council of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, including over 25 representatives nationally, gathered yesterday in Sydney to officially address issues.
Accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, the Council conducted extensive deliberations to unanimously resolved nine issues. Among these issues were the devastating ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of the Clergy-Laity Conference, and the St Basil’s Aged Care Home tragedy in Victoria.
Read full press release here:
Firstly, we praise the Triune God and express our gratitude and our deepest respect to His All Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Mother Church for the election of our new Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios. Moreover, we were moved to learn that His Eminence has been invited to be a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod, a first in the history of our local Church.
It is a fact that within a year, our new Shepherd, despite the adversities of the devastating fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, has proven to be a dynamic presence throughout the entire continent. We are aligned with, and fully embrace, the vision of our new Archbishop, which is based on unity and love, so that, together, we may make the Archdiocese of Australia a more formidable force in Australian society. Within this spirit of unity and reconciliation, we thank our Ecumenical Patriarchate for the restoration of His Grace Bishop Paul of Christianoupolis and the priests, Fr George Athanasiadis and Fr Christodoulos Vassilaris, who are now members of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Australia.
We also express our deep gratitude to our Ecumenical Patriarch and our Archbishop for the election of our new and worthy Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, Bishop Elpidios of Kyaneon and Bishop Silouan of Sinope, who have already assumed executive positions within the Holy Archdiocese, and we consider the creation by His Eminence of separate Archdiocesan Districts in Perth, Northcote and Canberra to be beneficial in effectively dealing with the administrative and spiritual issues in those areas.
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
We gladly accept our Archbishop’s proposal for the regular convening of the Archdiocesan Council, as defined by the Special Regulations of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. It should be noted that today’s convening of the Archdiocesan Council was set during the meeting of the Bishops of our Archdiocese on 7th August of this year; the previous sittings of the Archdiocesan Council had met were in 2015 and in 2012.
The Clergy-Laity Conference of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia was due to take place next January. However, due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the local authorities have advised us to postpone its convocation. We therefore decided to reschedule the commencement of the event to 30th May 2021, as long as we are free from the restrictions of the pandemic. The theme of the Clergy-Laity Conference will be “For Faith and Nation”. Also, the National Youth Conference will begin on 24th September 2021. For these two major events, the Archdiocesan Council will convene again soon and relevant details will be announced in due course.
In a spirit of unity, a National Committee was established by His Eminence to celebrate the Bicentenary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution (1821-2021). The National Committee is working with great fervour and a rich program of events for the whole country will soon be announced. The Archdiocesan Council approved the proposal of the Committee and that of the Archbishop for the minting of a commemorative coin and the printing of an anniversary stamp.
With deep pain, we experienced the consequences of the pandemic in Victoria and especially at our St Basil’s Aged Care facility in Melbourne. We all share in the pain of the relatives of the victims. We are praying for the repose of their souls, while proceeding with a restructuring of the organisation. At the same time, we wish the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of St Basil’s in Melbourne, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Evmenios Vasilopoulos, every success, as well as to the new CEO of St Basil’s in NSW and the ACT, Mr Spiro Stavis.
Ambulance workers push a stretcher into the St Basil’s aged care facility in Fawkner on Monday. Photo: Getty Images
The Archdiocesan Council accepted responsibility for not providing an official residence for the incumbent Archbishop, as there is for each Hierarch all over the world. The small lodgings adjoining the Archbishop’s office are completely unsuitable as a permanent residence of any person, let alone for the leader of our Church in Australia. The purchase of an apartment by the Consolidated Trust, with all due process, provides an asset of the Archdiocese, and not His Eminence. To this day, the Archbishop continues to reside in the Archdiocese. It is our respectful decision and our request that the Archbishop should occupy the apartment until the completion of the renovations of the Archdiocese, in which a residence for the serving Archbishop will be incorporated.
Finally, with great disappointment we note the continuing hostile conduct of Mr Nicholas Kalliouris and Mrs Vasso Morali, former journalist, and both residents of Greece, as well as other non-institutional and para-ecclesiastical elements against the Archdiocese, St Basil’s Aged Care and our Archbishop personally. We agree with the position of His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia that their publications are “blasphemous lies.” With abhorrence, we condemn what they have written and inform the faithful that they have all been referred to the justice system. We assure everyone that His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, as well as the Archdiocese with its benevolent institutions, will not be blackmailed or influenced in their decisions by their malicious conduct and their defamatory publications.
Once the most popular Greek hangout in Australia, the infamous Cazzie Club in Kingsford has been rebranded, relocated and reinvented into a new Castellorizian Cultural Centre, with an official name to be decided upon soon.
