Shortly after reaching the Greek island of Lesbos, a group of Afghan migrants say, their hopes for a new life in Europe were cut short when Greek authorities rounded them up, mistreated them, shoved them into life rafts and abandoned them at sea.
Associated Press journalists on a Turkish government-organized coast guard ride-along were aboard the patrol boat that picked up the 37 migrants, including 18 children, from two orange life rafts in the Aegean Sea on Sept. 12.
“They took our phones and said a bus will come and take you to the camp,” Omid Hussain Nabizada said in Turkish. “But they took us and put us on a ship. They left us on the water in a very bad way on these boats.”
Migrants sit on a Turkish coast guard vessel after they were pulled off life rafts, during a rescue operation in the Aegean Sea, between Turkey and Greece, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Greece, which lies on the EU’s southeastern border and has borne the brunt of migration flows from Turkey, denies the allegations and in turn accuses Ankara of weaponizing migrants.
In March, Turkey made good on threats to send migrants to Europe, declaring its borders with the EU open. In what appeared to be a government-organized campaign, thousands headed to the Greek border, leading to scenes of chaos and violence. Greece shut its frontier and controversially suspended asylum applications for a month.
Greek coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nikolaos Kokkalas said its patrols regularly detect boats and dinghies carrying migrants trying to enter Greece illegally, and “among them many times there are also inflatable rafts such as those described” by the AP.
A Turkish coast guard vessel approaches a life raft with migrants in the Aegean Sea, between Turkey and Greece, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
The life rafts are standard safety equipment on recreational boats, designed to keep passengers safe if they must abandon ship. They generally have no means of propulsion or steering.
“It must be underlined that in most of the cases, the presence of the Turkish coast guard has been observed-ascertained near the dinghies incoming from the Turkish coast, but without it intervening, while in some cases the dinghies are clearly being accompanied by (Turkish coast guard) vessels,” Kokkalas said in a written response to an AP query.
Premier Daniel Andrews has expressed disappointment that nobody at the top of his government appears to know who decided private security guards should be used in the state’s quarantine hotels.
In an appearance on Friday afternoon at the inquiry into the quarantine hotels system, Mr Andrews also said Health Minister Jenny Mikakos was primarily responsible for the troubled system – directly contradicting evidence she gave on Thursday.
Mr Andrews told the inquiry he did not know who made the decision to use private security guards at the hotels and that he had called for the inquiry to get “exactly that answer and quite a few others.”
“[Hotel quarantine] was supposed to contain the virus. It didn’t. Therefore something has gone wrong,” he said. “That’s why we set this process up.”
Health department in charge
Mr Andrews said there should have been no confusion about who was in charge of hotel quarantine and who was accountable.
He agreed with Ms Ellyard that it was concerning that Ms Mikakos and the head of her department Kym Peake did not see themselves as having ultimate accountability.
Ms Mikakos and department secretary Kym Peake said their department was the control agency, there were shared responsibilities between departments and agencies.
Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews: “I am sorry.” Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
“The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as the designated control agency was primarily responsible for the program,” he wrote in his statement.
“I understood, at the start of the program, that the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) would be responsible for aspects of procurement and logistics.”
The Premier wrote that at the start of the hotels initiative, he regarded Ms Mikakos and Jobs Minister Pakula as responsible for informing Cabinet about the hotels program.
Soon after, the health department was made lead government agency in charge of the quarantine hotels.
Like his ministers, Mr Andrews told the inquiry he did not know who decided to use private security guards in hotel quarantine.(COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry)
“I then regarded Minister Mikakos as accountable for the program,” he wrote. “The Crisis Council of Cabinet was provided with regular reports by Minister Mikakos containing data relevant to Victoria’s response to the public health emergency, key insights from the data, as well as other updates, including in relation to the program.”
The Premier then wrote that on 8 July, once problems with the hotels program had become clear, responsibility was shifted to the Justice Department.
Mr Andrews wrote that, while he believed Ms Mikakos was in control of the hotel quarantine program, he ultimately took responsibility.
“As Premier and chair of the Crisis Cabinet Council, I regard myself as being ultimately accountable for the Victorian government and any decisions made about the structure and operation of the program,” he wrote.
