The Greek Current

Over 70 members of Congress sent a letter to the Biden administration this week, urging it to hold Turkey accountable for the 2017 attack by Erdogan’s security guards against American protesters at Sheridan Circle. Members of Congress are calling on the State Department to press President Erdogan and Turkish authorities on this issue as an essential element for relations between Washington and Ankara. Andreas Akaras, an attorney with the law firm Bregman, Berbert, Schwartz & Gilday who is part of the team representing the victims of the Sheridan Circle attacks, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this latest development and break down what it means for the ongoing case for justice for the victims. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Over 70 lawmakers urge Biden to hold Turkey accountable for Sheridan Circle violenceSarbanes and Bipartisan Group of 70+ Colleagues Urge State Department to Hold Turkey Accountable for 2017 Sheridan Circle AttackSkopje ups ante, widening rift with AthensAid for Gaza will soon flow from pier project just finished by US military

With European elections on the horizon, Greek political leaders are not only hitting the road to campaign across the country, but are also increasingly leaning into social media platforms in their search for voters. While New Democracy will likely maintain its dominant position in Greek politics, attention is turning to SYRIZA and PASOK, and their battle for second place. International developments are also a factor in these elections, as issues between Greece and Albania have come to the forefront. Nikos Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the ongoing social media battle ahead of these elections, what’s at stake for Greece’s political leaders, and how this election is also taking on an international character. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Hunting for support on social mediaWould third place spell trouble for PASOK?A leading power in a difficult neighborhoodGreece will not ratify memorandums until Skopje complies with Prespa dealOver 70 lawmakers urge Biden to hold Turkey accountable for Sheridan Circle violence

This July, Turkey’s illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus will hit the 50-year mark. 2024 also marks another Cypriot “anniversary”, the 2004 rejection of the Annan Plan for the reunification of Cyprus. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why the rejection of the Annan plan needs to be revisited and its historic significance reconsidered. We also look into other regional developments - from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ meeting with Turkish President Erdogan to the latest diplomatic crisis with North Macedonia.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:CYPRUS’ “OXI” DAYGreece-Turkey: The modus operandi and the way aheadErdogan rebukes Greek PM for calling Hamas ‘terrorists,’ says 1,000+ members being treated in TurkeyHALC calls on USCIRF to reclassify the Republic of Turkey as a Country of Particular ConcernEU to deploy hundreds of firefighters to vulnerable states ahead of wildfire season

North Macedonia’s new president, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, has sparked a diplomatic crisis with Greece following her decision during her swearing in ceremony to refer to her country simply as “Macedonia” rather than the constitutional name “North Macedonia.” Prime Minister Mitsotakis slammed her decision, warning that further violations of the Prespes Agreement could jeopardize Skopje’s ambitions for EU membership. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in Athens and Al Jazeera’s Southeast Europe correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this latest diplomatic spat and its broader implications for Athens, Skopje, the Prespes Agreement, and the region. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:North Macedonia's new president reignites a spat with Greece at her inauguration ceremonyGreek PM slams Siljanovska-Davkova’s ‘Macedonia’ referenceNorth Macedonia President claims right to use ‘Macedonia’ despite international backlashVon der Leyen rebukes use of ‘Macedonia’ by country’s new PresidentMitsotakis says Turkey and Greece should increase cooperation and contactsTurkey’s Erdogan meets Greek PM, sees ‘no unsolvable problems’ in tiesDemarche lodged to UNESCO over Chora monastery

Europe’s political landscape is changing dramatically, with the latest polls predicting that far right parties will gain across the EU in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Amid concerns over the rise of the far-right, radical-right forces are already influencing EU policies. Giorgia Meloni is the prime example, with the Italian prime minister proving pivotal in shaping Europe’s agenda, from the frequent visits European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes to Italy to Europe’s approach to migration. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the rise of the far right and what it means for the future direction of Europe.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Hard right wants more EU power to reflect likely election gainsJust How Dangerous Is Europe’s Rising Far Right?Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen, the double act that is steering the EU ever rightwardsGreek PM seeks to build on better ties in AnkaraGreece to bring in Egyptian farm workers amid labor shortage

