Deputy FM Kotsiras conveys message of support for Greek-American Diaspora during US visit

Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Kotsiras sent a message stressing that support of the Greek Diaspora in the United States is a priority, during a tour of New York, Philadelphia and Boston which concluded on Thursday. Among others, he called for deeper cooperation with the diaspora’s academic, scientific and business communities.

Kotsiras had a series of meetings with distinguished Greek-American academics, scientists, business people and professionals during his visit, as well as Greek-American, ecclesiastical and educational associations. He praised the Greek-American community’s active presence and its contribution to the excellent relations between Greece and the United States, and to preserving Greek cultural heritage.

The deputy minister briefed members of the Diaspora on the foreign ministry’s Strategic Plan for Overseas Greeks 2024-2027, focusing on the improvements in consular services, promotion of the Greek language and culture, support of young people and the strengthening of ties with Greek-American academics, scientists and business community, in the framework of promoting scientific diplomacy.

Kotsiras underlined that diaspora scientists were a “valuable asset” for Greeks everywhere, and one “which we want to bring closer to Greece.”

The deputy minister visited Greek Studies chairs and programmes at Yale, Harvard, Brown and Boston universities, pledging to support their work “in a horizontal and targeted manner,” while emphasising the promotion of collaborations with Greek universities and institutions.

In New York, Kotsiras participated in the 34th Annual Scholarship Dinner of the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York, attended a service at the Church of Agios Dimitrios and visited the Agios Dimitrios School in Astoria. He also met with expatriate businesspersons and executives of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce (HACC), with whom he discussed the prospects of strengthening Greek-US business cooperation through the Diaspora.

In Philadelphia, the deputy minister participated in a meeting with representatives of expatriate organisations, parishes and professional associations, organised by the Federation of Greek Associations of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware at St. George’s Cathedral.

In Boston, he visited MIT, had a meeting with members of the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies (HIAS) and expatriate professors working at Harvard and participated in an event of the Hellenic Innovation Network (HIN) on “Business and Sustainability”. Addressing the event, Kotsiras referred to the significant improvement of the investment and business environment in Greece over the last five years and underlined that the utilisation of the scientific potential of the Diaspora can give further impetus to Greek innovation.

Speaking at an event held at the Consulate General of Greece in Boston for the presentation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), Kotsiras pointed out the good prospects that cooperation with the Diaspora can create for expanding the reach of Greek cultural bodies and organisations. Visiting the Maliotis Cultural Center, he expressed his support for initiatives of the Greek-American Community that promote Greek culture in the USA, while he conveyed the same message to members of the Federation of Greek American Associations of New England, with whom he had a meeting.

On the occasion of his visit, the deputy minister also met Michael Dukakis, the first Greek-American politician to run for US president, and met the Greek-descent mayor of Somerville, Katjana Ballantyne.

source ANA-MPA

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