Remarks by Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe at the occasion of the Opening of the World Council for Hellenes abroad Middle East Africa Reginall Office, 21 January 2008, Pretoria

Your Excellency, Mr Theodoros Kassimis
Ambassador Aristidis Sandis
Ambassador of Cyprus, HE Mr Antoniou
Mr Harry Gouvellis, Coordinator of SAE
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by expressing my appreciation on the invitation extended to me to address this occasion. I thank you most sincerely for allowing m the pleasure of being with you today on the occasion of the opening of the offices of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad.

We are delighted also to welcome His Excellency Deputy Minister Theodoros Kassimis. I am informed that the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece is the designated person responsible for Greeks living abroad and that a special General Secretariat within the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been established to deal with all the Hellenes living abroad. South Africa is proud to be home to a sizeable community pf people of Greek origin, who play a significant role as ambassadors for the country and promote our ever-increasing people-to-people contact.

The opening of this regional office on South African soil underscores the recognition by both countries of the importance of shared common identity. The history of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Greece has always included the very warm people-to-people aspect of our relations, largely due to the large Hellenic community of about 60 000 people in South Africa. Their wide involvement in South African society is evidence of how a relatively small community can play such a large and meaningful part in our national life. Members of the Hellenic Community have done so through organisations that are not only aimed at the preservation of the rich cultural and religious traditions of your country, but also through your attachment to the values of education and family life. It is attributes such as these, which make us grateful of the fact that our country has benefited from these rich traditions and been able to draw together strands of different lives and cultures form all over the world into a harmonious nation.

We greatly value the enduring friendship between our two countries, although it is also true the Greek community in South Africa has in the past had to preserve and defend its identify in conditions of adversity and oppression, discrimination and prejudice that existed under apartheid. At times regarded as temporary guests in this country, it can now be proudly regarded that Greeks in South Africa have proved they are South African while maintaining their strong cultural identity and bonds to Greece.

Quoting from our former President, Nelson Mandela when he was addressing the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Southern Africa in 1994 upon receiving the man of the year award, he stated that

“The tradition which defines Hellenism is one which we all draw. To Greece the world owes some of the most inspiring evocations of the democratic ideal. This includes the culture f peace among nations and the pursuit of excellence which find eloquent expression in the Olympic ideal”.

One of the key purposes of the regional office, as I understand it, is to serve as a formal entity which deals with Hellenes in the Diaspora in general and South Africa in particular. It seeks to encourage close cooperation by bringing the matters of mutual interest to the Greek Government.

Many of you will be aware that South Africa will be hosting the Diaspora Summit this year, on behalf of the African Union, and a great deal could be learned from your experience by the African continent on how to tap into the collective skills and expertise of our own Diaspora living abroad, to support development initiatives in South Africa and Africa as a whole.

President Mbeki when drawing on the connection between Africa and our Diaspora said;”… political and economic integration… has to happen not merely because we share the history, geographic space and exhibit identical … features-important as these are - but because our destinies are intrinsically bound together”.

It is therefore clear that institutional structures such as the regional office will assist in the pursuit of these ideals and help with the realisation of the desired outcomes.

It is fitting that on this occasion when we celebrate the achievements and extension of our friendship that we should also look towards the challenges that lie ahead. The alleviation of poverty, the enhancement of human rights, fostering of peace, security internationally are key factors driving both our countries’ international agendas.

In addition to the strong bonds of friendship between our countries, the South African government is also determined to expand trade and investment links with Greece. The environment fostered by mutual cooperation will create the necessary conditions for productive investments, increased trade, cultural and other links between our two countries.

Today’s event marks an important milestone in the promotion of understanding between the Greek and South African people. May I conclude by quoting the remarks of one of the leaders of the Hellenic Community of Pretoria, Mr Harry Gouvellis, on marking the opening of the regional office. He said:

The presence of the Greeks in this country opens the way for further improvement of relations between the two countries and the possibilities for cooperation between Greek South Africans and the broader South African society. This will begin to address the critical challenge of encouraging Greek South Africans to participate in the transformation of South Africa and contribute to the building of a united nation with a shared patriotism and conscious of a common destiny

I thank you.