The Greek Current

Over the past few years it seems that the island of Imvros, a Turkish island in the Aegean Sea with a historic Greek population, is experiencing what’s been described by some as a small Greek renaissance, as some descendants of the Greeks who were largely displaced in the 1960s have begun trickling back. Elsewhere in Turkey, however, the picture is bleak. Out of a population of some 200,000 Greeks who were allowed to stay following the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, only some 2,000 remain. Piotr Zalewski, The Economist's Turkey correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at this Greek comeback on Imvros, a small bright spot in an otherwise bleak picture for the remaining Greek community of Turkey.Read Piotr Zalewsky’s latest for The Economist: The uncertain future of Greeks in TurkeyYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PM pledges support for storm-damaged areas in central GreeceGreece credit rating raised to investment grade for first time since debt crisisDBRS restores Greece to investment grade

Greece was battered this week by Storm Daniel, which has led to the death of multiple people, triggered landslides, road and bridge collapses, and is being described as a “biblical catastrophe”. The heavy rainfall, which comes on the heels of a devastating few weeks of wildfires, has turned many villages in the low-lying area of Karditsa, in the mainland Thessaly plain, into a lake. With rescue efforts underway, Prime Minister Mitsotakis postponed an annual economic speech scheduled for this weekend to visit the afflicted areas. Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest reporting from Greece on this unprecedented storm.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:‘A biblical catastrophe’: death toll rises to four as Storm Daniel lashes GreeceDeadly storm sweeps across Greece, PM postpones keynote speechEntire villages in Thessaly ‘wiped out’Greece becomes 13th member of Three Seas Initiative on EU’s eastern flankWhat is the Three Seas Initiative and why is it expanding?Romania hosts summit to boost ties between 12 EU countries and partners‘What law dictates that I cannot be sworn in?’

The leaders of Greece, Israel and Cyprus once again put energy cooperation at the heart of discussions earlier this week in Nicosia. The three leaders took it a step further to explore expanding their cooperation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referring to the possibility of an infrastructure and electrical link between Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Europe, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raising the prospect of engaging with India as well. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to explore how Greece, Cyprus, and Israel are not only strengthening their partnership, but expanding this arc of stability across the region.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Energy cooperation with Israel deepensGreece is working with Israel on AI technology to quickly detect wildfiresDisaster of biblical proportionsThree dead, four missing as rains pound Greece for second dayFlooding in Athens as Storm Daniel reaches capitalTurkey asks the EU to take bold steps to advance its membership bid, while the EU urges reformsTurkey, EU to revive talks to modernise customs union, minister says

Greece’s foreign minister held a much anticipated meeting with his Turkish counterpart on Tuesday in which the two sides agreed on a “roadmap” to revive high-level contacts between their countries and seek “new approaches” to problems as part of an effort to improve ties. Constantinos Filis, the Director of the Institute of Global Affairs and an associate professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest takeaways from this meeting in Ankara, and offers a look ahead at what will likely be a crucial period in Greek-Turkish relations.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Small window of opportunity opens in Greek-Turkish relationsMinisterial meeting heralds warmer relations between Greece and TurkeyFriendly Putin-Erdogan Meeting Keeps West GuessingTorrential rain follows summer wildfires in Greece, one deadGreece battered by tropical storms

In July Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he planned to legalize same-sex marriage in his new term. Many have noted that this would be a huge step forward for LGBTQI+ rights at a time when some governments - even in the West - are cracking down on the community. Jessica Stern, the US Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, and Nikos Efstathiou, a journalist and author from Athens and the current Managing Editor at the magazine LiFO, join Thanos Davelis to talk about the LGBTQI+ rights in Greece and around the world, and look at what Greece and the US can learn from each other as they work to advance these rights.Appointed by President Biden, Jessica Stern serves as the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons. Special Envoy Stern leads U.S. efforts to protect LGBTQI+ persons globally from violence and discrimination.  Prior to joining the Department of State, Stern led Outright International, a global LGBTQI+ human rights organization, as its Executive Director for ten years.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Stern’s Travel to Greece and GermanyGreece's Prime Minister Plans to Legalize Same-Sex MarriageGreece wildfires: Eighteen bodies found in Greek forestWildfires: EU mobilises new planes and firefighters for GreeceUN calls unauthorized construction by Turkish Cypriots a violation of the status quo on CyprusTurkey accuses UN of abandoning neutrality over Cyprus roadwork

