The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias visited Odessa today and met with representatives of the diaspora organizations with whom he discussed “the challenges facing the Greek diaspora after the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.

“It is my great pleasure to be back in Odessa today. First of all, to meet the Mayor, G. Trukhanov, and to be able to discuss how we will coordinate the joint effort to make the historical center of Odessa a cultural monument protected by UNESCO, a World Heritage Site. To create a cultural shield that will protect this historical center from the consequences of war. A center that is connected to Greece, primarily because this is where the Greek Revolution began. The building that started the Greek Revolution is located here, it is owned by the Greek State. But also in the building of the Opera House, where we are now, we are connected to Odessa. It is a building that was built during the mayorship of Grigorio Maraslis, a Greek who has benefited Greece in many ways. The Town Hall in my hometown, Corfu, is called Maraslio. So we decided, with the help of the Ministry of Culture, which will provide us with two experts, and with the experience we already have from the successful attempt to make Corfu a World Heritage Site, to help so that Odessa will also reach very soon the level of being included in the list of World Cultural Heritage Monuments”, said Mr. Dendias.

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Starting my visit to #Odessa, I met with members of the Greek diaspora. Reiterating ??’s full support, I discussed with them the challenges facing the Greek diaspora following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/QOU30suB9l

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“Moreover, I saw executives of the Greek diaspora. Also, Greeks who left Mariupol and are here. And I will be informed shortly by the head of the Regional Military Command of the Odessa Region about the wider situation”, he added.