With the council elections to be held in October in Victoria, we contacted eight female candidates of Greek background and we asked them to introduce themselves.
Some of them like Sophia Ramsey, the longest serving female Greek Australian Councillor in Victoria, Georgina Papafotiou current Mayor of Brimbank and Jami Klisaris current Councillor for Stonnington are known in their communities and others are standing as candidates for the first time.
According to the Victorian Electoral Comission, there will be 2,187 candidates for 622 vacancies in 298 separate elections. Among them are more than 50 Greek Australians, at least 22 of who are females.
GEORGINA PAPAFOTIOU
Candidate For Brimbank Council
Taylor Ward
In October 2016 Georgina Papafotiou was first elected as a Councillor for Brimbank City Council and was appointed Deputy Mayor for the first year. Both her parents are from Peloponniso, Greece. Her father is from Prasino, Tripoli, Arkadia and her mother from Finiki, Mollai, Lakonia.
“In 2019/20, I was appointed Mayor of Brimbank. Brimbank is a wonderful city to live, work, study and invest. I have been a resident of Brimbank for over 40 years. I was and am again strongly motivated to run by my drive to make a positive difference in my community, improve health and living in the area and celebrate its’ successes.
“Although it has been challenging the last 7 months due to the pandemic, I am proud to lead my municipality- as I have been successful in advocating for over $75 million for my community. I am extremely keen and enthusiastic, and highly committed and dedicated to ensure Brimbank moves forward, and continues to be one of the best recognised and sought after areas,” Papafotiou said.
SOPHIA RAMSEY
For Melton City Council
Coburn Ward
Sophia Ramsey’s family (mum’s maiden name KANTARTZOPOULOU) migrated from Patra, Greece to Australia in 1956.
Sophia has been a Councillor in Melton City Council since 2001 (5 terms), and has held the position of Mayor for 4 times (2002-2003,2005-2006,2014-2015,2016-2017).
“Melton’s greatest asset is its community. As a councillor since 2001, mother and resident of over 30 years and having been involved in many local community organisations, I understand the concerns families have and more importantly I understand the benefits of quality council services.
“l love this Community, l was brought up with strong family values of giving back to the Community, serving them for the past 19 years has been an honour. We live in a dynamic growth corridor and working in partnership with our community and local businesses. I have seen our municipality grow and prosper, serving the community as their strong local voice, advocating for vital services and infrastructure such as the new 24 hour Public Hospital in Melton. This Community inspires me daily,” Ramsey said.
JAMI KLISARIS
For Stonnington Council
East Ward
Jami Klisaris has been a Councillor for Stonnington City Council for eight years. At the age of 20, she became Stonnington’s youngest Councillor and the youngest female Councillor elected in the 2012 Victorian Local Government elections. In November 2016, Jami became Stonnington’s youngest Mayor at 24, serving until November 2017.
She has studied at Monash University, completing an Arts and Law degree and she currently works for the Australian Public Sector. Her parents are from Evia and Crete.
Klisaris is seeking another term on Stonnington council to continue advocating for better community facilities, addressing climate change and promoting equal sport facilities for women and girls.
KATHY ZISIADIS
For Darebin Council
Independent South Central Ward
With a background in Education and Landscape Design, Kathy Zisiadis is running in this year’s Darebin City Council elections “in the hope of building a better and more dynamic Darebin”.
Born in Australia to Greek immigrant parents, her father was born in Evoia and raised in Peristeri (Athens), while her mother migrated to Australia from Dafni (Sparta).
“As a proud, long-term resident of Darebin, I have loved raising my children in such a diverse and multicultural environment. I’m passionate about building the local economy and improving the wellbeing of residents through fair taxes; rates relief; green living; health and safety; sporting and recreational developments; and advocating for ‘shopping locally’ to boost jobs and business growth. I listen with compassion, value transparent and accountable governance, and will act with integrity to get the job done,” Kathy told The Greek Herald.
AGAPI PASHOS
Independent for Darebin Council
South Central Ward
Agapi Pashos, ia an Australian of Greek origin. Growing up in Northcote and working as a volunteer “she knows and understands the issues that concern its residents”.
