Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terens Quick, today met with the President of the World Council of Epirotes Abroad, Chrysostomos Dimou. During the meeting, Mr. Quick was asked for a briefing on the major foreign policy issues, including Greek-Turkish relations, the negotiations with fYROM, and the Cyprus issue. Mr. Quick responded that “Greece is unquestionably a pillar of stability in a turbulent wider region, with a restless, unpredictable neighbour that expresses itself aggressively, not just vis-à-vis Greece, but also in its relations with Europe and the U.S. Moreover, we cannot ignore the so-called Muslim arc, which stretches from Ankara, runs through the underbelly of Bulgaria, Kosovo, Skopje and Albania, reaching Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is the reason for the painstaking diplomatic initiatives and efforts of the Greek government to resolve pending issues in the Balkans, such as the issue of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or issues with Albania, which Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias is visiting today.” Mr. Dimou also raised issues concerning the new form that the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) will take, the issue of voting rights for Greeks abroad, and matters of equal taxation of diaspora Greeks and Greeks residing in Greece. The Deputy Minister stressed that the SAE, in its next iteration, will provide for the self-organization and self-funding of diaspora organizations, and will be headquartered in Thessaloniki. “In no case, from now on, will the government or the competent deputy minister or the parties behind them wag their fingers at the Greek community abroad or tell them what to do with regard to issues that arise where they live; issues that they have a better knowledge of,” he underscored, adding that “the SAE will have its constitutional role, advising each Greek government in the manner of a think tank. And because the name SAE has negative connotations, I am considering recommending that, in the new Constitution, it be named the World Council of Hellenism (PSE).” Regarding voting rights for Greeks abroad, Mr. Quick responded that the issue is already under consideration by the Ministry of Interior, and he promised to take up the tax issues with the competent Ministry.
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