Greek Australian MP John Pandazopoulos has written to the British PM David Cameron, as the president of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), seeking an apology for comments he made about England dismissing the potential migration of Greeks to the UK following the current economic crisis in the nation.
Here is the full letter sent to the Hon David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom:
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to you on behalf of members of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (W.H.I.A) which consists of Members of Parliament from 29 countries and 72 legislatures of Hellenic background.
We seek your apology and strongly condemn your inappropriate comments regarding the free movement of Greeks in the U.K. This goes against all the principles of the free movement of peoples and goods of European Union member states.
It comes at a totally inappropriate time not only in regard to the difficult economic situation in Greece, but also in the year of the London Olympics (a Greek gift to the world that symbolizes bringing the world closer together through fair competition in sport).
In addition it comes after the colloquialism in London on the Return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece where prominent U.K citizens have been advocating for an agreement on the return as part of the London Olympic legacy.
These insensitive comments fail to recognize the strong U.K Greece bond and alliance over many years. It dishonours those British veterans who served in Greece with Greeks in WW1 and WW2 and the thousands buried in Greece at the 21 Commonwealth War Cemeteries.
It fails to recognize the many thousands of British citizens that work and live in Greece. The many British business links in Greece and the tens of thousands of annual visitors to Greece who enjoy Greece as one of the world’s top and friendliest tourist destinations.
It also fails to recognize the large number of Greeks that have been recruited to work in the U.K Greeks contribute to the U.K in using their skills in the finance sector, the science professions, the health sector and medical professions, academia and many other fields. The global shipping industry headquartered in London is very much Greek and contributes significantly to the U.K economy and London’s image as a top global business location.
Imagine the consequences to the U.K. if all these people pulled out of Greece let alone the reciprocal consequence for U.K citizens in Greece.
Clearly your comments for whatever reason were not well considered. They have damaged the reputation of Greeks wherever we may live, many of us in Commonwealth countries, without considering the implications of such comments.
As a result my Board has decided that I write to you in the strongest terms seeking your retraction of these comments and in giving an unequivocal apology to all Greeks who have contributed significantly to the world from ancient times to this modern day.
Yours sincerely,
John Pandazopoulos,
WHIA President