Turkey has extended by one week a gas exploration mission in the eastern Mediterranean that has caused tensions with Greece.
In a fresh notice to shipping in the area, Turkey said the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel, accompanied by two support ships, will operate in the area south of the Greek island of Rhodes until November 4.
An earlier notice had said the ships would be operating in the area until Tuesday, October 27.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said it would file a complaint with the Turkish side following the new advisory.
The row first erupted in August when Turkey sent the Oruc Reis to disputed Mediterranean waters. Photo: Reuters.
It said the extension of the survey was an “illegal move” at odds with efforts to ease tensions and with recent conclusions of the council of EU heads of government. Turkey, it added, was behaving “like a pariah” and seeking to destabilise the region.
“Greece blatantly condemns this unacceptable behaviour, which is essentially moving even further away from the prospect of a constructive dialogue,” the ministry said, calling for the advisory to be revoked immediately.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the Greek statement was “baseless” and the area where Oruc Reis was operating was within Turkey’s continental shelf.
“Turkey is ready to talk and cooperate to find a just solution. We expect Greece to desist from setting pre-conditions and creating artificial reasons for not entering into dialogue with our country,” the ministry said in a statement.
In response, Greece issued a counter-NAVTEX in the eastern Mediterranean, arguing that Turkey’s order was illegal as it involved activities in Greek waters.
Just hours after an agreement to cancel military activities planned on each country’s respective national holidays, Turkey announced that it would go ahead with planned military exercises scheduled on Greece’s OXI Day.
This announcement breaks the moratorium announced by NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, on Friday.
After Greece scheduled military exercises on October 29, Turkey’s Republic Day, Turkey announced its own military exercises on October 28, Greece’s OXI Day.
The Turkish Defense Ministry released this image in August of the Oruc Reis travelling towards Kastellorizo. Photo: Turkish Defense Ministry.
Both countries initially agreed to cancel the provocative exercises in hopes of facilitating better relations between the neighbors and NATO members.
Speaking to the international press after meeting via video conference with Greek and Turkish representatives, Stoltenberg expressed optimism about reducing tensions after military exercises were canceled by both countries.
Worships from Greece, Italy, Cyprus and France participate in military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in August. Photo: Greek defence ministry via AP.
“These are steps in the right direction, they help to reduce the risks of incidents and accidents,” he added, expressing hope that the move would have a positive effect on German-mediated efforts to ease tensions between the two NATO members.
Turkey broke the agreement hours later, however, releasing an official navigation warning (NAVTEX) for naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on October 28.
For months, tensions have been boiling in the eastern Mediterranean as Turkey has repeatedly violated the sea borders of Greece and Cyprus in search of energy reserves.
Xronia Polla! Happy Name Day! Vα χαιρεσαι τη γιορτη σου! However you may say it, we all know it. Name day celebrations are some of the most iconic events in the Greek calendar. The celebrations in Greece are performed the ‘Greek way’; Hundreds of family and friends, lamb on the spit, and Greek dancing.
Many Greeks who migrated to Australia brought these traditions with them. In some ways, they even ‘Australianised’ it. Lamb on the spit was partnered with sausage sizzles. Massive gatherings traditionally held at the yiayia and papou’s house became large-scale picnics by the beach. These traditions made name day celebrations in Australia feel unique, while holding on to the rich traditions of the motherland.
Yet, something has happened. A shift in the wind. Celebrations gone adrift. Name day’s aren’t being celebrated as often in Australia.
Now this may be simply a personal observation, but I don’t think it is. In fact, having spoken with multiple members of the Greek Australian community, there has been a communal agreeance that name day celebrations are ever slowly decreasing in significance. With a particular emphasis on ‘slowly’.
Cultural practices are never quick to vanish. The slowness, in fact, makes it go quicker. Unnoticed. When was the last time you attended a Tsiknopempti? Or wore a Martis bracelet during March? These were once iconic moments in the Greek calendar, yet now are mentioned and gone once the sentence is finished.
To those who may argue that COVID-19 restrictions have obviously led to the end of large-scale events this year, this trend had begun before the pandemic. When everybody carried out there day as normal. People would remember their friend or family’s name day and sent them a text or maybe even give them a call.
