ARIANA FERENTINOU

Defense ministers too thaw relations in the wake of Tsipras visit to Turkey ARIANA FERENTINOU

Defense ministers too thaw relations in the wake of Tsipras visit to Turkey

This has been an important month for the way the relations between Turkey and Greece are heading, albeit not in terms of concrete results or substantive steps, but in symbolism and expectations.

February 14 2019
My brand-new bracelet from Patriarch Bartholomew ARIANA FERENTINOU

My brand-new bracelet from Patriarch Bartholomew

“This is for you,” I heard Patriarch Bartholomew say to me. He handed me a small black waxed “komboskini” prayer rope bracelet and continued his way to enter the central building of Halki Seminary accompanied by a large group of Orthodox priests.

February 08 2019
Tsipras, Erdoğan meeting again. Any hope this time ARIANA FERENTINOU

Tsipras, Erdoğan meeting again. Any hope this time?

I knew that I would sound extremely naïve after living in Turkey for so long, but I insisted in asking my Turkish colleague: “How come Hulusi Akar, in a matter of hours, sends two conflicting messages to Greece?”

January 31 2019
From Brexit to Prespes ARIANA FERENTINOU

From Brexit to Prespes

“Theresa May survives no-confidence vote, but Britain remains in a deadlock,” wrote the Guardian newspaper, commenting on the narrow victory (325 against 306) won by the embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons on Jan. 16. Just a day before she had suffered the biggest defeat in her country’s recent parliamentary history over her Brexit-plan, which would have detailed the divorce proceedings between Britain and the EU.

January 17 2019
Tsipras: Optimism both at home and toward Turkey ARIANA FERENTINOU

Tsipras: Optimism both at home and toward Turkey

It is not a usual practice by politicians to accept their mistakes. The contrary is true: They do not, and when they do, there must be a strong reason why they have to. For example, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, two weeks after the 2016 failed coup, asked for forgiveness over his former view on Gülen, this was unexpected but understandable as it dictated the government policy that has been followed since.

January 10 2019
A New Year’s probe into the Greek society ARIANA FERENTINOU

A New Year’s probe into the Greek society

Traditionally, each New Year’s beginning presents an occasion to look back in time and try to foresee what comes ahead. It is the time of reflection, conclusions, assumptions and predictions for politicians, economists and researchers.

January 03 2019
A bribe of chocolates and candies ARIANA FERENTINOU

A bribe of chocolates and candies

Nearing the eighth decade of his life and completing his twenty seventh year as head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew has become a highly recognized and respected international figure.

December 31 2018
Electioneering lulls Greco-Turkish relations ARIANA FERENTINOU

Electioneering lulls Greco-Turkish relations

According to the original plan, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras should have visited Istanbul after his visit to Moscow at the end of last week, responding to an invitation by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Both leaders had met back in September on the sidelines of the 73rd U.N. General Assembly. We were told then that there was enough time for the necessary preparations in order to fit the trip around now, after the Moscow visit. Yet, for reasons that obviously relate to the continuous tension between these two countries, the visit which was supposed to cover a long list of “positive steps” has been put to the back-burner for the moment.

December 13 2018
Tsipras: Mending fences with Russia ARIANA FERENTINOU

Tsipras: Mending fences with Russia

When then Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias decided last July to expel two Russian diplomats serving in Athens and ban two more from entering Greece, many were surprised and worried. Kotzias had justified his decision by blaming Kremlin for attempting to interfere with “sensitive” matters of Greek politics relating to the Balkans, especially the process initiated by both Athens and Skopje governments to normalize their relations after years of dispute. Kremlin responded by expelling two Greek diplomats from the Russian capital.

December 06 2018