The Turkish government accused Greece’s military on Tuesday of harassing a Turkish research vessel in the Aegean Sea and said Turkey’s military had responded to the alleged intimidation.
According to Turkish Defense Ministry officials, four Greek F-16 fighter jets harassed the TCG Cesme, west of the Greek island of Lemnos, with one of them dropping a type of flare used to deceive enemy radar 2 nautical miles from the vessel.
Turkey’s Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, told reporters that Turkey’s military retaliated, but he did not say how. He said the incident took place on Monday.
“It was an act of harassment, which our Greek neighbors carry out frequently,” Akar said. “We gave the necessary response in line with rules.”
Early Tuesday morning, sources inside the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) rejected these claims by Ankara.
The same sources toldEkathimerinithat the Hellenic Air Force carried out an exercise involving 29 aircraft in the central Aegean Sea.
They said an air space notice, or Notam, designating the area was issued on February 9, five days before Turkey’s illegal navigational warning (NAVTEX).
The Greek jets took off around 1.30pm and wrapped up the drill at 2.40pm the sources said. They were not carrying chaff or flares.
More specifically, the training activity was taking place several miles southwest of the research vessel, between the islands of Agios Efstratios and Kyra Panagia. The closest the Greek plane came to Cesme was 10 nautical miles, the sources told Ekathimerini. It was flying at 19,000 feet.
“Claims published in the Turkish media have nothing to do with reality,” the sources said.
Greek hospital doctors went on a day-long strike on Tuesday and dozens marched in Athens to protest “suffocating” conditions at hospitals on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.
With around 6,000 deaths, Greece has fared better than much of Europe in containing the pandemic and prevented its health service, battered by years of financial crisis, from collapsing.
But intensive care units at state hospitals are operating at roughly 80% capacity and doctors want the government to create new units for COVID-19 patients instead of using already existing ones, as well as to hire more staff and to use resources from the private sector.
Greek hospital doctors and staff take part in a demonstration against a lack of intensive care units at public hospitals amidst the spread of coronavirus in Athens, Greece, February 23, 2021. Credit: Reuters / Louiza Vradi.
“There is a serious risk both for critically ill COVID-19 patients and critically ill patients with other diseases,” the union of hospital doctors, OENGE, said in a statement. It described the situation at hospitals as “suffocating.”
Wearing surgical masks, doctors demonstrated in Athens holding banners reading “Support health workers,” and an image of a healthcare worker with a fist raised in protest.
“Any negative impact on the public’s health will be the sole responsibility of the government, despite its efforts to pass on the responsibly to hospital doctors and other health professionals,” OEGNE said.
More than 1,200 COVID patients have been through intensive care in Greece since the pandemic began.
On Tuesday, transmission of COVID-19 skyrocketed once again in Greece, as the country recorded 2,147 cases and 22 deaths.
The figure represents an increase of 1,267 individuals from the 880 cases that had been newly diagnosed and recorded in Greece just one day before on Monday.
The jump in cases comes as the country has been under a strict national lockdown for two months to stem the spread of COVID-19 infections.
Nearly half of Tuesday’s cases were diagnosed in Attica, a region where the anti-virus measures are particularly severe, with all schools and non-essential businesses closed.
It was a night of celebration, laughs and, most importantly, Greek food as Sydney Olympic FC held their official launch for the 2021 NPL NSW season at Belmore Sports Ground.
Hosted by football commentator Simon Hill, the season launch provided an opportunity for Sydney Olympic directors, coaches and players to speak about the upcoming season, where expectations will be high to bring home an NPL NSW title.
Attendees were graced with the presence of Sydney Olympic FC and Australian football legends, including players such as Peter ‘The Kat’ Katholos.
Sydney Olympic FC legends. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald
Club CEO John Boulous gave the opening welcome to the players and guests, along with new and returning sponsors of Sydney Olympic FC.
“Our clubs can’t exist without our partners,” Boulous said.
“The Greek Herald continue to be our media partner… thank you Dimitra along with Peter (Takis Triadafillou) and Peter (Oglos). The reports you give to our fans and the comfort we have that you can promote our club through the Greek community is very good.”
Tough pre-season sees new unity among Sydney Olympic players
Sydney Olympic player Hagi Gligor spoke briefly about pre-season preparations as they look to face rivals Sydney United 58 FC this Saturday night at 5:30pm at Belmore Sports Ground.
The team is lead by 1st Grade Men’s coach Ante Juric, who joined midway through last season after the departure of Terry Palapanis. Juric has brought on multiple new signings, including Manly United’s Brendan Cholakian and experienced footballer Yu Hasegawa.
“Mixed emotions during pre-season, it’s been gruelling and tough, but there’s definitely been a method to the madness. We’ve been running pretty hard, pretty tough, Ante’s got us working pretty hard same as Bozza, and we’re really looking forward to this Saturday against United,” Gligor said.
