Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis returned to Turkey’s Antalya port on Sunday, a move that Greece said was a positive first step to ease tensions over gas exploration rights in the East Mediterranean.
“The return of the Oruc Reis is a positive first step, I hope there will be continuity. We want to talk with Turkey but in a climate without provocations,” Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told reporters in Thessaloniki.
But Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, played down the significance of the move, saying the ship had returned to shore as part of scheduled plans and insisted it did not mean Ankara was “giving up our rights there.”
In this photo taken Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, Turkey’s research vessel, Oruc Reis, center, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey. Photo: IHA via AP.
“There will be planned movements backwards and forwards,” Akar told state news agency Anadolu in Antalya, southern Turkey, on Sunday.
Tensions flared last month between Turkey and Greece after Ankara sent Oruc Reis to map out possible oil and gas drilling prospects in waters claimed by Greece, Cyprus and Turkey.
Ankara faces potential sanctions from the European Union, which fully supports member states Greece and Cyprus, over the dispute. But many states, including Germany, want to defuse the stand-off through dialogue.
“A sanctions list exists as an option [against Turkey]. Our desire is not to see it implemented but it will be done if we see that the other side is not returning to the path of logic,” Mitsotakis said.
Greece will build a permanent migrant reception centre on Lesvos to replace the overcrowded refugee camp destroyed by a fire last week, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Sunday.
The fire at the Moria reception centre last week left more than 12,000 people without shelter, forcing most to sleep out in the open without proper sanitation or access to food and water, and pushed the migration issue back up the European agenda.
Mitsotakis said the construction of a new reception centre on the island to replace the notoriously squalid and overcrowded Moria facility would be the chance to reset the policy behind handling migrant arrivals.
A woman washes a girl as migrants gather near Mytilene town, on the northeastern island of Lesbos, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Credit: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.
“We want to turn this problem into an opportunity,” Mitsotakis said.
“Europe should be a lot more involved in the management of the new centre wherever we finally decide it should be.”
He appeared to dismiss protests by Lesvos residents who have opposed the creation of a new centre, as well as by migrants demanding to be resettled away from the island.
“I want to say with absolute certainty that there will be a permanent reception and identification centre – I want to send this message in all directions,” he said.
Greek authorities began admitting migrants to temporary tent accommodation outside the main port of Mytilene on Saturday. In a concerning development, they identified what Mitsotakis said were “dozens” of cases of COVID-19.
Migrants were admitted to temporary tent accommodation outside the main port of Mytilene on Saturday. Photo: Reuters /
Officials had been worried about the potential for an uncontrolled spread of the disease from the Moria camp, which had been placed under quarantine before it burned down following the discovery of at least three dozen positive cases.
In the chaos following the fire on Wednesday, authorities lost sight of 35 people who had tested positive, deepening fears of an outbreak among migrants sleeping closely together without proper sanitation.
Earlier, Migration Minister, Notis Mitarachi, said he expected around 1,000 people could be settled in the new tented shelter on Sunday and more would be able to come in over the coming days.
“We want to ensure that everybody has a tent, food and water,” he told reporters.
Rizogalo is a traditional Greek style rice pudding flavored with vanilla beans and cinnamon. Rizogalo simply translates to “rice milk”; rizo means “rice” and galo is “milk” in Greek.
Apart from a great dessert, rizogalo is a comfort food and it can be served warm in winter and chilled in summer.
HOW TO MAKE RIZOGALO
The variety of rice used in making a rice pudding is very crucial. Even though its preparation and flavor hugely vary, the end product is always the same – rich and creamy. In order to get this consistency and texture, short-grained white rice is used.
Rizogalo is traditionally prepared using a Greek short-grain rice variety called glacé. The grains of this rice become soft and tender when cooked. They also stick to each other during cooking making the rizogalo thicker and creamier. This type of rice is also suitable for soups. The next best substitute is the Arborio rice, which has similar properties.
Key to making a decadent rizogalo is to stir it constantly to get the creamier texture. Slow cooked rice absorbs more starch and makes the pudding more luscious.
INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)
½ cup round rice
2 cups water
2 cups milk
½ cup caster sugar
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 vanilla pod
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
In a non-stick pot, bring the rice and water to a boil and cook on low heat until the rice is cooked through (about 25 minutes)
At this stage, only very little water remains, and the result is like a kind of porridge. Mix everything.
Reserve a little milk and dilute the sugar and cornflour with a whisk.
Pour the rest of the milk into the rice and add the vanilla pod.
Heat slightly over medium-low heat while stirring, then pour the mixture of milk, sugar and cornflour.
Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly.
The tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, next Year’s 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution and the way Greece has tackled the coronavirus pandemic were some of the issues discussed in a recent online meeting between Chair and Deputy Chair of the Australia-Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group Dr Fiona Martin and Ms Maria Vamvakinou respectively, the Consul General of Greece in Australia Mr Christos Karras as well as the Australian Ambassador in Greece Mr Arthur Spyrou.
“We discussed bilateral issues concerning Greece and the Greek Diaspora in Australia. It was a very good, informative and constructive conversation that will strengthen our efforts to build on the Greek Australian relationship,” Dr Fiona Martin, told The Greek Herald referring to her Greek background.
“There is a number of federal employees in parliament with Greek heritage like Michael McCormack and Alex Hawke and of course, my paternal grandparents were from the island of Kastellorizo . My full name is Fiona Barbouttis – Martin and in Greek I’m known as Fotini”.
Dr Fiona Martin, Liberal federal member for the Sydney seat of Reid is the daughter of veteran Panhellenic (now Sydney Olympic) football player George Barbouttis and granddaughter of Markos Barbouttis, who had immigrated to Australia from Kastellorizo before World War II.
“Being the member for Reid is like traveling around the world in one day. We have migrant communities from China, Korea, India, Italy, Greece, Lebanon and so many more, and the diversity of our people is visible in our streets. I have great admiration for those who, like my grandparents, uprooted their lives to make a go of it in this lucky country,” Martin said almost a year ago, at her first Parliament speech.
“I think Australian Greeks have contributed significantly to Australian society and culture and this should be recognised”.
Maria Vamvakinou MP: ‘Australia – Greece relationship have always been healthy and active’
Speaking to The Greek Herald, Ms Vamvakinou, the Parliamentary Friendship Group’s Deputy Chair and Labor Federal Member for the Melbourne seat of Calwell, explained that Australia and Greece have always shared a “good and active relationship” and the purpose of the Group is to strengthen them further.
Ms Vamvakinou, the first Greek-born woman to be elected to the Parliament of Australia, has been a long advocate for Australia-Greece bilateral relations and has served as the Parliamentary Friendship Group’s Chair and Deputy Chair in previous parliaments.
“We have many federal MPs who have Greek-speaking communities in their electorates. For these MPs, this group is important so they can be in contact with the issues that concern their voters, ” said Ms Vamvakinou.
“We are all looking forward to the celebration of the Anniversary of the Greek War for Independence. We discussed the importance of this Anniversary for the Greek Diaspora and the way we can celebrate here with the same splendour that will be celebrated in Greece.
“We hope to hold an event in Parliament, in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and other MPs,” Vamvakinou said, expressing the belief that “the Greek Church under the leadership of Archbishop Makarios will play an instrumental role in the preservation of the Greek language and culture especially for Greek-Australians third and fourth generation”.
Nicholas (Nick) Sorras is one of the most promising 22-year-old goalkeepers in Australia, who in only a few games has showed his incredible talent for Sydney Olympic.
The international goalkeeper is the “Guardian Angel” of the club, the continuation of his father George Sorras, who was an amazing defender and striker for Sydney Olympic in the 90’s.
Nicholas was born in Sydney on June 15, 1998. His parents were also born here, his father George, originally from Aigio, and his mother Maria, originally from Kavala. His parents and his brother Johnny are all active supporters of the Sydney Olympic keeper.
TGH: Nicholas, how did you start?
Nicholas Sorras: From a young age I watched the teams on the field like all Greeks – until my father, seeing his height, gave me a pair of goalkeeper gloves. Since then, my job is to keep as many people as I can from scoring a goal.
Sydney Olympic Goalkeeper Nicholas Sorras. Photo: Takis Triadafillou
I started at the age of 14-15 in the local teams. Under the guidance of my father and in personal training, I started to mature as a goalkeeper and ended up in the Mariners U16-U17. The Australian National Team then invited me to participate in the U-17 World Cup in Chile.
TGH: What were your experiences with the coaches?
Sydney Olympic Goalkeeper Nicholas Sorras.
Nicholas Sorras: It was quite big with the coaches and teammates during the World Cup campaign. We won and gained a lot.
Editor’s Note: Nicholas suffered from a serious eye injury which took approximately to recover. The Greek Australian goalie came back stronger, transferring to the Rockdale Suns for a year in 2018. In 2020, he transferred to Sydney Olympic.
Sydney Olympic 1st team. Photo: Sydney Olympic
TGH: How do you feel playing for Sydney Olympic; A historic Greek club where almost your entire family lives?
Nicholas Sorras: It’s a fantastic team with good players and a strong board. I believe that we are capable of winning the championship. Apply what you do in training.
TGH: You have Paul Henderson as your coach, how is he?
