17/12/2010

PRESS RELEASE

More than 60 Representatives from a wide range of Greek community organisations had the opportunity to meet the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr Dimitris Dollis, during a function organised in his honour by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV), on Wednesday evening, at the Greek Community Centre, and discussed with him issues relating to Greece and the Diaspora.

Mr Dollis thanked the Greek Community for the event and emphasized that henceforth the Greek government will endeavour to create new and innovative bases in regard to its cooperation with the Greek-Australian organisations which would include cultural and educational exchange programs.

The president of the GOCMV, Mr. Bill Papastergiadis, welcomed Mr Dollis to the Greek Community and stressed the importance of a former member of the Greek community to return as a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece. He also stated that the Greek Community is seeking a better and constructive cooperation with the Greek government.

Mr. Papastergiadis noted “that now more than ever, with the construction of the new building on this site, which will house the Cultural Centre of the Greek community, we wish to upgrade our cooperation in the domain culture. Of course it would be ideal to relocate the Consulate General of Greece to our new building, so the space can become literally a center of Hellenism in Melbourne and we hope to achieve this."

In conclusion Mr Papastergiadis referred to the Community’s priority to both culture and education; and that the GOCMV invests in many ways in these areas.
"At our school, Alphington Grammar, the total cost of the new multipurpose hall and for the eight new classrooms exceeds $6 million. This year’s VCE results have been the most successful in the school’s history and the creation of educational exchange programs by the Greek State will be of immense benefit to the school”