Steve Georganas MP attended a meeting with the Board of Directors of the World Hellenic Inter-parliamentary Association (PADEE – WHIA) on Saturday January 20 in Crete during his visit to Greece.
The Board of Directors, led by President Leonidas Raptakis (USA), Rhode Island State Senator, visited the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis.
Members of the Board of Directors participated in a working meeting in which the Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokairinos, the President of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEH) Manolis Alifierakis, elected representatives of the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Heraklion and officials also took part.
Mr Georganas, who is also 2nd Vice-President of PADEE – WHIA, pointed out that “Crete is a very important part of Greece that has history, culture has many people from the island who have immigrated to Australia and the other countries we represent. We want to create a bond with Heraklion and Crete and it is a great honor that we are here today in a place that has highlighted important personalities”.
In attendance were also:
- Effie Triantafilopoulos, 1st Vice-President (Canada), Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ontario
- Annie Koutrakis, Treasurer (Canada), Member of the Parliament of Canada & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency
- Stephan Pappas, Board member (USA), Wyoming State Senator
- Themis Klarides, Board member (USA), Connecticut State Representative
- Vangelis Doules, Board member (Albania), Member of Parliament MP Tirana District
- Hryhoriy Nemyria (Ukraine), First Deputy Chairman, Parliament of Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Committee
Vice-Governor of Crete for European and International Affairs, George Alexakis, expressed his joy at the reception of the parliamentary representatives of Greek origin, noting that “the Region of Crete informed the delegation about the island in order to have collaborations in the field of tourism, culture and higher education”.
