Australian Ambassador to Greece Alison Duncan has spoken of the “forthcoming visit” of Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to Australia following their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Athens.
“I was delighted to meet with Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, to discuss new opportunities in the bilateral relationship and his forthcoming visit to Australia,” Duncan wrote on LinkedIn, posting a photo from their meeting.
Her statement comes nearly a week after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “looking forward to welcoming” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis “to Australia early next year as an official guest of the government”.
The two leaders had met in New York at an event organised by Australia titled “Protecting Children in the Digital Age” during the High-Level Week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
Mitsotakis was accompanied by his wife, Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki, while Albanese attended with his fiancée, Jodie Haydon.
“And I’m sure that while he’s there (in Australia), we’ll continue to engage on this issue (of protecting children in the digital age), as it’s not a matter limited to Australia,” Albanese said.
So, according to both Albanese and Duncan, visits by Mitsotakis and Gerapetritis are expected.
While more details about these visits — including whether and when they will take place — are expected in the coming days, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni arrives in Australia.
As part of her visit, she is scheduled to attend Saturday’s anniversary event marking one year since the opening of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia’s “living museum”, Our People, Their Stories.
Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Loverdos, responsible for Greeks Abroad, is also travelling to Australia.
The Greek delegation visiting Australia and New Zealand from 6 to 23 October includes officials from the Interior Ministry, among them General Secretary Athanasios Balerbas (responsible for the Civil Registry and Parliamentary Elections), General Secretary of Citizenship Dimitrios Karnavos, Aikaterini Ouli (General Directorate of Citizenship), and from Loverdos’ Diplomatic Office, Zoi Tsirakopoulou-Glinou and Alexandros Arapetsikas.
