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Denise
Denise is a specialist in International Education and has lived in 13 different cities throughout the globe so far. Her love for different cultures and learning drives her to travel constantly,…
Denise is a specialist in International Education and has lived in 13 different cities throughout the globe so far. Her love for different cultures and learning drives her to travel constantly, always craving to find new ways to communicate, drive, and cook!! She is a firm believer that humans never cease to learn!
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'Diaspora Day'
For the first time in the history of Greece and Diaspora Hellenism, June 5th was declared "Diaspora Day", following a historic decision by the Greek Parliament. Relations between Greece and Diaspora Hellenism have been given new momentum through a decision by the current government to give voting rights to Greeks living abroad.
The World Council of Hellenes Abroad SAE met in Athens and Thessaloniki from June 7th to the 14th, while its presiding committee already met with Mr. Karamanlis on June 4th. The committee then met with main opposition party leader George Papandreou and other party leaders. During the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis said "it is a great joy to see you today. The World Council of Hellenes Abroad is a stable axis of a common and national effort to support Ecumenical Hellenism. I would therefore like to thank you for the highly significant initiatives you have taken". The Greek prime minister also said "in recognition of the contribution of SAE, we honor Greeks of the Diaspora. And as we have already shown we will spare no effort to further support SAE regarding the major issue of the bill on voting rights for Greeks living beyond the country's borders, I would like to stress that we have made timely preparations of a bill that has been forwarded to you, and to all parties represented in parliament. I am aware that there are differences of opinion. And, in view of the fact that for its ratification the constitution requires a broad majority of 200 MPs, we must attain the necessary convergence of views." He continued to say that the foreign minister and the interior minister will invite all party representatives to discuss the issue and that a final draft will be formulated from the synthesis of their views, along with the views of SAE's. He hopes that the all this will take effect by the end of the year. There are efforts to increase the number of ministers of state from 12 to 15 to include ministers representing the Diaspora, said Mr. Tamvakis in connection to the Greek Diaspora vote.
For further information on the Greek Diaspora, visit ‘Greek Insight'. It's a new Greek Diaspora portal which is a unique source of online information for 5.5 million Diaspora Greeks and Philhellenes worldwide.