Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terens Quick, accompanied by Consul General, Konstantinos Koutras, met at the offices of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York with the President of the Federation, Petros Galatoulas. The whole range of issues pertaining to the Greek diaspora and its relations with Greece was discussed.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs referred in particular to the fact that the younger generation of the Hellenic Diaspora, disappointed with practices that effectively isolate them, is not participating in diaspora organizations, making it difficult to bring vital new blood and a contemporary outlook to these organizations, which have, as a result, been shrinking at an accelerated rate.
“I was very pleased to hear from Mr. Galatoulas that he has promoted young members of the Greek community in the administration of the Federation of New York,” Mr. Quick commented later, in response to a question, adding that “I also heard his suggestion that the Diaspora Youth Parliament, comprising young Greeks from around the world, be institutionalised along the lines of the Youth Parliament, which has been functioning successfully for years. It could materialize as an annual assembly of university students, who could be selected, for example, based on their academic performance, from all disciplines and from any university in their country.
This is of course a huge endeavour. Greece can –with the help of sponsors– provide accommodation, but, as I explained, the cost of air transport will have to be paid either by the students’ families –as is the case with the summer-camp programmes hosted by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad (GSGA)– or by the Federations, or other diaspora organizations. In any case, it is a matter that will also have to be discussed with the President of the Hellenic Parliament. I will brief Mr. Voutsis upon my return to Athens.
There is no question that the idea, which has been proposed to Greek governments for years now, with no response, has its usefulness and merit. It would bring hundreds of young members of the diaspora closer to Greece, and they will return to their homelands without our ‘losing’ them after all. We will have motivated them to stay close to the country of their parents and grandparents.
We are also creating new points of contact for the new blood of Hellenism throughout the world, with major prospects for collaboration and networking; prospects that certainly can be capitalized on, with regard to issues that concern Greece: national, cultural, business, tourism, university issues, and more. This is the generation that will soon be entering all of the key sectors of the countries where they were born and reside. Also, politics, economy, education, etc. The mid- and long-term benefit is huge.
Finally, we will bolster the GSGA’s summer holiday youth programmes, which in 2017 were almost four times what they were in other years.”
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also visited Greece’s Consulate General in New York, where he discussed with Consul General Konstantinos Koutras on issues within his portfolio.
After his short stay in New York, Mr. Quick departed for Chicago, where he will accompany the Prime Minister to meetings with the local Greek community.
October 13, 2017