Turkish, Greek officials meet on migrant swap

A total of 25 Turkish officials have reached their assigned posts on the Greek islands to work together with Greek officials to coordinate the registration of illegal migrants arriving via Turkey, which has agreed to take them back as part of a Turkey-EU deal.

UN agency boosting presence on Greek islands to deal with spike in refugee arrivals

 UN, 5 June 2015 – The United Nations refugee agency today announced that it is stepping up its presence in the eastern Aegean islands of Greece where in recent weeks, sea arrivals have been averaging some 600 people a day from countries like Syria, Afghanistan Iraq and Turkey, severely straining local reception capacities.

Greeks hope for a bumper season as the tourists come back

Greece is hoping for a new tourism record this year, with arrivals likely to exceed 20 million, in a new sign that the country is winning back foreigners as the economy gets back on its feet.

After a poor season in 2012 – a year marked by back-to-back elections, political instability, and anti-austerity protests – the tourism industry seems finally to be getting its swagger back.

Turk-Greek post-war soccer friendly ends after 84 years

The first friendly soccer match between Turkish and Greek soccer teams – interrupted by downpour in its third minute 84 years ago – ended Saturday in a 5 – 5 draw, on the Greek island of Chios.

The 2014 replay saw Greek club Lailapas face Turkish opponents Karsiyaka, both wearing kits identical to those the two sides were wearing during their abortive clash over eight decades ago.

Karsiyaka mayor Huseyin Mutlu Akpinar was among several who switched teams mid-play, firstly captaining Karsiyaka and then scoring a goal for Lailapas.

Turkish, Greek teams to complete football match 84 years after kick-off

Photo: hurriyetdailynews

CHIOS ISLAND, Greece.
 On May 10, two teams from both sides of the Aegean Sea will face off against one another to finish a football match that began 84 years ago.

Turkey’s Karşıyaka, from the western province of İzmir, will meet with Lailapas, from the Greek island of Chios, to complete a football match that was halted on Dec. 7, 1930, after just three minutes due to bad weather.

“This game symbolizes the fraternity between the two peoples, I hope this game counts as a step towards better relations between the two sides,” said Lailapas team coach Michael Kottakis.