That’s where it ended. Somewhere along the way, Greeks in Australia have forgotten the importance of gathering together as a large family for the celebration of their namesake. And while Easter and Christmas celebrations still thrive, two ‘excuses’ for meeting up with family and friends isn’t the Greek way of living.
Sadly, I feel this has been coupled with the dying population of our parents and grandparents, the first Greek Australian migrants. The ones who would organise every Christmas, Easter, birthday and yes, name day.
I was named Peter after my pappou, Panagiotis. On August 15th, over a hundred people would turn up at my pappou’s house to celebrate Panagia, the Dormition of the Theotokos. One of the biggest name day celebrations on the Greek calendar. After his passing a few years ago, Panagia name day celebrations understandably stopped. Although, I haven’t been to any name day celebrations since his passing.
As previously mentioned, cultural celebrations die unnoticed and die slowly. Don’t let this have a similar fate.
As we recover from COVID-19 this year, next year look at your Greek calendars. Make a list of every name day in advance and plan something. Extravagance is sometimes confused as being the ‘Greek way’. It’s not. Family is. And family gatherings are key to maintaining the cultural heritage in Australia.
Police are seeking the number two in Golden Dawn’s leadership, Christos Pappas, who remained at large late last night, as convicted former MPs and members of the neo-Nazi party were transferred to prison.
Pappas had checked in with his local police station in the northern Athens suburb of Papagou on October 1, as he was obliged to do, but has not been seen since then.
Following the October 7 verdict deeming GD a criminal organization, police had put the party’s leadership under surveillance. But Pappas could not be traced.
On Thursday, after the court ruled that the party’s leaders will have to see out their terms in prison, police raided Pappas’ home and those of relatives in western Attica and in Ioannina in northwestern Greece.
Leftist SYRIZA slammed the Citizens’ Protection Ministry, noting that “it should have known where the leaders of Golden Dawn were.”
Golden Dawn party leader Nikos Michaloliakos waves as he leaves his residence in Athens, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Thursday’s court decision capped a marathon five-year politically charged trial involving 68 defendants and dozens of lawyers. It encompassed four cases: the 2013 fatal stabbing of left-wing Greek rap singer Pavlos Fyssas, physical attacks on Egyptian fishermen and left-wing activists, and whether Golden Dawn was operating as a criminal organization.
A total of 57 party members and associates were convicted on Oct. 7, mostly for involvement in violent attacks and participating in a criminal organization. Of those, the panel of three judges rejected appeals for suspended sentences for 39.
Today we celebrate World Pasta Day! One of the world’s most favourite and versatile foods that is a staple in most households.
We’re showing you our top five Greek Pasta dishes and where they originated from!
Pastitsio
Everyone’s favourite pasta dish, Pastitsio, is found in almost every Greek region and is a staple family meal.
Nikolaos Tselementes was responsible for creating the most popular contemporary variant of pastitsio in the early 20th century. Before him, pastitsio had a filling of pasta, liver, meat, eggs, and cheese, did not include béchamel, and was wrapped in filo.
Pastitsio is made with layers of pasta, minced meat sauce and topped with bechamel sauce to create a heart dish for the whole family to enjoy!
Image: Akis Petrezikis
Image: Bowl of Delicious
Manestra
Manestra is a comfort meal that’s found all around Greece. Manestra is the Greek word for orzo, a rice-shaped pasta that’s popular in Europe.
This hearty, rich dish is known to warm the stomach of summer sun tomatoes and fills you with buttery plump orzo. Although, with only five ingredients, the quality of each ingredients must be top standard to serve this recipe justice.
Manestra is made with slow-cooked short ribs to create a rich red sauce, which will eventually be soaked up by the Orzo pasta in the pot and is often topped with fresh mint or parsley.
Spaghetti me anthotyro
Spaghetti me anthotyro is a pasta speciality that originates from the island of Crete.
Traditionally, the spaghetti is boiled in goat or sheep meat stock, before being topped with dry anthotyro cheese.
The result of this simple combination is a flavourful and textured pasta dish.
Image: Taste Atlas
Pseftopetinos
Image: Diane Kochilas
Pseftopetinos is a traditional local speciality from the Northern Island, Lemnos. Its Greek name translates to fake or pseudo rooster, to resemble the fanlike shape of a rooster’s comb.