Castellorizian Association of NSW President George Pazanis spoke exclusively with The Greek Herald to share the details about the new Castellorizian Association premises, and what he hopes it will bring to the Greek community.
“It’s all about preserving what we have now, but most importantly about bringing back what we had,” Pazanis says to The Greek Herald.
“The old Castellorizian Club in Kingsford was the best Greek club or association house in all of Australia. Everybody knew it, it was iconic.”
“It’s been our dreams for the last six years to get this new place up and running.”
New Castellorizian Cultural Centre. Photo: Supplied
Opening in late November on the corner of Gardner’s road and Houston road, the new Castellorizian premises will have the Alevri Greek restaurant and bakery at the front of the store, which the President says he is most excited for.
“I’m pretty excited about the restaurant. I’ve always wanted something in there like a Mediterranean or Greek style restaurant, which are now lucky to have.”
On the rear side of the building, construction is soon to be started on a unique Castellorizian Cultural Centre. The “museum style centre” will be a public gallery of artefacts and paintings collected over the last 90 years. It will also feature a family tree information section, where future generations will be able to read up on their family’s history.
“It’s more about preserving the history of the people… because we came here over 100 years ago. Knowing their background and the island,” Pazanis says.
“In these trying times at the moment, with what’s going on in Greece with Turkey, we want to show that we are in full support of the island.
“It’s important that we realise that that is the most important thing, the island itself. And we pay homage to it with every house like this built around Australia.”
While the official name of the new Castellorizian Association of NSW premises is yet to be decided, Pazanis says the board has avoided the branding of the new cultural centre as a club, looking to bring a new and different opportunity to the community.
“We decided that the idea of calling it a club, with poker machines and alcohol, was not the way we wanted to go,” Pazanis explains.
“So we wanted to make it more of an association as a get-together place for people to come to.”
The new Greek hangout will also feature a brand new Castellorizian function centre, which will be able to house 120 people with an outdoor entertainment area.
“We will still do events like ladies bingo and Greek dancing lessons, like the old Cazzie club used to do. And once Covid is said and done, we’ll be able to do a lot more.”
A large investment by the Castellorizian Association of NSW, Pazanis says it will ultimately become an $8-9 million building.
“It’s been a really tough battle, trying to get the finances and get the building built.”
“We’ve always had constant roadblocks but we’ve just jumped over them. Because that’s the sort of spirit we have.”
Castellorizian migration book nominated for prestigious award
Nominated for the multicultural book category, it was released in July as the second part of a two volume series, highlighting the rich history of Cazzies in Australia.
“We, 7 women, a diverse range of practitioners drawn from various disciplines, are overjoyed to see recognition coming through for our heartfelt Oral History project, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of this nomination,” Anna Koutsis, Castellorizian Association of NSW History and Archives Committee member says.
“When I say ‘we’, I mean ‘all of us’ because this was a collective endeavour. We, Irene Elliott, Victoria Kazaglis -Gallagher, Maria Skyllas- Kazacos, Anna Koutsis, Despina Lucas, Petula Samios and Patricia Sechos feel it’s great to be nominated for something we feel so passionate about.
“In terms of what being nominated means to us, it is a great accolade and public recognition for what we have done.”
The series, broken up into two separate unique volumes, presents over 130 family stories and 700 precious old family photographs, which were produced and self-published by the History and Archives Committee of the Castellorizian Association of NSW.
The first book released in 2018, Journey to a new land, brought readers into the early life of Castellorizian in their transition into Australian culture.
The stories, which provide one of the first, comprehensive studies of Castellorizian migrant memories, are about dislocation, hard work, and fitting in and rebuilding a community.
A goalless draw between Olympiacos and Omonia Nicosia has meant the Greek Super League side will face off against Europes best in the UEFA Champions League.
Olympiacos finished with a 2-0 aggregate score after beating Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia in Piraeus six days earlier.
Two Omonia Nicosia players were unavailable for the match after they tested positive for Covid-19. UEFA’s health committee then requested that the entire squad be subjected to new tests on Monday, to make sure that no infected players take part in this morning’s game.
Mathieu Valbuena and Youssef El-Arabi managed to score one goal each last week, yet couldn’t find the net again in Piraeus.
Photo: Olympiacos
Brazilian goalkeeper Fabiano for Omonia played his game of the season so far, denying every opportunity by the Greeks. Unfortunately, his efforts between the posts went unrewarded due to Olympiacos’ defence denying Omonia’s attacking force.
Olympiacos will find out their opponents in the group stage on Thursday, while Omonia will play in the group stage of the Europa League.
On Wednesday PAOK hosts Krasnodar, looking to overturn its 2-1 deficit from the first leg and join Olympiacos at the group stage.
