Greece: Meeting of Ms. Tzakri with SAE and representatives of repatriates

State welfare which is “still pending since 2004 and earlier” for the programme for housing rehabilitation of repatriated Greeks in Northern Greece, is going to be provided by the government in installments by the end of the present year, starting in September, by the end of the present year.
This was a commitment, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Decentralization and E-governance, Theodora Tzakri, made last night in a meeting she called at the General Secretariat of Macedonia – Thrace, with representatives of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad and repatriated Greeks of the Diaspora from former USSR countries.
The meeting was attended by was attended by the General Secretary of Immigration Policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Andreas Takis, the President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), Mr. Stefanos Tamvakis and his colleagues, the President of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Repatriated Pontian Greeks’ Associations from the formerUSSR, Mr. Avraam Aivazidis, as well as the educator and councilor of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, Mr. Costas Avramidis.

The Deputy Minister also stressed that efforts will be made on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to extend by the end of the present year, the programme for rent subsidy for the non-rehabilitated repatriated Greeks, which ended last year, whilst the possibility of indefinite extension of the programme is also under discussion.
Addressing the representatives of the Repatriated, Ms. Tzakri stated “I took the initiative to call this first meeting, wishing to make this the start of a course to find solutions to the issues that concern you, opening new paths and prospects” and added:

“In our government plan we submitted certain proposals on citizenship issues, housing problems, issues of retirement, unemployment, education, culture”.
On his part, the General Secretary for Immigration Policy, among other things, stressed the need for rationalization and reorganization of institutions for the provision of residence titles and Greek citizenships to our compatriots abroad.

The attendants brought to the Deputy Minister’s attention, specific problems that they are facing in their contact with institutions of the Greek state, not only within the country but also abroad, especially in the Consulates (delays, bureaucratic obstacles and conflicting interpretations of the Act).
Furthermore, special reference was made to the issues of social support towards repatriated Greeks who are already established in the country, especially in Northern Greece (shortening the procedures for the acquisition of Greek citizenship for foreign spouses, housing rehabilitation, social welfare, equal treatment in education and employment).

Ms. Tzakri also stressed that there is a need to set up an informal advisory body of experts, widely accepted by repatriates, aiming towards the promotion of Diaspora issues and their resolution. The proposal of the Deputy Minister was unanimously accepted by all the participants during the meeting.
The President and legal advisor of SAE, especially congratulated Ms. Tzakri for her initiative and stated that “this is the first time they were given the opportunity to contribute on their part towards the promotion of crucial issues for the Diaspora, within the 12-year existence of the Council”.