It is made with egg pasta (flomaria) and sliced eggplants, along with olive oil, onions, white wine, garlic and various spices and is a popular vegetarian choice.
Astakomakaronada
This pasta dish is often found in many Greek regions, but is mainly associated with the island of Skyros.
Astakomakaronada is a rich lobster spaghetti paired with a tomato-based sauce, enriched with red wine and various spices.
Today we celebrate Grandparents Day, a day where we thank our yiayia and pappou for everything they have done for us!
From potentially moving halfway across the world to a country they didn’t know and starting a family, to staying beside the family when life was hardest.
Grandparents Day is held every year on the last Sunday in October and, according to the NSW Government, it’s a day dedicated to spending time with an older loved one with the aim to connect across generations.
“Grandparents, grand-friends, kin, and those who take on the role of a grandparent in their family or community are celebrated for their contributions,” they explained.
“It’s a day to spend time with an older loved one and connect across the generations.”
To celebrate Grandparents Day, we asked members of the Greek community to tell us why their yiayia and pappou are special to them.
Haroula Giameos Pylarinos
“Αγαπάμε την γιαγιά μας την Παρασκευή, την προγιαγιά Χαρικλεια και τον προπαππού Ανδρέα, γιατί Μας δείχνουν καθημερινά την ατελείωτη αγάπη και στοργή τους.”
Με αγάπη από την Παρασκευή, Γεωργία και Ανδριάνα.
Constantinos Xydeas
“I’m very blessed to have grandparents that light up when I ask them to teach me the intrinsic ideals of being Greek in particular the history of our faith. Playing bouzouki for my pappou is just a bonus that fills my heart!“
Georgia Isakidis
“My Yiayia Dina is the most selfless and loving human I’ve ever encountered. The most gentle soul.
I was very blessed to be raised by a such a strong woman. She lost my Pappou whilst my mum was 3 months pregnant and she has described me as her happiness through that dark time.
She has forever encouraged me to be happy and follow my heart 💖 I love how much she loves me; even though I can’t cook or clean”
Matt Falasco
“This is a photo of my Yiayia Androniki (Nickie) Gorogianis-Chrisanthus and my Papou Stavros Steve G. Chrisanthus at my parents wedding on November 22, 1986. They were the best to me they loved me and I loved them.
My Yiayia who passed in 2008 from an incurable Thyroid Cancer was the Matriarch of our family!
While she was going through all that she was, wee spent so much time together and she would sing with me and tell me stories about growing up in Chicago, Illinois.
When she went, the whole family fell apart. But I know she and my Papou are watching us all from the heavens above. God rest their souls.“
Journalist Katy Fallon is on assignment on the Greek Island of Mytilene when she stumbles across a notebook lying in amongst the burnt remains of one of Europe’s most notorious refugee camps – “Moria”. Scribbled on the pages are sentences written by a refugee who appears to have been learning English. All we know is he is from Afghanistan and one day he would like to become a teacher. Katy tweets – “A reminder of the lives people were trying to build in here even amongst the chaos.”
In the weeks following the news that a devastating fire had destroyed the Moria camp, stories like Katy’s have emerged detailing the hardship faced by the refugees, and the residents of Mytilene . One side seemingly trapped on their quest for freedom, the other a country still woefully crippled by economic depression, with little to no support from the international community.
The Greek Government maintains the fire was started by irate refugees who refused to accept lockdown measures imposed upon them in response to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the camp. But to understand why refugees were pushed to breaking point, we need to look deeper into why tensions were on the rise between the Greek Government, refugees and the international community.
Migrant children receive a free meal at a local tavern on the island of Kos. The Guardian
In 2016, a deal struck between the EU and Turkey meant that refugees in Mytilene were ordered to remain on the island until their visa applications were processed. Up until this point, Moria was highly dependent on humanitarian assistance and NGO activity to provide goods and services, but the change in policy resulted in most humanitarian organizations ceasing their operation.
Refugees have been forced to call Moria a makeshift home as the Greek government struggles to process asylum seeker applications at an all-time high. At the same time countries like Germany and the United Kingdom who once welcomed refugees with open arms, now face internal opposition to migration policy, with xenophobic undertones.
