PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA WEDNESDAY, 3 MARCH,' 1982
VISIT OF PRESIDENT KARAMANLIS OF GREECE
The President of -the Hellenic Republic, His Excellency
Mr Constantine Karamanlis, will be making a State Visit to
Australia from Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 March 1982.
The visit will be the first to Australia by a Greek
Head of State.
The President's program will include a number of public events
in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne which will provide an
opportunity for the many thousands of people of Greek descent
living in Australia to welcome him.
The ties between Australia and Greece are wide-ranging but
none is more important than the personal links which have
resulted from Greek migration to Australia the Greek
community is one of Australia's oldest and biggest migrant
groups. I am personally looking forward to welcoming President Karamanlis
and I am certain that the reception he receives from all
Australians will be a warm one.
President Karamanlis will arrive in Canberra at 10.30 am on
Tuesday 9 March and remain until Thursday 11 March. He will
be in Sydney from 11-13 March and in Melbourne from 13-14 March.
In Canberra on Tuesday 9 March, the President will attend a
State dinner given by the Governor-General of Australia and
Lady Cowen. On that day he will also visit the Australian War
Memorial. On Wednesday 10 March, the President will be guest of.
honour at a State Luncheon at Parliament House. Included
among the guests will be representatives of the Greek Community
throughout Aiustralia. President Kramanlis will also attend a
reception at. Government House at which heads of Diplomatic
Missions wil~ l be presented and a dinner at the Hellenic Club
arranged by the Greek community.
In Sydney the President's public functions will include his
attendance at a Thanksgiving Service at the Greek Orthodox
Cathedral ini Redfern on Friday 12 March and a reception at the
Sydney Town Hall arranged by the Greek commumity, followed by a.
brief public address. In Melbourne on Sunday 14 March the President
will watch a parade by members of the Greek community and lay a
wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance. Hie will also deliver a Greek
National Day%. address at the Shrine.