Orestis Makris was one of the most recognisable theatric performers in the early 20th Century, whose legacy remained throughout the development of Greek theatre.
Orestis Makris was born on September 30, 1899, in Chalkida. He studied music at the Athens Conservatory and at the age of 20 he enlisted in the Greek army.
He first appeared on stage in 1925 as a tenor of Greek operetta and after its decline switched to performing in 1932.
Theatre producer Antonios Vottis assigned him the role of ‘the drunk’ in the renowned theatric play “drunkard”. Vottis had written the play three years ago, yet could not find the right actor to perform.
Recognising Makris’ acting talent and great singing voice, he enlisted his talents for the role. Also performing in “The parrot of 1932”, singing the number ‘Me len bekri’, he became the overnight protagonist of the Greek theatre.
Over time he became familiar with the role of a drunkard, with the theatric actor reportedly being a heavy consumer of alcohol throughout his life. He embodied the same character on the silver screen in 1950, in the film of George Tzavellas “O Methystakas”.
Makris created the stereotypical character of a conservative, grumpy old man, who hides his kind and good-natured heart within. This character type was immortalised in the films “The Grusuzis” (1952), “The Carriage” (1957), “Our Lady the “Mommy” (1958) and “Snow White and the Seven Elderly Men” (1960). According to critic Costas Georgousopoulos, it made him the founder of the neo-realist style of acting.
Due to his incredible contribution to Greek cinema and theatre, he was decorated with the Order of the Phoenix.
Orestis Makris died on 29 January 1975 in Athens and is buried at the First Cemetery in a family grave.
The Waverley Council’s plan was released Tuesday for the operational management of Bondi’s open spaces and beaches over the upcoming busy summer period.
With this summer projected to hit above-average temperatures, thousands are expected to flock to one of Australia’s busiest beaches to beat the heat.
The new plan by the Council will help manage beaches and open spaces in a COVID-safe way and in line with Public Health Orders (PHOs) and health advice. The plan covers Waverley’s beaches, parks and reserves, the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk, picnic tables, BBQs, and outdoor seating areas and outdoor fitness stations and playgrounds.
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos. Photo: Waverley Council/Supplied
“Our community and visitors have all worked hard to ensure our community has remained safe during this time of pandemic, and I am very appreciative of their efforts,” Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said.
“This summer will be especially challenging as we expect another very hot summer. However we recognise how important our open spaces and beaches are to people’s health and well being, and our focus will be on how to keep these spaces open.
“Our plan has been drafted taking account of consultation with key internal and external stakeholders including Waverley Council staff, Councillors, local surf clubs, neighbouring councils and NSW Police.
“It is operational in nature and informed by the Public Health Orders (PHOs) and health advice. It is designed to be flexible and subject to change as public health order restrictions, health advice and circumstances and conditions change.”
Masselos says that groups of more than 20 people at Bondi Beach will be given a move-along order by Rangers, with police called to assist if there are refuses to disperse.
“Again, this is not going to be a normal summer and that is why we are continuing to ask people to follow the current PHOs and maintain social distancing in our public places at all times,” the Mayor added.
“Please, if our beaches or parks look busy, come back another time or use that time to visit our local businesses who need your support. Again, this is not going to be a normal summer, we all need to adapt and do our bit by staying safe when visiting our public places.”
The Australian Hellenic Council and the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia have condemned Azerbaijan cease-fire violations with Armenia as the two countries suffer 95 casualties after the third day of conflict.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday (local time) reported munitions being fired from the other side across their shared border. The incidents signalled a further escalation of the conflict despite urgent appeals from Russia, the United States and others to halt the fighting.
Azerbaijani forces launched a “massive offensive at the Karabakh frontline’s southern and north-eastern sectors,” Armenia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Monday evening.
An Armenian serviceman fires a cannon towards Azerbaijan positions in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Sipan Gyulumyan/Armenian Defense Ministry Press Service/PAN Photo via AP)
Some 200 troops have been wounded, Armenian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, officials in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh said that 26 more of their troops were killed on Monday evening, bringing the rebels’ total military casualties to 84.
The overall death toll has now reached 95, with 11 civilians killed since violence broke out on Sunday; nine in Azerbaijan and two on the Armenian side.
We condemn the cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and express full solidarity with the…
The Australian Hellenic Council labelled the aggression in the region as “alarming and unacceptable” as they expressed their support for Armenia.
“We condemn the cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and express full solidarity with the Armenian people,” the Council said on Facebook.
The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia says the strong support from “Turkey’s dictator and human rights violator Erdogan” has allowed Azerbaijani forces to carry out attacks on innocent civilians for days.
