On Monday, 11 February, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris met with members of the Polish-Greek Parliamentary Friendship Group, and specifically with Parliament Members Tomasz Szyminsky and Τοmasz Kostus, as well as with Stanislaw Derahajlo, the attorney of the Polish Government’s Vice President and Vice-Prefect of Podlasie Province, where there is a strong Christian Orthodox presence.
The meeting was held on the occasion of the visit of the Polish delegation to Greece to participate in the commencement of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and Poland, which began with a Holy Mass dedicated to the Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn at St. Marina Parish in Ilioupoli. The delegation was accompanied by the President of the “St. Marina” Foundation, Patrikios Panasious.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcoming the visitors, stressed the possibilities that arise, on the occasion of the aforementioned anniversary, for strengthening cooperation between the two countries on a governmental and parliamentary level, as well as on a level of local bodies. To achieve this goal, he encouraged that initiatives be undertaken by both sides to organise political meetings and cultural events. He also stressed that the Polish community in Greece and the Greek community in Poland, which has existed there for many years, can play a vital role in strengthening relations between the two peoples.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted the proposals of his interlocutors for potential cooperation in specific areas, such as collaborations by Universities through exchanges of scientists and students, the exchange of technical know-how related to use of the internet at Greek schools and Universities, mutual briefings for programmes for seniors that are in progress in the two countries, and increasing the flow of tourists from Greece to Poland, while he underscored our country’s amenability towards cooperation in these fields.
The meeting was concluded with the expression of will on both sides for the bolstering of bilateral relations.
February 11, 2019