As a second generation Australian, whose own grandparents were refugees in Australia from Greece – I am deeply conflicted by the hardship faced by all groups involved in the situation. In this unending crisis which peaked in 2015 as conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan and Northern
Aid organizations have encouraged the efforts of some European governments such as France who have pledged to take in groups of migrant children following the fire, but continue to condemn the international community and the Greek Government.
The international community has scrutinized Greece for not doing more to protect the basic human rights of refugees who seek asylum on its shores. Prior to the fire there was significant overcrowding, hunger and a basic lack of access to healthcare in the camp. The Greek people and its government maintain they too are victims in this crisis, and cannot adequately care for refugees with no support from the international community. As a result, they remain at the frontline, and bear the brunt of criticism from the world.
It is widely reported that the Greek people in Mytilene were incredibly hospitable, helping to feed, clothe and shelter many migrant families. All this, despite the fact they were victims of their own financial crisis.
Moria has been burnt to the ground and it is evident that no winners emerge from the ashes.
Refugees and migrants carry their belongings as they flee from a fire burning at the Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece, September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Elias Marcou TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
It’s difficult to imagine that beyond the idyllic olive groves, in the country where my ancestors invented the concept of democracy, thousands of people suffer on their quest for freedom and peace. I care greatly for the residents of Mytilene, whose island is at the mercy of a geopolitical power play. We must get in touch with our relatives who may be experiencing this first-hand to offer whatever support they may need, and lobby our own leaders to try and improve the situation diplomatically in tandem with the European Union and the Greek Government.
It can be easy to lose hope at the complexity of the crisis that worsens everyday. We must remember however. that for many of us first and second generation Greek-Australians, if it were not for the bravery and suffering of our parents and grandparents who were refugees themselves, we would not enjoy the freedoms we do today. Let us also remember that for each criminal disguised as a refugee on the Greek Islands, there are tens of thousands of innocent people making a dangerous journey to freedom. I can guarantee that behind them, the people of Greece stand willing to open their homes and their hearts in the true spirit of Philotimo.
After the recent Local Business Awards highlighted is just how many Greek businesses which are being recognized for their impressive product and great service; what makes such shop-owners so successful is that extra effort and detail they place in their business. What is also amazing about them is how they go about their business quietly and naturally…
Sydney is full of great Greek businesses; whether it is their longevity of operating in the local area or them perfecting their business model, they develop into important centres in the local community. One of the best-kept secrets of Sydney’s Greek shops is found in Padstow, where Maria Voudouris and her family run the award- winning Maria’s Fresh Flowers.
Photo: Vasili’s Vasilas
Maria migrated to Australia in 1977 where she married Tony and, like so many thousands of migrants, found Australia such a huge adjustment, “At the time, Andoni was running a take-away shop in Harbourt, Sydney, where I started to work. It was like so many young migrants before me; in Greece, I was a student and, in Australia, I found myself working seven days a week. Harbourt did not have any Greeks living there; this bothered me too. I just felt very isolated! No family, no compatriots… Australia was an incredible adjustment for me! It took me about five years to become used to living here. I felt very sad. “
Maria’s story is an incredible journey; what is amazing about Maria’s story is her motivation and determination to succeed as a florist. It should be emphasised Maria and her husband, Tony, had bought the Oriona Milk Bar in Padstow; at the time, the local area had so many milk bars and takeaway shops and, Tony and Maria’s milk bar was at the end of the shopping strip.
Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
As Maria always loved flowers, she introduced a small flower section in the milk bar, “I came up with the idea to start making bouquets and selling them at the front of the shop. I was always interested in flowers; I had begun buying flower magazines/books, and even videos, from the USA and UK, out of interest. I was to-ing and fro-ing between the milk bar and flower section; if there were more orders in the milk bar, I would help out there.
Little by little, the demand for flowers grew. It came to the point where I put aside a small area in the shop as a flower section. I also enrolled at Padstow TAFE and successfully finished my Certificate in Floristry.”
When the milk bar part of the business slowed down (so much), Maria- with the support of Tony- showed enormous courage to shut the milk bar and re-open their shop as a florist. Out went the counter and grill, in came all the flower arrangements! It was such a huge risk, but it was Tony and Maria’s opportunity of new beginning…
Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
The major turning point was when one customer asked Maria to do all the flower arrangements for her wedding, “I had never made the flowers for weddings before! I tried to refuse her request but she was encouragingly adamant. While I was saying I was not confident enough to take up her offer, she fully trusted me to do this. Then, she just walked out of the shop and that was that…
Once I did the flower arrangements for this wedding and everyone was happy with what I had done, my confidence grew- I knew I could do it. So, I asked my husband to arrange for a removalist truck to come to our shop and we stripped the shop of the counter and everything else, and transformed the shop into a florist. This is how we started… with Maria’s Fresh Flowers.”