Joint Justice Initiative members. Photo: Supplied
“The repeated Turkish aggression in the world and the denial of responsibility for the genocides of the Armenians, the Assyrians and the Greeks, has led to the continuous humanitarian catastrophes that the world has seen.”
“We call on the Australian Government to condemn these acts and to demand a response from Turkey and to defend human rights.”
The worst violence in the region since 2016 has raised the prospect of a new war in an area that has been simmering for decades.
Turkey fuelling fire
Tensions were increased on Monday when Armenia claimed an F-16 fighter jet belonging to Azerbaijan’s close ally Turkey had shot down one of its warplanes over Armenian airspace, killing the pilot.
Armenia provided no evidence of the incident. Turkey and Azerbaijan called the claim “absolutely untrue”.
According to the German press, Turkey will soon be sending Syrian fighters to help Azerbaijan in their conflict against Armenia. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) claims, “there are increasing indications that Turkey is also providing military assistance to Azerbaijan.”
The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been running its own affairs with support from Armenia.(ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser)
The claims were supported by the Armenian ambassador to Russia, who said Turkey had sent around 4,000 fighters from the territory of northern Syria to Azerbaijan.
Two Syrian fighters also told Reuters that Ankara was sending fighters from rebel groups it had allied with in northern Syria to support Azerbaijan.
Turkey has denied all Syrian fighter deployment reports, saying the allegations were part of Armenia’s efforts to create a “black” Turkey.
World number six Stefanos Tsitsipas clawed his way back from two sets down to beat little-known Jaume Munar 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 and survive a French Open first round scare on Tuesday.
Tsitsipas, a losing finalist in Hamburg on Sunday, looked to be cruising through the first set after breaking the Spanish clay court specialist at the start to go 3-1 up.
But his lead eroded as did his concentration and Munar countered the Greek’s power with some superb baseline winners to race back and win the first set 6-4.
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – September 29, 2020 Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts during his first round match against Spain’s Jaume Munar REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Fifth-seed Tsitsipas, who lost in his first game at the Italian Open earlier this month, started crumbling under pressure, littering the court with dozens of unforced errors.
Trailing by two sets Tsitsipas buckled down, cutting back his mistakes and playing on his opponent’s weaker backhand.
He pulled a set back when Munar pushed a backhand into the net and kept up the pressure to level.
The pair traded blows in the fifth before Tsitsipas bagged a key break when Munar sent a forehand long.
The 22-year-old then finished off the contest with his first match point to win the battle after three hours and 12 minutes, another forehand error by the Spaniard handing him victory.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed gratitude on Tuesday saying relations between the United States and Greece are “at an all time high and getting stronger.”
Speaking from the Souda Bay military base on the island of Crete, on the second day of a five-day regional tour, Pompeo encouraged Greece to pursue talks with Turkey over the East Med standoff.
“Today I’m in Crete to showcase one of America’s strongest military relationships throughout all of Europe,” Pompeo said. “We, the Americans, look to Greece as a true pillar for stability and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean, and we’re incredibly proud to support its leadership.”
Greece has been looking to the U.S. and the European Union for support in its dispute with neighboring Turkey, which it accuses of encroaching on its sovereign rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan visit the Jewish Museum in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, Pool)
Last month Turkey sent a research vessel, accompanied by warships, to prospect for energy resources in an area Greece claims is on its own continental shelf and where it claims exclusive economic rights. Athens sent warships of its own to the area, and put its armed forces on alert. The dispute has led to fears of open conflict.
EU leaders are to discuss potentially imposing sanctions on Turkey for its actions later this week.
But tension has eased somewhat recently, with Athens and Ankara announcing they will restart an ongoing process of exploratory talks. Technical discussions on a military level have also been taking place at NATO for the avoidance of a military accident, such as the collision in August of warships from the two sides, which reportedly caused minor damage to a Turkish frigate and no injuries on either side.
“We strongly support dialogue between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and encourage them to resume discussion of these issues as soon as possible,” Pompeo said in brief statements after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to officers during his visit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Naval Support Activity base at Souda, Crete, Greece September 29, 2020. Aris Messinis/Pool via REUTERS
“I spoke with (NATO) Secretary-General (Jens) Stoltenberg just two days ago on the progress being made at NATO. And we hope that these talks can continue in a serious way.”
Amid the tension with Turkey, Greece has announced major arms purchases, including fighter jets from France, as well as warships, helicopters and weapons systems.
“In the Mediterranean, there should be no waves caused by threats and rivalry. It is a sea of strategic importance, also for the United States,” Mitsotakis said.
“It is also a key region for global stability. I was pleased to see that Mr. Pompeo shares our positions, understanding that tension between two members of NATO ultimately is not in anyone’s interest,” he added.
The two did not take any questions from the media after their brief remarks.
