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It’s time to take a firmer approach when it comes to Turkey. That’s the argument Boris Zilberman, the Director of Public Policy and Strategy at Christians United for Israel Action Fund, makes in his latest op-ed. Boris is with us today on The Greek Current to explain why continuing on the current path in the US-Turkish relationship is a mistake, and discuss what definitive action the US...

13 λεπτά

Diliman Abdulkader, the Co-Founder and Director of American Friends of Kurdistan, joins The Greek Current to discuss recent reports of inter-Kurdish conflict in northern Iraq and in Syria, Ankara’s role in these conflicts and its latest moves to crack down on Kurdish rights both within Turkey and in the broader region, and what Kurds expect from the US and the incoming Biden administration on...

10 λεπτά

"From a new drug research hub to island incubators, Greece is starting to position itself for the Fourth Industrial Revolution." That’s the lead sentence in a piece by journalist John Psaropoulos, who outlines the key steps Greece is taking to transform its economy and capitalize on its young talent. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in Greece and Al Jazeera’s southeast Europe...

17 λεπτά

There are a number of recent reports that Turkey is trying to open diplomatic channels with Israel in a bid to mend relations. This includes an announcement that Turkey will once again send an ambassador to Israel, and references to “secret contacts between Turkey and Israel.” Seth Frantzman joins our podcast to discuss why these moves by Turkey are disingenuous and an effort to sabotage...

12 λεπτά

On Monday the United States announced it is imposing sanctions on Turkey for its purchase and acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. This is the first time the US has targeted a NATO ally through the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Dr. Aykan Erdemir, the Director of the Turkey Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former Turkish...

17 λεπτά

EU leaders agreed on Thursday to target more individuals involved in Ankara’s illegal energy exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean. European leaders also reached a deal on climate measures and resolved a dispute over the EU’s historic €1.8 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery package. Yiannis Palaiologos, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins our podcast to give us an...

14 λεπτά

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. HALC’s Managing Director Georgia Logothetis joins me today to discuss Turkey’s human rights record both at home and abroad. You can read the articles we discuss on The Daily Roundup here: Turkey’s Government Wants Silicon Valley to Do...

14 λεπτά

David Patrikarakos, the author of “Borderland: Europe’s Eastern Faultline”, joins The Greek Current to discuss his piece and give us a look at the ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey from the frontlines. David travelled to the small island of Kastellorizo at the heart of tensions over maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and to Greece’s northern border at Evros, which was at the...

15 λεπτά

This weekend The New York Times ran a story on the Greek Orthodox Church and the criticism it is facing for the way it has handled the Covid-19 pandemic as the virus hits its ranks. Expert George Demacopoulos, the co-director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University, discusses the Church’s response to the pandemic both in Greece and the US, defiance by hard-liners to...

15 λεπτά

On Sunday night former United States Senator Paul Sarbanes - the son of Greek immigrants and the first Greek-American US senator - passed away at the age of 87. Senator Sarbanes served in the Senate for 30 years, leaving his mark at key moments in recent US history. William Antholis and HALC’s Executive Director Endy Zemenides join The Greek Current to discuss his legacy and his tremendous...

14 λεπτά

Congress is ready to pass this year’s National Defense Authorization Act - the annual defense policy bill - with provisions that mandate the President of the United States to sanction Turkey for its acquisition of Russian S-400s within 30 days of passage of the bill. The legislation could get floor votes in the House and Senate as soon as next week. Alan Makovsky joins us to break down what...

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Congressman Gregory Meeks was elected as the first African American chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, winning a caucus wide vote against Congressman Joaquin Castro. The contest at times had the feel of a battle between Democratic leadership and the more progressive wing of the party over what its foreign-policy platform should be. Laura Kelly, a DC based journalist...

10 λεπτά

The US and Turkey targeted each other on Tuesday during a NATO ministerial meeting, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accusing Ankara of stoking tensions with fellow allies in the Mediterranean and of giving a gift to the Kremlin by purchasing the Russian-made S-400 missile system. The sharp clash highlighted divisions and tensions within NATO, where Turkey is increasingly at odds with its...

10 λεπτά

The Saint Andrew’s Freedom Forum hosted its annual Human Rights and Religious Freedom Forum together with the Hellenic American Leadership Council. The event featured a number of US Representatives, and a powerful address by Archbishop Elpidophoros on social justice and a more perfect union. Andreas Akaras, an attorney with a background in public and government affairs who is also the founder...

13 λεπτά

Today, Turkey’s seismic research vessel, the Oruc Reis, returned to port from an area within Greece's continental shelf. The move comes less than two weeks before an EU summit where European leaders will evaluate possible sanctions against Ankara. In the lead up to that summit, Greece has also made it clear that there can be no discussions with Turkey unless Ankara implements a moratorium on...

14 λεπτά

On Wednesday President Trump granted a full pardon to his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Michael Flynn had twice pleaded guilty for lying to the F.B.I. about his conversations with a Russian diplomat, and had also admitted as part of his guilty plea that he provided false information to the Justice Department about work he did for Turkish interests while serving as a top...

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Today President-elect Joe Biden unveiled his nominations for a number of key national security positions that point to a distinct break from the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy, including Secretary of State and national security adviser. Endy Zemenides, HALCs Executive Director, joins us as we look at what these nominations will mean for US foreign policy, and the Biden...

19 λεπτά

Today, EU officials made it clear that they expect Turkey to act toward a de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. This statement comes ahead of a crucial EU leaders’ summit in December that will focus on Turkey. It also follows a weekend that saw Turkey extend the activities of its research vessel the Oruc Reis in the Eastern Mediterranean, President Erdogan say that Turkey’s...

14 λεπτά

Hospitals in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city and the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, are being pushed to a breaking point. Some are at capacity or near capacity, and ICU units are filling up at an alarming rate. Journalist Iliana Magra, who spoke to doctors and medical professionals on the frontlines in Thessaloniki, joins us to share their stories.Iliana Magra...

13 λεπτά

The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is pushing the healthcare system of Greece to its limits, while cases and deaths are rising in the US as well, where at least 250,000 Americans have now died from the disease. Dr. George Chiampas joins us to help us make sense of what’s going on in Greece and the US, and to give us a view from the frontlines of this pandemic. Dr. Chiampas is assistant...

12 λεπτά