“My decision to serve my local community is based on my commitment to social justice. Working together with residents and community groups, my aim is to strive for the improvement of residents’ lives and to effectively make their voices heard.
“I advocate for greater inclusion, transparency and participation. Being an active member of the Greek Democritus League, an organisation that supports the rights of migrant workers at work andin the broader community by promoting their culture and language has developed my commitment to promote multiculturism and to fight all forms of racism,” said Pashos.
EMILY DIMITRIADIS
For Darebin Council
South-East Ward
A hospital pharmacist and human rights lawyer, Emily Dimitriadis works to support multicultural and refugee communities, assist survivors of family violence and push for social and gender equality.
“My family migrated to Australia from Florina, Greece in the 1960s. My grandparents often share their stories about the difficulties they encountered arriving in a new country with very little money and no English skills. It has encouraged me to pursue a career where I help people in need.
“I am running for the South-East Ward of Darebin because I have lived her my whole life and I want to make a positive difference. As a pharmacist and a lawyer, I help people on an individual level. As a councillor I would be helping on a community level. Working on the frontline as an Emergency Department Pharmacist during Covid-19, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects on individuals, families and the community. I want to ensure that residents and businesses are supported to navigate safely through the pandemic, build on the recovery and generate opportunities for the future,” Dimitriadis said.
DESPINA HAVELAS
For Brimbank Council
Taylors Ward
A second-generation Greek-Australian and a mother to two adult children, Despina Havelas was raised by Greek parents who migrated to Australia in the mid 1960’s.
“For me, the rich traditions of the Greek language have allowed my family and I to stay connected with many Greek migrant families in our Brimbank Community. I want to be a modern voice for our community here in Brimbank’s West.
“I’m running in TAYLORS WARD to enact change within our local area. I am especially passionate about the rights of our carers, disabled and seniors in our community. Improving services for the better is a priority of mine,” said Mrs Havelas.
SOFIA KOTANIDIS
For Darebin Council
North West Ward
Born in Kastoria, Greece to parents of Pontian descent, Sofia Kotanidis is the Director and Principal Broker of AIFOS Insurance Brokers based in Reservoir with over 20 years experience in the Banking, Finance and Insurance Industries.
A member of EMILY’s List and National Women’s Network, Chairperson of Return To Anatolia and Deputy Chairperson of Darebin Ethnic Communities Council, Kotanidis has been advocating for Darebin’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She is also the creator of the Monument of All Victims of Genocide in Preston.
“I am running for the local elections because I feel that our local area needs a strong voice on Council, someone who understands and cares about local issues. I believe in the values of fairness and opportunity for all residents. My goal is to serve my local community and represent the residents of Reservoir”.
* All council elections will be conducted by post. Voters will receive a ballot pack from early October, that they need to complete and return as soon as possible as voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 23 October. All councils will have elections except Casey City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Whittlesea City Council. For more information visit https://www.vec.vic.gov.au
Two Irishmen were found not-guilty on Monday of the murder of Paul Tavelardis, who died nearly two years ago in Sydney’s inner West. The duo have now flown back to Ireland.
Nathan Kelly and Christopher McLaughlin, tradies hailing from Donegal, were accused of murdering Paul Tavelardis on the night of December 29, 2018.
The pair had been living together in a flat in Summer Hill had been drinking for 12 hours when an altercation with Mr Tavelardis was sparked just after midnight in the middle of Grosvenor Cres.
Mr Tavelardis, 66, was left barely conscious, beaten and bleeding on the road with severe head injuries and later died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on January 7, 2019.
Paul Tavelardis, who died after he was bashed. Picture: Facebook
Several witnesses watched on and told police the two men repeatedly kicked and hit the man, who had been living in his car across the street from the Florida Court apartments.
However, Mr Kelly and Mr McLaughlin both pleaded not guilty to murder and argued at trial they were far too intoxicated to have formed the necessary intention to kill the total stranger. Following a month-long trial, a jury acquitted both men.
The not-guilty judgement has infuriated Mr Tavelardis’s son Bradley Tavelardis.