Nicholas Sorras: Paul or Hedo is a unique human personality and former goalkeeper and now coach of the goalkeepers. He provides all of his experience, especially his techniques on how to stand under the beams. He guides me and he has given me a lot of confidence under the beams.
TGH: In the previous game against Rockdale, you led the team with confidence.
Nicholas Sorras: Yes, although I do not have the mobility that the other teammates have on the pitch, I can call and guide them because I have the ability to have them in front of me.
TGH: What are your dreams in football?
Nicholas Sorras: First to play in the National Team of Australia, to play in the A League and to transfer to an England side. I think this is the best thing for a footballer. Of course I would like to play in Greece in the homeland of yiayia and papou.
TGH: In Sunday’s game against Marconi, you and the team managed to play extremely well.
Nicholas Sorras: Sunday’s game almost confirmed the saying, “you lose a goal, you will eat a goal”. Missing many opportunities in the first half, Marconi was ahead in the second. Our coach Ante Juric, with two changes, managed to turn the game around and win, albeit with difficulty, 2-1, with Madonis and Ferreira scoring. Awesome players. But the whole team is terrific. We have the mental strength until the last minutes.
Editors Note:
The position that receives, to an extent, the biggest criticism is that of the goalkeeper. Due to the uniqueness of the position, the goalkeeper often takes full responsibility for a negative result, despite the fact that the sport is a team game.
On the contrary, there are moments when he is a catalyst for his team, making saves, but a goal is able to steal his glory. Being a hero is just a moment away, a right or wrong reaction from the ‘scapegoat’.
Nicholas Sorras is admired not only for his skills, but for the maturity he has under the beams of the Sydney Olympic. Rare to be found at such a young age. So much so that it makes a footballer climb the stairs steadily one by one.
A day of relief for Victorians as the state recorded its lowest increase in coronavirus cases in more than two and a half months.
The state’s health department on Sunday reported 37 new infections. It would be the lowest rise since June 25 when there were 28 new cases.
There were also six new fatalities recorded in the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm Friday, bringing the state’s death toll to 716 and the national toll past 800.
#COVID19Data for 12 September, 2020. Yesterday there were 37 new cases reported and we are sad to report 6 lives lost. Our condolences to the friends and families affected. More information will be available later today. pic.twitter.com/Sr8SaTvPFt
Minor changes to Stage 4 restrictions will implemented from midnight on Sunday, allowing an extra hour before curfew comes into effect, an additional hour of allowed daily exercise and a “singles bubble”.
Further restrictions will ease in metropolitan Melbourne on September 28 provided the daily case average over 14 days is under 50.
Authorities have imposed, from today, a ‘mini lockdown’ in Greece’s northern regions to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Specifically, four regional units will be under restrictions, including Pella, Pieria, Western Macedonia’s Imathia and Kilkis in Central Macedonia.
Greece’s Civil Protection Operations Centre said that acting early and in a limited capacity is the right move by authorities, with officials hoping they will be able to contain the disease.
People, some of them wearing face masks against the spread of the new coronavirus, gather on Mykonos, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. – Copyright AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
Deputy Minister of Civil Protection and Crisis Management, Nikos Hardalia listed the following restrictions that will be applied to the municipalities:
Any kind of event such as parties, trade fairs, processions, public markets, etc. will be prohibited
Any kind of gathering of citizens over 9 people for any reason, both in public and in private, is banned
The dining areas can allow a maximum number of 4 people at each table unless they are close relatives, in which case up to 6 people are allowed.
Use of masks both outdoors and indoors will be mandatory
The measures will be in force for a period of two weeks – between 11 September and 25 September.
Greece’s health authorities announced 287 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths on Friday evening. The total infections reached 12,734 and death toll 300.
One day after the daily coronavirus cases in Greece broke an all time record, authorities announced that the number of Covid-19 patients in intubation is increasing.
“The number of intubated patients is of concern,” Epidemiology Professor and spokesman of the Health Ministry, Gkikas Majiorkinis, said during a live briefing on Friday.
The spokesperson also expressed his concern of an “over-spread of the virus at local level.”
Greece has begun setting up tents on Friday for thousands of migrants left without shelter on the island of Lesvos after a fire destroyed Greece’s biggest refugee camp three days ago.
The Municipality of Mytilini have expressed their opposition towards the development of any new refugee facility, saying they will do “anything possible” to ensure a decision is not carried out.
“The decision is final on this issue and it would be best for the competent authorities to understand this and cooperate,” the municipality said, calling on the government to “review its decision, before it is too late.”
The Municipality is not the only one with concerns however, with anger growing among residents of an island whose location a few miles (km) off the Turkish coast has kept them on the frontline of Europe’s migrant crisis for years.
