Athens , 4 February 2010

Session of the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Standing Committee for Greeks abroad regarding ethnic Greeks from the former Soviet Republics

The Greek Community is a “sleeping giant”. The presence of almost 7 million ethnic Greeks around the world, given their ability to intervene in favour of and support our country’s interests and, most of all, Greece's image, is an exceptional asset. This is why we should be careful and much more efficient.

I will point out the need for better organization in certain consulates. In particular, I have been informed about the Consulate General in Mariupol, and in fact this is one of the matters on which I want to intervene in the most immediate manner possible in order to find a solution that will help address issues and serve the citizens who need the Consulate's services. We must also look at the potential that the Foreign Ministry has for setting up new Embassies in case certain countries need them. But it is easily understood that we cannot have an Embassy in every country around the world. We need to prioritize, but it is still important for us to look into specific things that we can do in this area.

Furthermore, I would also like to comment on the issue of obtaining Greek citizenship or a special ethnic Greek identity card. This issue – which I have faced myself – shows an image on the part of Greece that is not at all good; i.e., ethnic Greeks waiting to get such cards for a decade. Today, I sent a letter to the Interior Minister on this issue precisely in order for our two Ministries to cooperate and look at the ways in which they can put an end to this sad reality. Beyond that, given the existing capabilities, the Foreign and Education Ministries are working together in order to try and address all these issues.

In 2009, funds granted to federations, communities and associations reached €115,000. There have also been hospitality programmes for 575 children in summer camps and 204 elderly people. A €60,000 grant was given by the Black Sea Center for Hellenic Studies and Culture, a €142,000 grant was given by the SAE (World Council of Hellenes Abroad) Region of the former USSR countries, and grants were also given by the Medical Center of Mariupol and other agencies. I do not think that these are enough, but I think that there is much greater need in this region for us to come closer and support them more substantially. I also do not think that the central government’s presence as a whole in the activities of ethnic Greeks abroad should be limited merely to funds and long-distance contributions, but that the latter should also be accompanied by a physical presence there. We should be there whenever there is an important occasion. My principle is to visit the Greek community first in every trip and every visit I carry out.  I have been doing this every time, and I will continue to do so consistently. And this physical presence, as you rightly said, should be reciprocal; that is, we should be present and I think that we will adopt your idea about organizing certain events in Greece as well. We could have a major event every year, in order for the Greek diaspora's force to be present and show our cultural level, etc.

I will also insist on the need to preserve our language. I think that our language is the most significant link between Greece and the Greek community abroad. I think that on this, there is of course the intention and the need to improve the way in which we act. And it is very encouraging that there are ethnic Greeks who can keep up this fight, I mean continue to train younger people. Finally, I would like to stress that our presence should not make a distinction between what we are doing for the Greek community abroad and what the broader cooperation between Greece and these countries is.

I think that the issue of Mariupol should be looked into immediately, as Greece cannot be blamed for the stance of certain employees who discredit it. Greece and Greek culture are too important to become a victim of bureaucracy. This is why all the Greeks can support the image of a country that is strong, that has the capabilities, that is a rich country with the ability to overcome this critical time when it is being hit from many different sides.

If we can have a very strong, multiple cooperation at financial, cultural and other levels, then this will be an opportunity for the Greek community and the members of the diaspora to participate more actively; they will be able to claim jobs, roles in society – and I will reverse the question, if you allow me, saying that in a series of initiatives we have been taking we need and ought to brief Greeks abroad by making all our actions public, in order for them to follow and try and play an active role.

For example, let me mention our contacts in Azerbaijan to mobilize Greek enterprises. I will simply mention the meetings I have had over the past 3 months: twice with Russian representatives to launch a financial cooperation and here, if you allow me Mr. Savvides, let me make a small correction; there is excellent cooperation on energy issues. I have spoken personally to Mr. Titov and Mr. Levitin on these issues and a bilateral interministerial meeting will be held in Moscow and Sochi – where the winter Olympic Games will be held – in order for us to move our cooperation forward.

One comment – a correction on the word used by Mr. Savvides regarding the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline; not only is Greece not lacking courage and reliability as a partner, but it is one of the involved parties that has been applying pressure in favour of this project’s implementation, in the strongest possible manner.

Finally, I would like to thank those who have expressed their concern about the current economic situation in Greece. I would, of course, encourage everyone to avoid scaremongering. Greece can and will make it; we have the ability, the human and other resources and, most of all, the resolve to overcome these problems.

I think that the Prime Minister rightly chose to take the post of Foreign Minister as well, precisely at a time when the country's image and picture should be bolstered on an international level; there is no one more suited for this job than the country’s Prime Minister. At the same time, he will help us build our relations with other countries. In closing, I want to say that I truly believe that the support of Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been very, very important. They have been a beacon for Greek culture, representing Greece, the Greek people and the Greek church in the best possible manner.

Having said that, I want to reiterate that Greeks abroad and Greeks particularly in this very important region [of the former USSR] – that is economically and politically up-and-coming – should not be allowed to play a secondary role. They should play a leading role and this is why it is in their hands and in our hands – as a government – to strengthen it, but also in the hands of the associations, the organizations, the SAE, the SAE’s 5^th Region, to bring all of them together. I will briefly mention something I heard from the Youth of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), with whom I had a very good exchange of views in Thessaloniki at their last meeting: that initiatives on registering those members who are active should be undertaken on their own initiative as well. In other words, not everything has to be done on the central government's or metropolitan Greece’s initiative.

Nevertheless, we remain at the disposal of all of the SAE's Regions, given that this region has great needs and is of major important. Following this discussion, we will move on to the next step; i.e., looking into each matter separately until we resolve it.