Deputy FM Gerontopoulos to visit Australia (22-26 March 2014). -MFA

MFA, Friday, 21 March 2014

Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos will carry out a four-day visit to Australia, from 22 to 26 March. Mr. Gerontopoulos will start his visit in Melbourne, where, on Sunday, 23 March, he will attend a thanksgiving mass at St. Eustathios Church, after which, at the Monument to the Fallen, he will review the parade and laying of wreaths marking Greek Independence Day and deliver the day’s panegyric. He will then meet with the boards of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, the Greek Australian Council, and the Pan-Macedonian Association.

On Monday, 24 March, Mr. Gerontopoulos will meet with Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis and visit the Greek community school, Alphington Grammar. He will then meet at the State Parliament with Greek Australian State MPs, after which he will visit the Hellenic Museum and meet with the board of Melbourne’s Greek-Australian Chamber of Commerce.

On Tuesday, 25 March, he will travel to Canberra, where he will visit the Hellenic Memorial, the Hellenic Club, and the Greek community nursery school of St. Nikolaos. He will then visit the Federal Parliament and meet with Greek Australian Deputy Minister Synodinos and Greek Australian federal MPs and senators. On Tuesday evening he will depart for Sydney, where he will meet with Archbishop Stylianos of Australia and with the board of the Greek community of New South Wales.

On Wednesday, 26 March, Mr. Gerontopoulos will meet at the State Parliament in Sydney with Greek Australian Culture Minister George Souris and the Greek Australian MP Sophie Cotsis. He will then meet at Sydney Town Hall with Greek Australian local administration personnel, visit the Greek Australian college of St. Spyridonos, and attend the joint Greek flag-raising event of the adjacent municipalities of Hurtsville and Kogarah. Finally, Mr. Gerontopoulos will speak at a Hellenic Initiative event.

mfa.gr

21/3/14 

----------------------------------------------------

• On the Occasion of Greek National Day. -State Department.

Press Statement, John Kerry, Secretary of State

Washington, DC,March 21, 2014. -"On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I extend best wishes to the people of Greece on the 193rd anniversary of your independence on March 25.

My home of Massachusetts is host to one of the largest Greek-American communities in the United States. During my time in statewide political office, I served beside a proud Greek-American, former Governor Michael S. Dukakis. When I joined the United States Senate, I succeeded another equally proud Greek-American, Paul Tsongas.
My experience has been enriched through my visits to Greece, and I was happy to welcome Foreign Minister Venizelos to the State Department last year.
From the ancient Greek thinkers, whose ideas and principles inspired America’s Founding Fathers, to the modern Hellenic Republic, the bonds between us are strong and continue to grow.
The United States stands in solidarity with Greece as a NATO ally, and we look forward to deepening our security partnership in the years to come.
Beyond our strong bilateral relationship, our people share important values and cultural ties. We will continue to encourage the commercial, educational, and exchange opportunities that serve as the foundation of our friendship.
We applaud Greece’s leadership of the EU Council Presidency, and we are committed to working together to ensure a more secure and prosperous future for Greeks and Americans alike."
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/03/223790.htm
21/3/14