The Presidium of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½) conducted its recent meeting, on May 4-6 in Thessaloniki, with successful results.  The meeting was attended in part by the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Theodoros Kassimis.     

The main focus of the meeting was the Enabling Law, which after almost two years of proposals and recommendations by the Omogenia and the Government, has come into its final phase.  Some of the modifications made by the new Deputy Minister, aiming at a more efficient functioning of the institution, are as follows:

 The term of office of all officers is extended to 4 years, while the limits of their terms are set at a maximum of two, thus giving the opportunity to new members to be elected and serve. 

 The number of Regions will be increased from 4 to 7 for better representation and more efficient operation.  The American continent will now be divided in 3 Regions: USA, Canada and Latin America.  Each Region will operate with its own Vice President/Coordinator and Coordinating Council.

 The Greek Government must respond to all proposals submitted by οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ on behalf of the Omogenia within 60 days. The same time period applies for οΏ½οΏ½Ε’s response when it is requested by the Greek Government to opine on issues pertaining to Omogenia.    

 The Regional Conventions and the elections of the Vice Presidents/Coordinators and Coordinating Councils will be conducted in September 2006 (with the Enabling Law being in effect) with the participation of all delegates.  The World Convention will be conducted in December 2006 and the delegate number will be decreased.  The οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ Presidium elections will take place on the first day of the convention in order to avoid wasting time with election activities.    

Other decisions of the Presidium meeting included the following:

1. A request submitted to Deputy Minister Theodoros Kassimis for reactivating ELLINIADA.  οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ Presidium representatives to this event were also appointed.

2. A request submitted to the relevant Minister to create the appropriate mechanism so that Greek citizens living abroad may vote abroad.   

3. The decision to commission a thorough study to record issues of concern regarding Greek education abroad throughout the world.

4. A request for an update regarding registration at the National Property Registry (Ethniko Ktimatologio), a more efficient performance of the Citizens Service Centers (KEοΏ½) abroad, the establishment of a library for Greeks Abroad in Thessaloniki and other issues.    

οΏ½I believe that this Presidium meeting was particularly effective since a number of open issues were settled and the Enabling Law was completed,οΏ½ said Chris P. Tomaras, οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ Vice President and N&S America Regional Coordinator.

The meeting was attended in part by the Board members of the Special Permanent Committee on Hellenes Abroad of the Parliament, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. George Kalatzis, through his representative, Ms. Evangelia Patera, the Prefect of Thessaloniki, Mr. Panagiotis Psomiadis, and the Vice Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Theodoros Akritidis.