In what ways can Greece reverse their ‘negative image’ from the public? This question is set to be answered in a public forum, organised by the General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy of the Greek Foreign Ministry.
The forum, titled “Turning the Tide: How to reverse a negative image – The case of Greece”, plans to provide a platform for a vibrant exchange of views and best practices on Public Diplomacy affairs.
The first round of the PD Talks discussion focuses on how to better manage and promote the country’s national image, a priority of the General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy, which gains an additional interest in the post-pandemic era, taking into account the positive momentum reflected in international reports on Greece.
The forum will be hosted by internationally renowned Professors Nicholas J. Cull (University of Southern California) and Stathis Kalyvas (University of Oxford), airing live on June 18th, 2020 at 19:30 (Athens local time).
Welcome speeches by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Diaspora Greeks, Konstantinos Vlasis and Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs, Constantinos Alexandris. Renee Maltezou, Reuters political and general news correspondent, will moderate the discussion.
Hundreds of migrants crowded around Victoria Square in Athens on Tuesday night after being forcibly transferred from the Moria refugee camp.
Following an announcement by the government, thousands of people who have secured refugee status must leave facilities such as Moria and the Pyli detention centre.
Migrants have subsequently turned Victoria Square into a temporary makeshift camp, unclear where to reside. Police intervened on Monday to transfer the migrants and refugees to state facilities at Elaionas and Amygdaleza, but it remained unclear if such police operations will continue.
Aniha with her children in Victoria Square. Photo: Efsyn
The problem at Victoria was broached during an Athens City council meeting on Monday with officials underlining the need for authorities to offer food and shelter to the refugees. Nasos Iliopoulos, a leftist SYRIZA official and head of the Anoixti Poli (Open City) movement, on Monday visited the square.
“Local residents and businesses can see that the situation taking shape is reprehensible both for the homeless refugees as it is for the quality of life in their neighbourhood, which is only just starting to recover after a series of crises,” Anoixti Poli said.
Photo: Ekatherimini
The ILIOS program of the International Organization for Migration provides for the rental subsidy for recognised refugees for 6 months, but they must first have found an apartment location.
The situation in Victoria Square is a small example of what Greek streets may become, following the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis, insisting on evicting 11,000 refugees from structures and apartments, without solutions for the next day.
The Delphi Economic Forum continues with a webinar on June 18 discussing how Australia is making efforts to enhance cooperation between the homeland and diaspora.
Bill Papastergiadis, one of Australia’s most prominent lawyers, will be speaking at the Forum tomorrow, as he has, among other things, been instrumental in the development of economic and investment relations between Australia and Greece.
The discussion will be held in English and feature panellists:
George Prevelakis, Professor emeritus, Sorbonne University (Paris 1), Permanent Representative of Greece at the OECD
Bill Papastergiadis, Managing Partner, Moray & Agnew Lawyers, Australia
Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic-American Leadership Council, USA
Moderator: Antonis Papayannides, Managing Director, Economia Publishing, Greece
The forum brings together over 500 speakers, including political figures, academics, entrepreneurs, and internationally renowned scientists from 35 countries, for four days to share and exchange views, knowledge, innovative ideas, and their vision for the future and developments in Greek, European and global level, in 80 thematic units.
Postponed from March to June due to coronavirus, the theme of this year’s conference, is “Action with Vision”. The program includes lectures, discussions and events that will be developed in 5 thematic pillars, which include individual sections with specialised discussions:
Greece and Israel pledged on Tuesday to work toward a resumption of bilateral tourism in August if coronavirus precautions permit and discussed shared concerns over Turkey’s energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on his first trip abroad since the pandemic erupted, brought a cabinet delegation to Jerusalem in a show of confidence in mutual health measures and to promote a trilateral natural-gas consortium with Cyprus.
Greece opened its main airports to mainly EU visitors on Monday. Israel – some 1.2 million of whose citizens travelled to Greece annually in recent years – is a big market.
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (3L) greeting a Greek delegation led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (3R) at Ben Gurion Airport, June 16, 2020. (Shlomi Amsalem/Foreign Ministry)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped that as of Aug. 1 travellers to and from Greece would not be required to self-quarantine – a de facto resumption of airline traffic.
“This also depends on what happens with the coronavirus pandemic, but if the numbers allow it, this is the target date for opening the skies,” he told reporters alongside Mitsotakis.
With Greece, Israel and Cyprus partnered up on energy projects in the eastern Mediterranean, Mitsotakis warned against what he called Turkey’s “aggressive behaviour”.
He cited “recent incidents of illegal and provocative Turkish behaviour at our sea, air and land border” and “the destabilising effect that Turkey has made vis-a-vis its relationship with Libya”.
Photo: Ekatherimini
Turkey, which has declared part of the eastern Mediterranean a shared exploration area with Libya, says it is within its sovereign rights.
“We strongly oppose attempts to violate these rights in a manner that endangers the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, violates international law and runs counter to good neighborly relations,” read a joint declaration.
