PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 16 NOVEMBER 1988
I am very pleased to announce that the President of Greece,
His Excellency Christo Sartzetakis, will make a State visit
to Australia in our Bicentennial year. He will be in
Australia from 22-28 November 1988 and will visit the
Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and New South Wales.
I welcome this visit by President Sartzetakis as an
opportunity to strengthen, the already close and friendly
relations which exist between the peoples of Australia and
Greece. This relationship is founded on a common commitment
to democracy, shared historical experiences in time of war,
and strong community and personal ties between our two
countries. The Greek community has become one of the
largest and most active ethnic communities in Australia and
Greek Australians have made invaluable contributions to the
development of our flourishing multicultural society, across
the full range of Australian economic, political and
cultural life.
The President's visit will also serve to celebrate the
magnificent contribution of Greek Australians to Australia's
Bicentenary. A highlight of his visit will occur on 24
November when the President opens the Exhibition of
Macedonian Antiquities in Melbourne. This exhibition the
largest of its sort ever to leave Greece is the valued
gift of the Greek Government to Australia and I look forward
to being in Melbourne to attend its opening.
While in Canberra, President Sartzetakis and his wife will
stay at Government House as guests of their Excellencies the
Governor-General and Lady Stephen. He will meet the
Premiers and Governors of New South Wales and Victoria when
he visits those States as well as meeting members of the
Greek community. The President will be accompanied-during
his visit by the Greek minister in charge of International
organisations, Mr Christos Marcopoulos, and the Greek
minister for Macedonia and Thrace, Mr Stylianos-Angelos
Papathemelis.' 3487