“The DPP were confident that a murder charge was more suitable, which is why the trial began, but to have all charges dropped is inconceivable,” Mr Tavelardis told The Daily Telegraph.
Paramedics treat Mr Tavelardis at the scene. Credit: News Corp Australia, Gordon McComiskie
“I have been living in a fog of utter disbelief and bewilderment since the ‘not guilty’ verdict on Monday.
“The bare fact remains that my father, a 66-year-old man who suffered from leukaemia, was beaten by two physically fit men in their early 20s and subsequently died from the related injuries.
“Visiting my dad in the hospital for the last time when he was in a coma, seeing the extent of his injuries and with my siblings, making the necessary decision to turn off his life support was the most harrowing moment of my life.”
Community and religious leaders will be empowered to respond to domestic and family violence through a new training program to begin next month.
Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said the accredited course, run by TAFE NSW, will give participants the tools and resources to help people who seek their guidance.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Justice, the NSW Government is contacting religious and community groups, encouraging them to undergo the training.
NSW attorney general Mark Speakman. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
“Religious and community leaders who work closely with their community, and regularly speak to their congregation, as well as leaders who work with families on matters of family disputes, are encouraged to apply,” a spokesperson said to The Greek Herald.
“The training provides participants with the knowledge and skills required to identify and respond to the needs of people who may be experiencing domestic and family violence, including responding to immediate intervention and support needs.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Acting Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee said community and religious leaders are recognised and respected voices who will now be better equipped to support victims who seek their help.
“They can help promote healthy relationships and encourage perpetrators to change their behaviour and help victims seek the appropriate services and support,” Mr Lee said.
“The initial response when a disclosure is made can heavily affect the outcome for victims – so this training could very well save lives.”
Nobody ever said luxury was cheap. A brand new two-storey penthouse in Sydney Harbour is on the market for the first time ever, being valued at $39.8m.
Located in The Harrington Collection at The Rocks, the 483sqm penthouse takes in iconic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera house and Circular Quay.
The rooftop terrace will have uninterrupted views. Photo: realestate.com.au
Laver Residential project director Dennis Vertzayias is co-selling the penthouse with colleague Sam Elbanna. Due to be completed in the middle of 2021, the residence is being marketed as a “never to be repeated opportunity”.
“The architectural design and quality of the finish represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we suspect will be popular with both local and offshore purchasers who are looking for their very own slice of The Rocks,” Vertzayias says.
The Harrington Collection is the first project to have gained approval in The Rocks in the past eight years. Photo: realestate.com.au
The property boasts a home cinema, wet bar, barbecue kitchen, landscaped gardens and a spa. All four bedrooms have a private ensuite bathroom with a marble vanity and a freestanding bathtub, as well as a private lounge, study and a walk-in wardrobe.
The Harrington Collection is the first residential project to have gained government approval in The Rocks in the last eight years. It will be home to 1000sqm of commercial office space, eight luxury retailers and a number of high-end eateries.
Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the quarterfinals of the Hamburg European Open by beating Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday as he continues his warm-up for the French Open.
In a rematch of his only clay-court final win, Tsitsipas saved four break points at 4-4 in the first set and another at 5-5 before breaking Cuevas to take a 1-0 lead. He extended his unbeaten record against the Uruguayan to 3-0.
They last met when Tsitsipas beat Cuevas 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Estoril in May 2019 for his only tour-level title to date on clay. The Greek player, ranked sixth in the world, is building momentum on clay after losing in the first round in Rome last week.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas has beaten Great Britain’s Dan Evans to advance at the European Open. Photo: AAP
His quarterfinal opponent is Dusan Lajovic, who swept past eighth-seeded Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-2 in their second-round match. Since the tour restarted amid the coronavirus pandemic, Khachanov has gone four tournaments without making the quarterfinals.
After knocking out top-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the first round, France’s Ugo Humbert followed it up with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jiri Vesely to reach his first career ATP quarterfinal on clay.
He will face Casper Ruud after the Norwegian won 6-3, 6-3 against the sixth-seeded Fabio Fognini, who was champion in Hamburg in 2013.
