Deputy FM begins talks with officials in Australia

Deputy foreign minister for Greeks Abroad affairs Dimitris Dollis, currently on a visit to Australia, on Thursday night expressed satisfaction from his contacts during the first day of his visit.

“They couldn’t have been better,” Dollis said on his talks with the political and community leaders in states of South Australia and New South Wales.

“I renewed old friendships and put to the prime ministers (of the two states) and other state officials the issues that are of immediate interest to us, with the emphasis on education, relations with Greece, tourism, and trade between Australia and Greece, as well as a number of other matters,” Dollis said.

He also said he had “fruitful” talks with the leaders of the Greek community on matters of direct concern to Hellenism.

In Adelaide, Dollis met on Thursday with Bishop Nikandros of Dorylaio, while on Friday he is scheduled to meet with Archbishop Stylianos of Australia.

In Canberra, the next stop of his visit, Dollis will met with members of federal prime minister Julia Gillard’s government, including education minister Peter Garrett, with whom he will discuss the teaching of the Greek language in Australia.

Dollis will be in Melbourne on Monday, on the last leg of his visit.