Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick visited Hungary on 14 April, where he gave a talk at the Budapest State University, as part of the celebrations for Philhellenism Day. The event was organised with the assistance of the Greek Embassy, the University's Department of Modern Greek Studies and the Byron Association, whose President, Mr Panos Trigazis, also attended the event.
In Budapest, the Deputy Foreign Minister met with representatives of local Greek associations. In addition, he visited the Greek village Beloiannisz, where he met with the Mayor, Mr Kostas Papalexis, and was given a tour of the Greek school. He also laid a wreath at the monument of Nikos Beloyannis and the memorial located next to the church of St Constantine and Helen, at the entrance to the village.
Before his departure, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted:
“It may have been a short, yet very substantial visit because I met with expatriates who have a passion for Greece; who ask nothing more from the motherland than its help in preserving the Greek language among their children.
They have two demands: They need a Modern Greek language lecturer for their university seat and the chance for 15 of their children to attend summer camps in Greece. The second demand will be taken care of by the Greek Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, while I will bring the first issue – which had also been raised during Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ visit to Budapest in 2017 – to the attention of the Greek Ministry of Education and the universities, and I am certain that there will be a proper response.
I also commend the Self-government of the Greeks of Hungary for the excellent magazine they publish, entitled Hellenism, with Andreas Oikonomou as editor-in-chief. It may cover expat issues, but the passion for Greece is quite obvious.
I would like to thank all those who honoured me with their presence, be it at the Greek Embassy, the University or the village Beloiannisz. I would also like to thank the President of the Byron Association, Mr Panos Trigazis, who came with me from Athens and accompanied me to all these events.”
April 15, 2019