The strengthening of our national positions on the carpet at the meetings of the PADEE

By Penelope Galliou

The Greek side is looking for any channel that will communicate and strengthen the Greek positions on national issues, especially vis-à-vis Turkey, during this critical period for Greek-Turkish relations. The meeting of the Board of the World Interparliamentary Union of Hellenism (PaDEE), whose delegation is making an official visit to our country, with the Interparliamentary Convention of Orthodoxy (DSO) aims at this.

The head of the DSO and ND MP, Maximos Charakopoulosin his statement after the collaboration with the president of PADEE Senator of Rhode Island of the USA, Mrs. Leonidas Raptakisemphasized that “the role of the Greek diaspora in strengthening our national positions is particularly critical in the current circumstances. The prevailing growing global unrest, the resurgence of threatening revisionism and the undermining of the norms of international law, democracy and freedom create a precarious international environment in which strong alliances are essential. This sensitive mission is fulfilled by our expatriates and, in particular, those who hold parliamentary offices in their new homelands. The Greek diaspora is a force for our national rights».

Mr. Harakopoulos noted that “I would particularly like to focus on the coordination of actions that we have agreed upon as an inter-parliamentary institution of the Orthodox with the deputies of Greek origin everywhere, for two crucial issues of universal Christianity. One is the awakening of the international community to the profane act of converting the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a Muslim mosque by the Turkish leadership. The second is the protection of Christians in the Middle East, who are threatened with extinction, due to the persecution of Islamic fundamentalists, but also the Turkish military presence in Syria. We discussed both of these issues today with the expatriate senators and deputies who make up the leadership of PADEE, in an exchange of ideas for their further promotion».

On behalf of PADEE, in addition to Mr. Raptakis, the meeting was also attended by Stephan Pappas, Senator, Wyoming State, USA, Eggie Triantafyllopoulos, first vice-president of PADEE, MPP Ontario, Canada, Steve Georganas, second vice-president of PADEE, Federal Member of Parliament Adelaide , Australia, Emanouela Lampropoulos, Member of Parliament Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada, Vangelis Dulles, Member of Parliament for Albania, John Spiros, Hon. Board member, Wisconsin State Representative, USA, Andrea Michaels, no. Board member, MP for Enfield (SA), Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for the Arts Australia, Tom Koutsantonis, Hon. Board member, MP for West Torrens (SA), Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mines Australia, Annie Koutrakis, MP for Vimy Canada, Aris Babikian, MPP Ontario Canada, Michael McCormack, Federal MP for Riverina (NSW), pr. deputy prime minister of Australia, Sophie Cotsis MP for Canterbury (NSW) Australia, Jenny Mikakos b. Australian MP, Zefy Kargidou, WHIA’S Communications Director.​

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