SAE Meets with Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad

The meeting held between the Administrative Board of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) with the Board of Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad focused its attention on the alteration of the law on the operation of the SAE and on issues regarding Greek Education and the Diaspora vote issue.

The meeting took place on Monday afternoon at the Hellenic Parliament, within the 8th Meeting of the Administrative Board of SAE, to exchange views on issues crucial to Worldwide Hellenism.

In view of the forthcoming meeting of the Board of SAE, this December in Thessaloniki, to discuss the alteration of Law 3480/2006, the Chairman of the Special Permanent Committee for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Elias Karanikas, asked the Administrative Board of SAE for preliminary cooperation.

Extensive discussion was also carried out on issues regarding Greek Language Education and problems resulting from the bill promoted by the Ministry of Education, such the closure of schools, teaching staff reduction, non-employment of Diaspora teachers etc. On matters related to Greek Language Education, SAE Regions have already submitted precise and specific proposals, by region, since 2010, which were not taken into account over the current phase.

On the Diaspora Vote issue, Mr. Stefanos P. Tamvakis stressed that a standing issue of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad should not be indefinitely pushed aside, and that SAE will continue to pose it, until its materialization.

The Members of the Administrative Board of SAE, stressed that in the difficult situation Greece is currently going through, the implement of the forces of Hellenism is crucial, and that where there is mobilization, there is also a result. As it was stated by SAE USA Region Coordinator, this year over 750,000 Diaspora Greeks visited Greece from the United States alone. Likewise, mobilization on behalf of other SAE Regions to strengthen Tourism of the homeland was on the same wavelength.