The General Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad (GGAE) is an institution well-recognised by the Greek diaspora. Since 1983 it has stood by Greek immigrants, and especially to the new generations and their connection with the homeland and beyond.
The GGAE, a government institution focused on the Greek diaspora, will be merged with the General Secretariat of Public Diplomacy and there are fears that, as a result, it will become a subdued and degraded body.
Decisions that directly affect Greeks abroad – such as that of voting rights which became Law excluding thousands of diasporans from voting at their place of origin – must take into account the views of all those who are interested in a better and more effective connection of the Greek diaspora with mainland Greeks.
The GGAE is still perhaps the most recognisable service of the homeland to the Greek Diaspora, despite its staffing and financial degradation in recent years and should not be downgraded by integration with other ministerial services.
SAE Oceania and Far East calls on the Government to cancel the bill for integration of the GGAE with the new Organisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and allow GGAE to maintain its autonomy and upgrade its services with executives from the pool of Greeks Abroad, especially those who are directly connected with this issue, thus strengthening the two-way communication and the constructive connection of the Centre with Diaspora, through the necessary dialogue.
In a resolution of a general meeting on 30 August, SAE Oceania called for the intervention of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to review the intention of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to stop the merger and to ensure the full autonomy, functionality and financial support of the GGAE, so that it can continue to stand by the organised and non-organised Hellenic community abroad.
Πηγή:ΝΚ