Refugees and migrants from the destroyed Moria camp protest after the news about the creation of a new temporary camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece September 11, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
“Moria is a monstrosity,” Dimitris Koursoubas, a senior official responsible for migration in the northern Aegean islands, told Reuters, saying the fire which destroyed the camp presented a “tragic opportunity” to find a new solution.
“We want all the migrants out, for national reasons. Moria is over,” he said.
Hoping to avoid a repeat of protests seen earlier this year, island authorities have not said where the shelters are being set up but helicopters with tents and other materials could be seen landing a few miles from the main port of Mytilene.
The emergency has once again highlighted Europe’s patchy response to a multi-year crisis that has seen more than a million migrants reach its shores.
“The clock has run out on how long Europe can be without a migration policy. Now is the time to change this,” Margaritis Schinas, the European commissioner responsible for migration and asylum policy, said at a press conference in Brussels.
Further to his letter in August to the Prime Minister, Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas is once again addressing Eastern Mediterranean dispute between Greece and Turkey. The Federal MP has called on Scott Morrison to finally address the issue plaguing European waters, denouncing Turkey’s illegal actions.
Below is Georganas’ full letter to the Australian Prime Minister:
Dear Minister RE: Eastern Mediterranean Crisis I would like to bring to your attention (and address) the rising tensions occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Recent media reports have covered the escalating tensions now ensuing in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This has been confirmed through numerous community representatives, and by many of my constituents in the seat of Adelaide who are from countries surrounding this area of heightened tensions. A great number of my constituent also have family members in this region. Turkey has become increasingly active in the Eastern Mediterranean in its efforts to explore for oil and gas, and at times has demonstrated outright defiance of the established exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
This endeavour to pursue oil and gas explorations within the EEZ, with little regard for international law, has resulted in an ongoing conflict with other parties in the region.
For example, and according to media reports, Turkey and Greece — both NATO members — have been conducting rival naval exercises off the Greek island of Crete. And, recently Greek officials reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would dispatch F-16 fighter jets to Crete for joint training exercises to be conducted.
In addition, it is understood that the German Foreign Minister will be visiting both nations, Turkey and Greece, in a diplomatic effort to diffuse the escalating tensions arising in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This is an extremely volatile, troubling situation which should concern all nations.
There is no doubt that the territorial and maritime disputes in this region have almost brought these two countries close to war in the past.
Maintaining peace in the region is delicately balanced by the continued adherence to the established EEZs regulations and by respecting the rights of territorial waters.
The people in my community who are from this region are anxiously awaiting these tensions to subside — and have been contacting me.
As a democratic nation, we should play our part to ensure that the delicate peace and stability in this region is preserved — and in line with the agreed sovereignty of all the nations involved.
In addition, it is in Australia’s interest that we join the international community to defend the territorial rights according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which grants a continental shelf and EEZ to the islands within territorial waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.
This is of particular importance to Australia.
If such a precedence were to be set as a result of the territorial dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean, this may have unintended repercussions and consequences for other nations, including Australia.
I therefore urge your Government to utilise all possible avenues and diplomatic channels available to encourage a peaceful resolution of this critical situation in the Eastern Mediterranean – and highlight the importance of achieving sustained mutual respect and understanding in the region.
I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.
France, Germany and Switzerland are only a few of the European countries that have stood beside Greece as they face a humanitarian crisis.
Officials relocated 406 unaccompanied children to mainland Greece after a devastating blaze this week completely destroyed the Moria refugee camp.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Friday announced that on an initiative from Berlin, 10 European Union countries have agreed to take 400 unaccompanied minors from Lesvos. German Chancellor Angela Merkel added to this, confirming a a plan by France and Germany to take minors from the island, hoping other EU countries will also join.
An aerial view of destroyed shelters following the fire at the Moria camp, in a picture taken with a drone. Photo: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters.
“I asked the Greek prime minister how we can help and his request was that we take in the minors who were taken to the Greek mainland,” Merkel said.
“We have contacted France. Germany and France will participate in this.”
Stating it is a “European responsibility”, Merkel strongly encouraged all neighbouring countries to offer their support to Greece. Her confirmation came after French President Emmanuel Macron said the two countries were coordinating to find a solution to welcome refugees from the camp.
He added that Europe had to stand in solidarity with Greece in face of the “terrible reality that is before us.”
While not yet pledging to take minors from the island, Switzerland have been providing aid to refugees by sending a 1.2-ton shipment of blankets and personal hygiene products. A Swiss expert is also on Friday’s flight, sent to help coordinate the distribution of the aid.
