YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian is leaving for Greece on November 9 on a state visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias. Kocharian’s press office said the Armenian delegation includes also foreign, transport and communication, and agriculture ministers, the chairman of a parliament committee on foreign affairs Armen Rustamian, Armenian ambassador to Greece and other officials.
The press office said the main goal of the visit is to deepen bilateral relations and outline priorities of Armenian-Greek economic cooperation, as well as hold an exchange of opinions on issues of bilateral interest.
During the three-day visit president Kocharian will meet Greek president Karolos Papoulias, prime minister Kostas Karamanlis, parliament president Anna Psaruda Benaki, as well as leaders of parliamentary parties. Armenian and Greek delegations will also discusses a variety of issues on the prospects for expansion of bilateral ties. Armenian president will also meet mayor of Athens, Ms. Dora Bakoyan and will place a wreath at the Monument to Unknown Soldier.
In Athens Kocharian will participate in the official opening of the new premises of Armenian embassy and will also meet representatives of the local Armenian community. He will be back in Armenia on November 11. The Armenian community of Greece, according to official statistics, has 8,000 members. The community has expanded in recent years due to the arrival of Armenians from Cyprus, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Armenia.
Armenians in Greece are mainly traders and craftspeople, specialized especially in jewelry and diamond cutting, also in shoemaking and furniture production. Many Armenians have rose to prominence as successful businessmen and heads of companies. Armenians in Greece live mainly in Attica (Athens, Pireas and the suburbs) and in the smaller communities such as in Thessaloniki, Kavala, Komotini, Xanthi, Alexandroupolis, Didimoticho, Orestiada and Crete.
The overwhelming majority of Armenians are Orthodox (over the 95%) and the rest are Catholics and Evangelics. The Cathedral and chair of the Armenian Orthodox are located in Athens. Armenians have Orthodox churches and parishes in Neos Kosmos, Vironas, Nikea, Peristeri, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupolis, Didimoticho and Crete. Armenian Catholic and Evangelical temples are found in Athens and Pireas.
The supreme administrational board of the community is the Central Council of Orthodox Armenians which is being elected every two years by the National Clerical-Popular Assembly of representatives, who get elected by a direct and total suffrage by the community members. Community’s main political representative is the Armenian National Committee of Greece. Its headquarters are in Athens with branches all over Greece. It expresses the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) political perspective. Apart from the ARF also Ramkavar Azatakan (Democratic Liberal) and Henchakian (Social Democratic) parties have their chapters in Greece.
The Armenian community also runs kindergartens, elementary schools and several newspapers and magazines. Most active Armenian organizations in Greece are the Armenian Blue Cross, that has a remarkable performance in the fields of education, public welfare.
The Armenian Athletes Union -Homenetmen- gathers the youth of the community into football, basketball, volleyball, swimming and chess teams in Athens, Pireas and Thessaloniki. The Hamazkayn Union deals with Armenian art and the preservation of national tradition, by forming chorus, dancing and acting groups. There are also other organizations which mark minor action.
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