Hellenic Forums Omogenia - YASOU - Hellenism: Greek PM visits Australia

Greek PM heading for Sydney on historic visit
May 20, 2007 (www.theage.com.au )

Australia and Greece will sign a social security agreement this week.

The Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, is flying in to witness the deal.

It is the first time a Greek Prime Minister has visited Australia.

Voula Messimeri from the Australian Greek Welfare Society says that is surprising given there is such a large Greek population in Australia, especially in Melbourne and Sydney.

Ms Messimeri says the portability of pensions has been a key issue for decades. "Australian Greeks have contributed significantly to the economy of Australia and therefore they should be able to take their pension wherever they want to go and live in their older years," she said.

The Greek Prime Minister will fly into Sydney tonight, with the deal to be signed in Canberra later this week.

>> http://www.abc.net.au

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Greek PM in Australia this week
May 20, 2007

Greek Australians who return to their homeland to retire will find it easier to claim an Australian pension under an agreement to be signed this week between the two countries.

The bilateral social security agreement will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister John Howard and his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis during the Greek leader's five-day visit to Australia.

Mr Karamanlis arrives on Monday.

Mr Howard said the visit would provide an opportunity to announce a number of initiatives to strengthen ties between the two countries.

"Australia and Greece enjoy a very warm friendship, due in large part to the close community ties between our countries," Mr Howard said in a statement.

"During his visit, Prime Minister Karamanlis and I will witness the signing of a bilateral social security agreement that will provide improved access to age and retirement benefits for people in Australia and Greece.

"Our governments also intend to explore mechanisms to aid the mutual recognition of family law orders in our respective court systems ."

Mr Howard will host a luncheon for Mr Karamanlis in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Wednesday.

Mr Karamanlis, who will be accompanied by Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, will also visit Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin.

Australia's Greek community is estimated to be between 600,000 and 700,000 people, including children and grandchildren of migrants.

Almost half the community lives in Melbourne, earning it the tag of the third largest "Greek city" in the world.

>> http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Greek-PM-in-Australia-this-week/2007/05/20/1179601225252.html

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http://www.greekcity.com.au >>>

GREEK PM VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE MR KOSTAS KARAMANLIS TO ADDRESS GREEK AUSTRALIANS AT ROD LAVER ARENA

ATTENTION ALL GREEK AUSTRALIANS:

You are invited to meet the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. KOSTAS KARAMANLIS at a public event to be held at Rod Laver Arena, Batman Avenue, Melbourne on Friday, MAY 25 at 7 pm.

This is the first ever visit to Australia by a Greek Prime Minister.

Following this public event there will be a concert featuring popular Greek entertainer Manolis Mitsias and local support act Rembetiki.

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As I understand: after hearing great things about the people in Adelaide, the Greek PM has apparently also allocated 5 hours from his hectic schedule to visit Adelaide's Omogeneia >>

Prime Minister of Greece Mr. KOSTAS KARAMANLIS is scheduled to attend a public event to be held at: the Adelaide Town Hall in King William Street on Thursday May 24 between 11:00 and 12:30pm.