Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos inaugurated the new building of the Greek school “Athena” (K-9) in Bucharest today, Tuesday, 21 October, within the framework of his two-day visit to Romania.
Afterwards, having toured the classrooms and other spaces of the new facilities, he met with the teachers and the members of the parent-teacher association. He congratulated them on their efforts and listened to their requests and the problems they raised.
Speaking to the pupils, Mr. Gerontopoulos stressed that “it is with very great pleasure that I am here with you today, and it is very moving for me, because this time I find you in your new space, this beautiful school complex that embraces a special generation of Greek students. Children who, despite growing up far from the homeland, will, thanks to the efforts of their parents and teachers, remain close to the Greek spirit and the Greek language.
All the more so when we are talking about a school like yours, which makes us truly proud, because it carries out the important work of teaching the Greek language and cultivating and sustaining our national identity.
As the Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for issues of Hellenism Abroad, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all those who contributed to and are contributing to the functioning of this school – the parents and teachers, and mainly the students – on their love for Greece, the Greek language and Greek culture.”
Finally, Mr. Gerontopoulos visited the offices of the Hellenic Union of Romania, meeting with the Union’s President, Romanian MP Dragos Zisopoulo, as well as with the board of the Greek Community of Bucharest. He was briefed on their various activities, which concern the teaching of the Greek language and traditional Greek dances, the hosting of an annual Greek Language Olympiad, the publication of various books in Greek and Romanian, and efforts that have begun for the construction of the Greek church in Drăgășani, where the Sacred Band monument is located.
October 21, 2014