“It’s a good time for us boys to bond and get a bit of cohesion, it’s something that we’ve really lacked in this past couple of seasons so it’s nice to see some positive signs.”
Sydney Olympic FC players presented with their 2021 season jerseys. Photo: The Greek Herald/Takis Triadafillou
These views were echoed by Juric, who on Monday night spoke about how important it was for his players to build their on-field relationships and develop a cohesive structure.
“There’s a lot of youngsters in there but we’ve filled it with a lot of experienced players to top that off. In terms of balance I think it’s great, what we’re missing at the moment probably is cohesion, but that will come with the new team,” Ante Juric said.
“Definitely want to win but the focus for me is every match putting everything you have into it. When you do that, you get your success and your rewards.”
Ante Juric said the squad has been working hard during pre-season to build their cohesion. Photo: The Greek Herald.
As mentioned by Simon Hill, the heritage of Sydney Olympic FC and it’s history “demands success”, and Ante Juric said his players are prepared to play their hardest under the blue badge.
“I’ve been here nine years as a player, and I love this ground so to be here on the weekend… there’s a lot of passion in the club and it won’t change,” Juric added.
“The players know that as well; They play for the badge.”
A full report on the upcoming NPL-W season, including an interview with Sydney Olympic and Sydney FC captain Teresa Polias, will be featured in an additional article this week.
Sydney Olympic’s support of the national second division and connection with Xanthi FC
Xanthi FC and Sydney Olympic FC board members Bill Papas and Damon Hanlin gave a dual-interview with Simon Hill regarding the clubs involvement in establishing the national second division and their connection with Greek club Xanthi FC.
Damon Hanlin vocalised Sydney Olympic’s constant support of the national second division, saying that much of it comes down to a time and the “politics” that surrounds it.
“It’s definitely where we want to be, we want to be in the top flight of football eventually. I think the pathway for football needs to improve. Sydney Olympic is pushing pretty hard, John Boulous has been a strong force in that area, but we’re backing it all the way,” Hanlin said.
Sydney Olympic FC Directors Bill Papas and Damon Hanlin. Photo: The Greek Herald/Takis Triadafillou
“(2023) is definitely feasible, there’s clubs like ours that exist that are financially able to compete at that level. Where it’s at, politics is always a problem, FFA always a problem.”
Xanthi FC was taken over last year by Sydney Olympic President Bill Papas, who spoke of a desire to turn the club into an outpost for Australian exports seeking a doorway into the crucible that is European football.
“It is super exciting. The fact we’ve established a clear pathway for young prospective players with goals of playing professional football and doing it in a European environment were we know it is the home of professional and high quality leagues,” Bill Papas said on Monday night.
“We now have the gateway through Sydney Olympic into the European competition.”
Bill Papas concluded saying they are fourth on the ladder, with a game at hand, and are looking for “more positive signs.”
It must be noted that this interview took place only hours before the Greek club announced their decision to sack head coach Tony Popovic.
The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, in collaboration with the Cretan Associations of Melbourne (Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and the Pancretan Association of Melbourne), organised a tribute concert in honour of great Cretan artist, Kostas Mountakis, on Saturday, February 20.
The event was held at the Cretan House in East Brunswick and was organised under the auspices of the ‘2021 Victorian Council’ and the national program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
The musical tribute marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Kostas Mountakis in Australia in 1971, as the first Cretan artist to come to Australia, as well as the 30th anniversary of his death.
Tribute concert in honour of great Cretan artist, Kostas Mountakis, on Saturday, February 20. Photo supplied.
During the concert, four Australian-born lyricists performed together for the first time, namely Sifis Tsourdalakis and Yiannis Pollakis from Melbourne, and Antonis Petrantonakis and Michael Platyrrahos from Sydney. They were accompanied by Tony Iliou on the guitar, Patrick Montgomery on the lute, George Rerakis on the lute, Zois Tzikas on percussion and Nikos Tsitsivakos on the bass.
The fantastic Cretan music by these performers was enjoyed by all, including a number of officials and community leaders such as the Archdiocesan Vicar of the Northcote district, Father Evmenios Vasilopoulos, and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
In his speech, Mr Kakavelakis gave several important facts about Kostas Mountakis, which many Cretans did not know. He also focused on Kostas’ important contribution to the promotion of the lyra, especially in the Greek village of Kissamos where the violin previously prevailed.
Attendees at the tribute concert. Photo supplied.
President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, Mr Tony Tsourdalakis, also gave a small speech thanking everyone in attendance, including the artists. This was followed by Vice President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, Mrs Eva Gotsi-Gagani, who welcomed everyone to the event and expressed her joy that after ten months, the Cretan House in Melbourne had reopened for all to celebrate together.