As heatwaves – like the ones Greece has experienced this summer – become longer and more intense, modern cities like Athens need to develop new strategies in order to shield the city and its inhabitants from rising temperatures. This includes investing in public water reservoirs and drinking fountains, splash pads and fountains, pocket parks, green parking lots, trees in public spaces, sustainable mobility and reused buildings. Taking these tough, but necessary decisions, however will require political will. Prof. Petros Babasikas, head of the architecture program at the University of Toronto who has also led a key research on how Athens can adapt in the age of climate change, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what steps Athens can take today to become more resilient.Read Prof. Petros Babasikas’ latest interview with Kathimerini: Climate change: Saving Athens from itselfYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkish Cypriots attack UN peacekeepers trying to halt road work inside divided Cyprus’ buffer zoneUN condemns assault on personnel and vehicles inside Cyprus buffer zoneUS Embassy of Cyprus tweet on the attack in the buffer zonePutin fails again as Europe’s gas storage hits 90 percent

In the months since Turkish President Erdogan’s reelection, we’ve heard a lot about the potential for a new page in EU-Turkey relations, and Erdogan even raised the issue of Turkey’s membership in the EU at the July NATO summit. Despite this signaling from Ankara, the main obstacles concerning EU-Turkey relations have remained the same, whether we are looking at rule of law and human rights issues, or Turkey’s continued occupation and refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus. As the debate over the future of EU-Turkey relations in the coming years unfolds, Ambassador Marc Pierini joins Thanos Davelis to look at what we should expect in the wake of Erdogan’s reelection.Marc Pierini is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective. Prior to this, Pierini was a career EU diplomat, and served as EU ambassador to Turkey (2006–2011).You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:What does Erdoğan’s new term in office mean for EU-Turkey relations?UN raises alarm over unauthorized construction in buffer zoneNorth announces intention to build ‘unauthorised’ road through buffer zoneLess leeway for handouts this winter

Greek football - or soccer - teams have delivered some important performances on the European stage these past weeks, and fans are rightfully excited across the country. While fans celebrate these victories, a cloud hangs over the sport. Fan violence is back in the spotlight after a Greek fan was killed recently in an altercation with Croatian hooligans in Athens. The incident has sparked a debate about violence in the game and the government’s responsibilities, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday to address what he called “the cancer of football”. Professor Alexander Kitroeff, a Professor of History at Haverford College and the author of the book Ελλάς, Ευρώπη Παναθηναϊκός! 100 Χρόνια Ελληνική Ιστορία - Greece, Europe, Panathinaikos! 100 Years of Greek History, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss these latest developments.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:UEFA and Greece to clamp down on football hooligans after fan's death in AthensUEFA’s Ceferin calls on Europe to end ‘cancer’ of soccer violencePM announces soccer club club fan associations will closeNagorno-Karabakh residents say 'disastrous' blockade choking suppliesMount an airlift to feed Nagorno-KarabakhRussia risks war with NATO in Black Sea, former top commander in Europe warns

The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, or Artsakh, as a result of Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor. For over eight months, the region's 120,000 indigenous Armenians have been deprived access to food, medicine, fuel, electricity, and water. Gev Iskajyan, the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Artsakh, joins Thanos Davelis from Artsakh to look at the humanitarian crisis that’s unfolding on the ground as a result of Azerbaijan’s blockade, and discuss his latest op-ed which explores how US diplomacy is currently failing the people of Artsakh and Armenia. Read Gev Iskajyan and Alex Galitsky’s latest op-ed: U.S. Diplomacy is Failing ArmeniaYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Weapons infrastructure upgrade urgentMigrant and refugee border crossings down 29%

Every year on July 20th we remember the beginning of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus. July 20th, however, only marks phase one of the Turkish invasion. On August 14th, 1974 - despite the collapse of the dictatorship in Greece, the restoration of a democratic government in Cyprus, and the diplomatic efforts underway to find a way forward - Turkey launched phase two of its invasion, or Attila II. Historian Andrew Novo joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the second phase of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus that led to the illegal occupation of nearly 40% of Cyprus, a score of human rights violations, and the displacement of some 150,000 people from their homes.Andrew Novo holds a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford. He is Professor of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University's College of International Security Affairs, and he is a specialist in the history of the Mediterranean world, both ancient and modern. The views expressed on our show do not reflect the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the United States government.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Cyprus marks 49 years since Turkey's dramatic military expansionHimare’s ethnic Greeks rally for detained mayorThe benefits of a debt upgrade