Israel sees the Greek visit as an opportunity to dilute European opposition to its planned annexation of occupied West Bank land which the Palestinians want for a state.
“We expect Greece to be an anchor of support for us in the Union,” Yossi Amrani, the Israeli ambassador to Athens, told Israel’s Army Radio when asked about the annexation plan.
For someone who wasn’t supposed to live past his first day, John
Coutis OAM looked in remarkably good health when we sat down for our exclusive
chat. Throwing
jokes left, right and centre, it’s clear John is a man full of life, laughter
and most importantly, resilience.
John was born with a rare form of spina
bifida, which rendered his legs useless, but he defied doctors who told his
parents he wouldn’t last a day by “refusing to die.”
“When
I was born, the doctors actually told my parents I was going to die, that I
wouldn’t last a single day. So it was left up to my dad to organise the funeral
and the burial and being the size that I was, my dad was actually going to bury
me in his shoe box. That was my coffin,” John tells The Greek Herald.
“But then I lasted a day. The doctors said I wouldn’t make a week. A week went by. A month rolled on and I turned 50 last year. And you know where those doctors are? They’re dead and I’m still going.”
John Coutis OAM turned 50 last year. Photo supplied.
It’s
this old-school humour when dealing with his disability and some of life’s most
important lessons, which has made John the No.1 Inspirational Speaker in
Australia and also saw him recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020
for his service to the community and to sport.
But
he also has a serious side. Especially when he’s speaking about his traditional
Greek Australian family and “one of the first loves of his life” – his yiayia.
“A lot of my Greek heritage comes from my yiayia, who has now passed away. She was one of the first loves of my life. She was the matriarch of our family, the greatest cook in the history of the world. I don’t care about any other grandmothers. My yiayia was the greatest cook in the history of the world and the one ingredient that she always put in her cooking, that you could never see but by God you could taste it, was love. It was just amazing,” John remembers fondly.
John with his beautiful yiayia.
John comes from a big Greek family.
“She always had an open-door policy as well. Any time, whether it was 10 o’clock at night or two o’clock in the morning, she would always take us in and feed us and look after us. She was just a pure, pure, wonderful human of love and is dearly missed every day.”
Caring for people seems to run in the family as John also looks out for kids when he visits hundreds of schools every year. His inspirational talks aim to teach students the importance of positivity, respect and resilience, and John says he loves it when his message resonates.
“There’s nothing like with working with the community and giving talks at schools. Every school you go to there’s a lot of different students and if I can help one of those students, one of those teachers even, to think about how lucky they are to have what they have, that’s really rewarding,” John says.
John was recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
“I
think a lot of kids today lack resilience in overcoming obstacles and I just
like to remind them that no matter
who you are, there’s always someone worse off than you.
“If the guy with no legs can do what he
does, what’s stopping you? So you all need to get off your backside and live
your best life. Because if you don’t, I’m going to grow legs and kick your ass.
It’s that simple.”
An important message which John lives by and will continue to preach as he rolls around the world on his iconic skateboard.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs announced on Monday that the contract of young Greek Australian Peter Mamouzelos has been extended until 2021.
Mamouzelos joins fellow young guns Blake Taaffe, Jaxson Paulo and Lachlan Ilias, in extending their tenures with the Rabbitohs this year.
Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, said these players will have the opportunity to push for first grade selection in the coming seasons.
“Peter, Jaxson, Blake and Lachlan have the skills and the attitude to make it to the NRL level, hence why we are upgrading and extending their contracts now as we see them as future first grade Rabbitohs,” Mr Ellison said.
“We’re excited to be able to continue to work with these young men and we’re certain our Members will enjoy watching them develop and play their trade in the red and green for years to come.”
Who is Peter Mamouzelos?
At 19 years old, Mamouzelos is a hooker who has already represented Greece in seven matches including the recent World Cup Qualifiers.
Peter Mamouzelos with his dad Theo back in 2017. Source: The Daily Telegraph.
The son of Theo and Denise Mamouzelos, Peter credits his parents for helping him achieve his dream of becoming a Rabbitoh.
“Honestly if it wasn’t for my parents, I don’t think I would have ever been in this position today. Just all the effort taking me to training, to games, picking me up late — without all that effort I don’t think I would have been able to achieve it,” Mamouzelos said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
Dr Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid, has announced that volunteers
from the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Saint Nectarios Burwood have
received $3,200 through the Morrison Government’s Volunteer Grants.
The federal funding will be
used to purchase computers and IT equipment to support the work of volunteers
when serving the parish and broader community. Parish volunteers provide vital services, events and activities for the
community’s seniors, youth, children, families and those in need of support.
Dr Martin said that Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church has
a strong culture of volunteering and giving back that spans across generations.
“The Saint Nectarios community is special because I have met families at the parish that have three generations volunteering together,” Dr Martin stated.
Dr Martin with Ms Penelopy Kioussis at the church’s re-opening following restoration works last year.