Cretan Brotherhood committee member, Dr Stefania Houdalaki, was the Master of Ceremonies, while the biography of Kostas Mountakis was presented by the President of the Youth branch of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, Dr Irini Kyriakaki.
Melbourne’s Consul General gave the artists honorary diplomas at the end of the concert. Photo supplied.
At the end of the concert, Sifis Tsourdalakis spoke on behalf of all the artists and thanked the people who attended, while obviously stressing it was a great honour to present the musical pieces of Kostas Mountakis.
Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis, also presented honorary diplomas to all the artists at the end, and this was followed by a two-hour party until the early morning hours.
The tribute concert will be repeated in Sydney with the same lyra players on Thursday, March 4.
On this day in 1966, Greece’s public broadcaster, ERT, made its very first official appearance.
Named National Radio Foundation (EIR) at the time, television presenter Eleni Kypraiou was the first person to speak and welcome the almost 1,500 viewers to the broadcast.
Eleni announced the broadcasts’ program, while images were inserted by the TV signal transmitters.
Images of family members watching the television program from a residential receiver were shown, as well as citizens that did not have a TV set and watched with curiosity outside shop windows of stores with electrical goods.
At the beginning of 2020, SUGS donated a large sum in order to establish a SUGS Prize, demonstrating their continued support and appreciation of the University of Sydney’s Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, in particular the outstanding efforts of Professor Vrasidas Karalis and Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos.
The prize, valued at $1000, will be awarded to the highest achieving undergraduate final year student studying Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies as part of the Bachelor of Advanced Studies or as a standalone Honours year.
The Modern Greek Department is now the first Department at the University to establish a prize specifically dedicated to the Bachelor of Advanced Studies.
SUGS is extremely proud to fund this award, which will encourage and celebrate the study of the Greek language in the years to come. We would like to thank Thanasi Kallos, SUGS President for 2019, for being instrumental in the establishment of this prize.
In a media release, current President of SUGS, Katherine Lambros, and Vice President, Kosta Plegas, say they “look forward to congratulating the first recipient of the prize this year.”
Tony Popovic’s time with Greek Super League 2 club Xanthi FC is already over, with the two parting ways just nine games into the season.
In a statement posted on Xanthi’s website in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the club confirmed it had ended its cooperation with the 47-year-old coach with immediate effect.
Demonstrating the utter ruthlessness of European football, the decision comes despite Popovic guiding the Akrítes to a 2-1 win over OF Ierapetra – a third win in the past four games – on the weekend. They are due to play Panachaiki next Sunday.
Xanthi currently sit fifth on the table of Greece’s second tier but are just four points behind league leaders Ergotelis and have a game in hand over the second, third and fourth-placed teams.
Reports from Greek football observers, however, had suggested discontent was emerging with Xanthi’s style of play before the ousting.
Sunday’s win over bottom-of-the-table lerapetra was the first occasion the side had scored more than two goals in a game.
Popovic had departed Perth Glory for the Xanthi position at the conclusion of their 2019-20 A-League campaign, having won an A-League premiership and secured back-to-back finals campaigns in West Australia.
The Greek club was taken over last year by Sydney Olympic President Bill Papas, who spoke of a desire to turn the club into an outpost for Australian exports seeking a doorway into the crucible that is European football.
The Akrítes were relegated from the Greek Super League last season due to points deductions over irregularities surrounding the previous ownership.
Once there, Popovic was joined on staff by long-time collaborator Zeljko Kalac – who himself left Xanthi three weeks ago – and former Western Sydney Wanderers mentor guru Arthur Diles – whose status is unclear after the announcement of Popovic’s exit.
Former Socceroos Josh Brillante and Matthew Jurman, ex-Adelaide United goalkeeper Paul Izzo, Wellington Phoenix utility Callan Elliot and Popovic’s sons Kristian and Gabriel also signed for Xanthi following the former Western Sydney Wanderers and Glory coach’s arrival.
Popovic’s charge leading this Aussie contingent, however, has now ended.
“I want to thank Tony for the excellent work he has offered to the team since September 2020 when he took office,” Papas said in a statement – which has been translated from Greek to English.
“With great sadness and respect for Tony, we announce the end of our partnership.
“I wish Tony and his family all the best for the future.”
The portraits of 22 heroes of the 1821 Greek Revolution adorn the National Garden wall in Athens, as part of a special open-air exhibition organised by the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation, the National History Museum and the Municipality of Athens.
The exhibition, titled ‘History Has A Face,’ has been set up as part of celebrations for the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution this year.
Portraits of 1821 heroes displayed at the National garden. Credit: Ekathimerini.
The portraits were drawn by Benjamin Mary, a Belgian diplomatic representative in Greece, between 1839 and 1844 and they are being displayed in public for the first time.
