Next year we reach another important milestone - 200 years since the beginning of the Greek revolution that secured Greece's independence after centuries of Ottoman Turkish tyranny.
“Without doubt, the anniversary for the 200 years since the revolution is a major historic event not just for Greeks across the globe but the whole world too,” said Greek-Australian parliamentarian and president of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association, Peter Katsambanis, to SBS Greek.
The Committee of “Greece 2021” that are responsible for the 200 year anniversary events are aiming to collaborate celebrations with the vast Greek diaspora communities.
Politicians of Greek background and Greek community members worldwide are asked to submit ideas and proposals for promoting the importance of the anniversary to an international audience.
Peter Katsambanis MLA, who is also the head of a peak body linking together politicians of Hellenic heritage worldwide, envisions a big campaign spearheaded in Australia that would contribute to the celebrations.
Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Greeks abroad Kostas Vlasis along with the president of the “Greece 2021” Committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, have called on elected officials of Greek origin across the globe to put forward suggestions, brief the Committee on related commemorative events under preparation and ask for help required by the Greek state and the committee, SBS Greek reported.
"We have an abundance of representative bodies, elected politicians, community groups and the Archdiocese, we can all together join in for truly memorable celebration," Katsambanis said, adding "People can learn about how democracy was revived at the very place it was ‘born’, how Greeks and Philhellenes abroad had helped these efforts […] this key chapter in Greek history should not be forgotten."
The "Greece 2021” Committee is calling on Greek diaspora organisations to participate in the commemoration initiatives and welcome them to submit proposals and ideas on how to celebrate the anniversary via the website www.greece2021.gr
*Image by Nick Bourdaniotis/Bourdo Photography for Greek City Times (Copyright)