On Wednesday 6 December, the President of the Australian Hellenic Memorial Steve Kyritsis OAM hosted a personalised tour for Greece’s Ambassador in Australia at the Memorial and the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance.
Ambassador Georgios Papakostas was joined by wife Goha Badalyan and Greece’s Consul General in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
“I had the pleasure of taking, to his request, our Ambassador for a tour.
“Ambassador Papakostas said he was very impressed seeing both memorials and learning the different history of each one. It was a opportunity to pay his respects to all our service men and women in war,” Mr Kyritsis said in a statement.
The Ambassador concluded this week his first official visit to Melbourne since taking up his post in 2019.
A special reception was also held in his honour on Wednesday at the Greek Community of Melbourne Centre, with state politicians, Greek media, Archdiocese representatives and prominent community members in attendance.
During the event, Vice President of the GCM Anthea Sidiropoulou said the Ambassador’s visit was “not in the context of a diplomatic necessity but is a recognition of the importance of cultural diplomacy, as channels of communication between Greek and Australian societies are being strengthened.”
At the reception, Ambassador Papakostas announced that ongoing discussions between Greece and Australia on a double taxation agreement are nearing conclusion, with a deal expected to be signed in 2024.
He also referred to plans for establishing scholarships and programs hosting Greek Australian youth in Greece and the possibility of an imminent visit to Australia by the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