Some of the faces gazing from the National Garden wall are Theodoros Kolokotronis, Nikitaras, Lampros Kountouriotis, Ioannis Makrygiannis, Giannakis Hadjipetrou, George Finlay and Panos Notaras.
The exhibition is titled ‘History Has A Face.’ Credit: National Historical Museum.
More historical data, as well as information about the people in the drawings, is contained in the publication “History has a face – Figures of 1821 in Otto’s Greece.”
It is a compilation of Benjamin Mary’s work, published by the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation and the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece.
Turkey announced on Monday that it will conduct a large-scale naval exercise in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea between February 25 and March 7.
The announcement came from the Turkish Ministry of Defence, which said that Turkish Naval Forces will launch the exercise dubbed “Blue Homeland 2021.”
The Turkish Army and the Air Force will also participate in the drill.
According to the announcement, the purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the preparedness of the headquarters, units and ships affiliated with the Naval Forces Command.
A total of 82 ships, 5 maritime patrol aircraft, 12 naval helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Amphibious Marine Corps troops will participate.
This military activity in the Aegean and the Mediterranean comes at a time when Athens and Ankara are supposedly organising the next round of exploratory talks.
Talks are expected to take place in Athens sometime in March. Greece has sent an invitation to Turkish officials but for now, there has been no official confirmation of the date.
Resplendent photographs of the Greek Presidential Guard, known as Evzones, standing proudly in front of renowned monuments such as the Parthenon, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Greece and even the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, were all on display at The Hellenic Club in Canberra over the weekend.
They’re part of a special travelling exhibition titled ‘The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis,’ which is being held in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the Greek Revolution this year.
‘The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis’ on display at The Hellenic Club of Canberra. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.
The collection by Mr Bourdaniotis, who is a famous Greek Australian photographer, officially launched in the capital city on Friday, February 19 with a special opening night attended by over 100 people.
Many dignitaries and community leaders were present, including His Excellency Ambassador of Greece in Australia, Mr George Papacostas, Her Excellency Mrs Martha A Mavrommatis High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, the Archepiscopal Vicar of ACT and Tasmania, the Very Reverend Prochoros Anastasiadis, President of the Cyprus Community in Canberra, Mrs Georgia Alexandrou, President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, Mr John Loukadellis, Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP, and the Very Reverend Father Petros Kipouros.
His Excellency Ambassador of Greece in Australia Mr George Papacostas, Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra and Tasmania Father Prochoros Anastasiadis, Mr Dino Nikias OAM, President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra Mr John Loukadellis, Her Excellency Mrs Martha A Mavrommatis High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Nick Bourdaniotis, Steve Georganas MP, The Very Reverend Father Petros Kipouros, President of the Cyprus Community in Canberra Mrs Georgia Alexandrou. Photo: George Karantonis.
Following the official speeches as emceed by Elia Economou, Mr Bourdaniotis kindly donated three of his prints to the Hellenic Club for auction and over $15,000 was raised for the local Greek School, which is run by Canberra’s Greek Community and now boasts over 200 enrolled students in its children and online adult education programs.
“The opening night was a great success. Visitors could see the passion in the photos and even non-Greeks were reading the stories and then moving to the photos, and the two together were just drawing them in,” Mr Bourdaniotis tells The Greek Herald, adding with a cheeky laugh that “if you walk in and you haven’t got goosebumps by the third photo, I’d be surprised.”
Mr Bourdaniotis with one of three photos he sold at the auction. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.
The exhibition ran for three days until Sunday, with Mr Bourdaniotis saying they experienced strong foot traffic and “high praise and positive feedback from every visitor that walked through the doors.”
“The exhibition was certainly a wonderful reflection of our Greek history and heritage. It was an honour walking around and seeing every facial feature of the Evzones and feeling like we were there in the moment. Such an honour for the Greek youth,” exhibition visitor, Voula Viatos, tells The Greek Herald.
On the last day, students from the local Greek school also attended, along with the teachers and School Principal, to hear about Mr Bourdaniotis’ donation. The news brought a huge smile to the little one’s faces, knowing Greek language and culture would continue to thrive in Canberra for years to come.
Some of Nick Bourdaniotis’ photographs. Photo on left: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald. Photo on right: George Karantonis.
If you would like to see ‘The Evzones Collection,’ it’s next destination is Melbourne from March 26 – April 1 at Oakleigh Grammar School Hall.
The exhibition is sponsored by The Kalymnian Association of NSW. It’s contributors include: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Greek City Times, Image Smart, Hellenic Club of Sydney, Hellenic Club of Canberra, Greek National Day Committee of Victoria, Oakleigh Grammar Victoria, The Greek Club Brisbane, St Nectarios Monastery South Australia, Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District of WA, and Williams Fashion Logistics.