Michael Sukkar MP is the latest Australian federal parliament member to pledge his support to the ‘Joint Justice Initiative’, launched by the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities.
The Melbourne MP, who is of Lebanese heritage, previously expressed his disappointment in the Australian government for not acknowledging the Armenian Genocide in December 2018.
During the House of Representatives debate honouring the 70th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, Sukkar said we should call out the genocide “for what it is”.
“No amount of economic consequences and no amount of diplomacy should ever stop us from doing the decent thing as Australians and calling out the genocide for what it is,” Sukkar said.
“If the consequences with governments and countries like Turkey or Azerbaijan mean that economic consequences flow, I say so be it—and I know the Australian people will back this parliament all the way when taking that approach.”
Representatives of Australia’s Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek communities at Mural Hall. Photo: Asbarez
The Joint Justice Initiative was launched in Canberra during February month with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC).
It calls for national recognition of the 1915 Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against its Christian Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations.
“The addition of a Government Minister to our calls for Australian recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides is further evidence that Turkey’s exported denialism is unwelcome in our country’s foreign policy,” said Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.
“We thank Minister Sukkar for his support and conviction on this important issue on human rights.”
The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Sukkar, Senator Louise Pratt, Warren Entsch, Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Andrew Wilkie MP, Julian Leeser MP, Michelle Rowland MP, Senator Paul Scarr, Tony Zappia MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Hollie Hughes, Senator Rex Patrick, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP.
Cyprus is committed to reunification talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots but not at gunpoint, its president said on Thursday on a dispute which has deepened Greece-Turkey tensions and stymied European Union policy-making on Belarus.
A simmering decades-old conflict which split the east Mediterranean island’s Greek and Turkish Cypriots has come full circle with the issue featuring prominently in disputes between NATO allies Greece and Turkey, and now holding up EU plans to impose sanctions on Belarus.
EU member Cyprus – backed by Greece – is at odds with Turkey over maritime energy resources. It is blocking EU sanctions on Minsk until the bloc takes a tougher stance towards Ankara.
Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo
“For the (Cyprus peace) talks to resume with realistic prospects for success, it is imperative to create an environment which will be conducive for constructive and good faith negotiations… not under conditions of intimidation or threats,” Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly.
Turkey has dispatched survey vessels close to Cyprus in areas the Greek Cypriot government has licenced to multinationals to explore for oil and gas.
Cyprus was split after a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief coup engineered by the military then ruling Greece. The EU admitted the island into the bloc in 2004, represented internationally by its Greek Cypriot government which effectively controls only its south. Its north is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and European Council President Charles Michel bump elbows after the news conference at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus September 16, 2020 [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]
The latest attempt at reunification between the two Cypriot sides collapsed in disarray in mid-2017. Each Cypriot side blames the other for the collapse.
Anastasiades, who heads Cyprus’s internationally-recognised government, repeated that his administration was willing to place any revenues from gas exploration into an escrow account for the Turkish Cypriot community.
An indictment has been launched at 18 customs officials, including the general manager of the İpsala Customs Station, who recently confessed to bribery on the Greece-Turkey border.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, officials reaped money from lorry drivers passing to and from Greece at the Erdine border, with excuses like they were missing papers.
Officials were asked by Turkish police why they accepted the bribes, with the officials saying they “had instalments to pay,” police sources claim.
Turkey-Greece border crossing a Erdine. Photo: Julian Nyca
Border officials reportedly collected bribes from lorry drivers, then passed on the funds to a senior Turkish official. The total amount was then shared once a fortnight.
Some 500 to 600 euros would go to the General Manager Mustafa Kemal Mısırlıoğlu, and the rest of the amount was split between others involved.
In the investigation, police found around 7,900 euros in an official’s house and 8,500 euros in another’s.
A report by two centre-left (S&D group) lawmakers also alleges that officials continue to accept bribes at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, refusing the entry of citizens without at least a 5 EUR bribe.
“I crossed the border in Bulgaria. We waited for a long ten hours. The border control police asked me for money. I had to put 10 EUR in the passport. If not, they’ll ask for it. If you refuse, you can wait for hours,” a source said in the report.
