The Foreign Minister inaugurated the renovated “Seferi” building of the Consulate General in Koritsa

The renovated “Seferi” building of the General consulate Greece in Koritsa was inaugurated today by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritisalong with her foreign minister Albanian Igli Hasani.

This is, as Mr Gerapetritis said in his greeting, for the building where he lived and worked as a consul in 1936-37 George Seferisdiplomat, poet and later owner of Nobel Literature in 1963. It was then owned by a Greek family and was expected to be purchased as destroyed by the Greek state in 1998.

As he pointed out, the restoration of the building was initially donated by Greeks from Koritsa and all of Albania, as well as from Greece, as well as institutions and companies from both countries.. It was completed at the expense of the Greek state.

“George Seferis was inspired by his stay here and certainly the term of office of a humanist poet of world radiation is a honor for the city. A city, which always had the lead in the letters in the Albanian space, both in Greek and in Albanians, “he noted.

“Continuing the presence of Greek letters in Koritsa, in the tradition of the old renowned Baggi Gymnasium, constitute the Greek -Albanian” Homer “school, the” Plato “High Schoolas well as the Greek language tutorial “Aristotle”, for which the Greek state will not cease to take care, “he said. He referred to the case of Sotir Papahristo, to whom we owe the Albanian translations of most works of the ancient Greek drama and who received his circular training and then worked for many years in this city, Koritsa. “A truly brilliant example of a Greek -Albanian osmosis in the field of spirit.”

“Our embassies and consulates are the image of Greece abroad. The new building of the Consulate General in Koritsa is part of the efforts we have made in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the last two years to upgrade, around the world, the building facilities of our authorities, as of course to digitize the consular services. It is a tangible proof that our concern is to tighten the relationships between the Greek community and the motherland, “he said.

“In today’s world, there are many challenges against freedom and peace,” he said. “We start with our neighbors and make sure we promote good neighborly relationships.”

“As neighboring and friendly countries, Greece and Albania, we give priority to the stability and prosperity of our wider region, both through the development of our bilateral relations and through the promotion of regional partnerships.

Border review policies are now in the past. “

He also thanked the Albanian Foreign Minister for his presence at the inauguration, which, he said, broadcast a major message, and noted that his presence “at the Albanian Foreign Ministry has virtually helped to upgrade the relations of our two countries”.

“Today, here in Koritsa, the Greek national minority unites us. And it continues to be, for centuries now, the bridge of communication and understanding between the two peoples, “he concluded.

In turn, the Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani He emphasized the following:

“Another essential step forward in Albania-Greece relations today.

Together with my friend and colleague, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, we inaugurated the new building of the Consulate General of Greece in Koritsa.