And the rest is history for this award-winning business which has won many Markets Floristry Awards and Local Business Awards and for their category- including this year- and in 2012 achieved Business of the Year!
Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
Maria’s Fresh Flowers is truly a family business; while Maria makes up the flower arrangements and Tony does the deliveries, their daughter, Marianna, works at the shop looking after all the paperwork and on-line business. During busy days of the year, their children, Alana and Athanasios, help out too.
With the Voudouris family operating Maria’s Fresh Flowers in Padstow over four decades, they have developed a very strong relationship with the local community, “I love my shop. I am blessed that I work with something (i.e. flowers) that I love. I just want to keep working; I do not want to retire! So many of our customers have now become our friends. We sponsor sporting teams, church groups and schools. What was so encouraging was how little children who used to buy lollies off us when we had the milk bar come to us years later to order flower arrangements for their weddings. After all these years, we feel part of the local community.”
Golden crispy perfection. We’re talking about Bougatsa of course! Bougatsa is a traditional Greek breakfast pastry made with filo pastry and semolina custard filling.
Bougatsa has origins from the Byzantine period and began as a dough that was stuffed with numerous sweet and savoury fillings. Over time, the dish evolved to incorporate a thinly rolled, hand-made phyllo pastry.
Photo: Epicurus
The dish can be served as a part of people’s breakfast meal, although it’s usually considered quite filling to have as an additional dessert (unless you only have a tiny piece). This is why it’s usually best served on its own for breakfast or along with a cup of Greek coffee.
Follow this simple recipe to make your own bougatsa at home;
Ingredients;
1 litres full cream or skim milk
1/2 cup fine semolina
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
2 eggs
Puff pastry, cut into 6cm squared pieces
Method
Preheat oven to 160 degrees and place baking paper on a cooking rty
Pour 950mls of milk into a saucepan to heat
Combine the remaining 50mls of milk with the semolina, sugar and eggs in a bowl and mix well
Once the milk has warmed, add the mixed ingredients to the saucepan and stir until the mixture thickens and begins to boil
Once the custard boils, take off of the head and let cool to room temperature
While the custard is cooling, cut the puff pastry into 6cm x 6cm squared pieces
Place a heaped tablespoon of the custard mixture into the puff pastry square, bring the four corners of the pastry toward the middle and press together to deal
Place the parcels on baking tray and bake in the oven at 175°for approximately 35 minutes or until golden
Top the bougatsas with icing sugar and cinnamon and enjoy!
Giorgos Seferis was the first Greek poet to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. We take a look back at his incredible life.
Early Life:
Seferis was born in 1900 in Smyrna Greece. He attended school in Smyrna before his family settled in Athens in 1914 to escape the devastation of World War 1.
His family later moved to Paris in 1918, where Seferis would go on to study Law at the University of Paris and discover his passion for literature.
Literature work:
In 1926, Seferis was appointed Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role in which he served until 1931, when he was appointed to the Greek Consulate in London. He later held post in Albania from 1936 to 1938.
His international travels and connection to Greece were the inspiration for much of Seferis’ writing, which is filled with themes of isolation, wandering and death.
He began writing his early poetry in 1931, which consisted of Strophe (turning point). His mature poetry explores the sense of awareness, particularly of Greece’s great past.
Photo: Greek News Agenda
In addition to writing poetry, Seferis published a book of essays (Dokimes) in 1961. He also published a collection of his work and translations of works by T.S Eliot and other French, English and American poets entitled Antigrafes (copies) in 1965.
In 1963, Seferis was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, demonstrating the impact and success of his poetic career.
Death and Legacy:
In 1969, Seferis publicly took a stand against the Dictatorship of the Colonels in Greece. His funeral, on September 20, 1971 was turned into a mass demonstration against the military government.
Seferis’ contributions to diplomacy and to the art of literature will always be remembered and cherished.