“In a time where people are isolated due to social
distancing, our church communities are relying on technology to continue their
social outreach and volunteering. I know that this grant will be well utilised
by the parish volunteers.”
The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Burwood and District was established in 1970 to serve the spiritual, cultural, educational and social needs of the local and broader Greek community.
The Morrison Government’s Volunteer Grant funding has coincided with Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church’s 50th anniversary since it was first established.
President of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Burwood and District, Ms Penelopy Kioussis, said that the IT upgrade will help volunteers stay connected to the community.
“Our volunteers have been operating without the provision of any computer resources, so we’re extremely grateful to have secured this Volunteer Grant for $3,200.”
“The purchase of a laptop and software will support all our volunteers
in their work and in the delivery of projects and services. It will support
minute taking, drafting correspondence, the creation of communications
materials, as well as website and social media maintenance,” Ms Kioussis said.
The new IT equipment will also support the live broadcast of
Church services, which has become essential during COVID-19 where social
distancing has limited members of the community attending services in person.
“It is a crucial way for our Parishioners to stay connected
to their faith during these challenging times,” Ms Kioussis said.
“What a wonderful 50th anniversary gift to our Parish and
Community! We sincerely thank the Member for Reid for her support.”
The Greek Community of Melbourne has condemned racism against Indigenous Australians and all ethnic communities in a statement released today.
In the statement, the Community stressed that it is against the “inherent corrosive effects” of racism on all ethnic and Indigenous communities in Australia, and adds that the current plight of the First Nations people “needs urgent redress.”
Here is the full statement:
“Australians of Greek background, who historically can be considered as recent arrivals to this great country have prospered from opportunities afforded to them.
Given this, the current
plight of the First Nations people stands out all the more as a situation
needing urgent redress.
As highlighted in recent
media reports, our indigenous community has suffered discrimination which
continues to have adverse effects on their well-being in terms of education,
physical and mental health as well as economic endeavour.
The Greek Community of Melbourne condemns racism and its inherent corrosive effects on all our ethnic communities but in particular our indigenous community.”
A fire has destroyed a section of the Byzantine Monastery of Panagia Varnakova in Fokida, central Greece, after breaking out after 11pm on Sunday.
According to the local fire service, the fire began on the roof of the monastery and quickly spread to its church, destroying an ancient icon of the Panagia and some precious relics.
A fire has destroyed a section of the Byzantine Monastery of Panagia Varnakova in Fokida, central Greece. Source: Orthodoxia.info.
Firefighters evacuated the building and no injuries have been reported so far. The section of the monastery that was burned by the fire dates back to the 11th century.
The Metropolitan Bishop of Fokida, Theoktistos, has praised the excellent work of the firefighters.
”We are grateful to firefighters for they came immediately and deterred the worse situations which could have taken place,” Bishop Theoktistos said.
Mayor of Dorida, Giorgos Kapetsonis, also added that the swift intervention of the firefighters stopped the fire before it spread to the surrounding forest.
The monastery has been impacted by fire before in January 2017, when flames destroyed several rooms, including the library.
The monastery was built in 1077 and is situated on Mount Vardoussia some 25km northeast of Nafpaktos.
Former NSW Labor minister and convicted sex offender, Milton Orkopoulos, will face court today after being charged with 15 new child sex abuse offences.
Police allege Orkopoulos sexually and indecently assaulted two juvenile boys known to him on separate occasions in the 1990s at locations in Lake Macquarie and on the NSW mid-north coast.
The 62-year-old has been charged with 15 offences including aggravated indecent assault with person under 16 years of age, committing an act of indecency with person under 16 years, aggravated sexual assault and three counts of causing a child aged under 14 to participate in child prostitution.
Lake Macquarie Police District commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan, said it takes tremendous courage for victims of sexual crimes to come forward to police.
Milton Orkopoulos will face court today via video link.
“As you would expect, coming forward in relation to being a victim of a sexual offence is a very traumatic experience,” said Superintendent Sullivan. “We are very thankful for the courage shown.”
He also said he could not elaborate on the charges of causing a child to participate in child prostitution.
“They’re very difficult matters and they arise directly from the investigation, and they’ll be put before the court as that person has now been charged.”
Orkopoulos was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court via audio-visual link on Tuesday.
The convicted paedophile spent 11-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted of 30 child sex, drug and child porn offences.
He was granted parole in December 2019, but was then re-arrested in January for allegedly setting up an Instagram account and not telling police within the required seven days.
He had his parole revoked in February after Corrective Services NSW officers told police he used the mobile phone of a fellow resident at the Malabar halfway house where he lives.
Orkopoulos served in Parliament from 1999 to 2006 and was a Lake Macquarie councillor for four years.
THE LATEST:
Orkopoulos has been refused bail after appeared briefly in Newcastle Local Court today via audio-visual link from Sydney’s Long Bay prison.
Magistrate John Chicken adjourned the case to August 20 when the police brief of evidence against Orkopoulos was expected to be complete.
Mr Chicken ordered authorities to assess Orkopoulos for mental health issues.
