Hundreds attended an early reception last week at the Embassy of Greece in Canberra for Greek National Day, where recently-arrived Ambassador Ekaterini Xagorari reminded guests and the diplomatic community of the founding principles of the Greek nation, before turning the focus to the challenges facing the country today as a result of the European refugee crisis.
Ambassador Xagorari said that “in a changing environment” Greece was “deeply committed to European principles and values” and wished to highlight its “geopolitical role at the crossroads of three continents Asia, Africa and Europe”.
“Greece works side by side with its European Union partners towards an immediate solution of the refugee crisis – an international issue which should be solved in a way compatible to the EU’s principles and values,” she added.
The ambassador’s remarks followed increased tensions in Greece after thousands of refugees were forcibly returned by FYROM on Tuesday.
Last week EU leaders reached a provisional ‘one-for-one’ agreement with Turkey that it would take back refugees arriving in Greece, in return for Syrian refugees being resettled from Turkey in Europe.
Greece is under pressure from EU partners to stop the flow of thousands of migrants heading north through the Balkans, and has recently sought €480m ($711m) from EU emergency funds to help it shelter and process up to 100,000 refugees.
Referring to the Greek government’s continuing economic reform program, Mrs Xagorari said that the government was working “intensively to resolve the fiscal problem that is going through the seventh year of a very harsh crisis”.
The ambassador said marking Greece’s National Day in Australia, gave her an “opportunity to express my appreciation to the government and people of Australia, and to deeply thank the Greeks of Australia for standing next to their country of origin – keeping the spirit of Greece alive.”
Also in attendance at the reception on the last leg of his official visit to Australia, was Michael Kokkinos, head of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad.
Asked his reaction to his first visit to Australia, Mr Kokkinos told Neos Kosmos: “If you don’t meet people face to face you wouldn’t know what is going on here, keeping the heritage alive, supporting Greece. It is amazing.”
“People have told me of their experiences about difficulties in regard to their pensions, problems with paperwork in Greece, and all these things we’re trying to change, to make it easier.”
Mr Kokkinos, who concludes his tour in Perth, added that the role of the diaspora had never been more important in both Greek and world affairs.
“As our Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Nikos Kotzias said, ‘a nation without a diaspora is not a stable nation’. It is like having ambassadors all over the world, and it’s important these days that the Greek idea of humanism and solidarity is remembered.”