NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully Meets Greek Counterpart Dimitris Droutsas

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas receives NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully 

in Athens today 

Source: Athens News

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas received New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Athens on Wednesday, discussing the situation in the Mediterranean and issues of bilateral political and economic cooperation. The visit is taking place ahead of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary since the Battle of Crete in May 1941.

After the meeting, the two ministers emphasised the significance of the Battle of Crete where Greeks and New Zealanders fought side by side in WWII, winning a victory that is widely regarded as decisive for the final outcome of the world war.

New Zealand Defence Minister Wayne Mapp will also be visiting the island of Crete in the next few days to attend celebrations for the anniversary.

In statements after the meeting, Droutsas again condemned the violent tactics of Syrian authorities to quell demonstrations in Syria, insisting that reforms were the only solution. Commenting on developments in the Arab world, he underlined that violence was not a solution and that only the search of a political solution was viable in the long term.

The Greek minister also briefed his counterpart on Athens' efforts to ensure the accession of the western Balkans to the European Union and to find a solution in the name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

McCully noted that New Zealand was distant geographically but very close to Europe in terms of the European values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. He described his talks in Athens as very constructive.

Droutsas underlined that the economic reforms currently taking place in Greece will make it a very attractive prospect for foreign investors and he emphasised the country's potential as a gateway for investors to southeast Europe and as a tourist destination.

McCully also had talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis on Tuesday on bilateral economic relations, with emphasis on energy issues and especially renewable energy sources. Other topics discussed were developmental cooperation and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. (ANA)

Source: Athens News  To read Greek MFA Press Release, Click Here

ANZAC Day 2011 in Greece - LEST WE FORGET...

Lest we forget....

They shall grow not old....as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them,We will remember them...

Australia New Zealand Army Corps

Lest we forget....

The Australian Embassy has invited New Zealanders and Australians and friends of both countries to attend the ANZAC Day Commemorative Celebrations

on

Easter Monday 25 April 2011, 11.00 a.m.

at

The Commonwealth War Cemetery

in

Alimos

(Posidonos Avenue and Ethnarhou Makariou Street)

Let's all be there, as we are every year, to honour the memory of those valiant young men who came to the other side of the world to fight , not just in World War I but in World War II as well, so that we could be free.

 Kali Anastasi - Happy Easter to all our friends!

Hellenic New Zealand Association,

Athens, Greece

ANZAC Day
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War, and is held every year on April 25th.

The Gallipoli campaign

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula, under a plan to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allies. The objective was to capture Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany
The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish Army commanded by Ataturk. What had been planned as a bold strike to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stale-mate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian and 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Istanbul and knocking Turkey out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand troops' actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an ANZAC Legend became an important part of the national identity in both countries, shaping the ways their citizens viewed both their past and their future.

Read More at Wikipedia