Giorgos Nikitiadis, PASOK MP for the Dodecanese and first vice-chair of Parliament’s committee on the Greek diaspora, welcomed Poland’s recognition of its Greek national minority and called for the World Council of Hellenes Abroad to resume its work. The former deputy culture and tourism minister was speaking at a committee session devoted to the recognition.
On behalf of PASOK and its leader Nikos Androulakis, he expressed horror at the recent attack on civilians in Kraków, offered condolences to bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He said his party would always oppose far-right violence against innocent people.
He welcomed Greeks from Poland attending in Parliament and online, telling them they were at home in their first homeland. He thanked them for keeping their language, faith, customs and culture alive and thanked the Polish representatives who had helped secure recognition.
Nikitiadis recalled the Cretan wine merchant Korniaktos and the historic buildings associated with his name that were shown to the committee. He also spoke of the Greek political refugees who settled in Poland after the Greek Civil War. Greece had moved beyond those divisions, he said, recalling PASOK’s recognition of the National Resistance under Andreas Papandreou and the legislation that allowed political refugees to return. Parties across the political spectrum now supported reconciliation, he added.
PASOK would continue to press for the return of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, which he called ‘the only democratic representative of Greeks abroad throughout the world’. He believed Greeks in Poland shared that wish, as did the committee chair.