Having been dealt a devastating blow in the municipal elections earlier this year, Turkish President Erdogan - who campaigned tirelessly everywhere and made this election about his rule - is now looking to bounce back. This will undoubtedly have consequences on both domestic and foreign policy. Henri Barkey, the Cohen professor of international relations at Lehigh University and an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council of Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what we should expect from Erdogan at home and abroad as he looks to regain the initiative.Read Henri Barkey’s latest piece here: Erdogan’s Crisis of Legitimacy and its ConsequencesYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Vessel carrying aid to US-built pier off Gaza leaves CyprusTourism season starts with 80,000 job vacanciesOlympiakos beats Villa again to reach Conference League finalEl Kaabi’s double crushes Aston Villa hopes of comeback at Olympiakos

Earlier this week Turkey formally opened the monastery of Chora, a former Byzantine church and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, as a mosque. The move follows the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, and has drawn international criticism. It also comes as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom once again recommended that Turkey be put on the special watch list for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Expert Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir joins Thanos Davelis to look at what this decision will mean for Chora Church, and look at the message it sends on religious freedom, especially in light of the latest USCIRF report. Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir is the coordinator of Anti-Defamation League's Task Force on Middle East Minorities, serves as the co-chair of the Middle East Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and is an expert on religious cultural heritage. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosqueUSCIRF 2024 Annual ReportNorth Macedonia elects first woman president, EU-leaning coalitionGreece extends naval advisory to deter Russian oil ship-to-ship transfers

Over the past two years an area south of Greece’s Peloponnese had become a major location to circumvent sanctions against Russian oil exports. It looks like Greece has now found a way to disrupt these operations - taking place in international waters - after the Greek navy blocked off the area for naval exercises. A factor in this story is the fact that Greece has not extended its territorial waters in the area to 12 nautical miles, a move that Turkey says is a cause for war. Professor Kostas Ifantis joins Thanos Davelis to discuss how Greece is taking steps to block these oil transfers, examine the question of Greece’s territorial seas, and look ahead at the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdogan.Kostas Ifantis is a Professor of International Relations at the Department of International, European and Area Studies at Panteion University of Athens, and has previously served as Director for Research at the Policy Planning Center of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Steps to block oil transfers off Greek coastNorth Macedonia holds presidential and parliamentary elections WedAthens wary of VMRO comebackFinance watchdog visited Turkey ahead of 'grey list' decision

Last fall Greece joined the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 13 EU countries located between the Baltic, Black, Adriatic, and now the Aegean Seas. The Three Seas Initiative was initially founded with the economy in mind, to foster regional dialogue and boost investment, and with Greece’s addition, its diplomatic and economic pull now extends to the Mediterranean. Ian Brzezinski, who has been following this initiative since it was founded, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why the Three Seas Initiative, which now includes Greece, is so important for the region.Ian Brzezinski leads the Brzezinski Group, a strategic advisory services firm, and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Brent Scowcroft Center on Strategy and Security.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:What is the Three Seas Initiative and why is it expanding?Greece becomes 13th member of Three Seas Initiative on EU’s eastern flankGreece can serve as entry point for energy to the north, PM saysTurkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosqueUN envoy returning to Cyprus for talks

Anyone who has visited the United States or is familiar with shows like Seinfeld will have come across a diner, a uniquely American type of restaurant. Few may know, however, that from the 1960s onward Greek-Americans came to dominate the diner restaurant scene, especially in the Northeast and the Midwest. Professor Alexander Kitroeff, one of the leading historians of the Greek-American experience, joins Thanos Davelis to talk about the American diner, its strong links to Greek immigrants, and whether the phenomenon of the Greek-American diner has a future in today’s America.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek Diners in America’s HeartlandAthens, Ankara finalizing details of PM’s Turkey visitTurkey halts trade with Israel over 'humanitarian tragedy' in Gaza