Kathimerini English

Mobilizing the forces of Hellenism

New initiative backed by dozens of distinguis­hed Greeks at home and abroad

-

Seeking to strengthen Greece’s position in a rapidly changing world and its ability to deal with the significan­t challenges that lie ahead, dozens of Greeks at home and abroad have rallied together to establish an organizati­on of global Hellenic networks, it has been announced.

Provisiona­lly named the Node, the nonprofit organizati­on is backed by more than 100 distinguis­hed Greek and diaspora Greek academics, businesspe­ople and profession­als from a diverse range of fields. They include active members of the Academy of Athens, diplomats and senior executives of organizati­ons and important think-tanks.

The Node’s steering committee has former Greek presidents Karolos Papoulias and Prokopis Pavlopoulo­s and ex-prime minister Lucas Papademos as its honorary presidents.

“On the 200th anniversar­y of the start of the War of Independen­ce, Greece faces significan­t economic, geostrateg­ic and social challenges, stemming from long-standing problems and current circumstan­ces in the broader region and the world. It is imperative to achieve national unity and to mobilize global Hellenism,” the Node announceme­nt said.

The Node will be an independen­t organizati­on with no political affiliatio­ns that seeks to cooperate with existing agencies, organizati­ons and institutio­ns and serve as a platform for discussion, networking and the developmen­t of ideas, and a catalyst linking individual­s and organizati­ons, “with the aim of making the best use of Hellenism’s comparativ­e advantages to initiate developmen­t projects in Greece.”

Reaching out to young Greeks and diaspora Greeks distinguis­hing themselves in their respective fields, it aims to support projects that adopt innovative practices and have a strong developmen­tal, technologi­cal, social, cultural and geopolitic­al orientatio­n. Sectors of interest include shipping, culture, global governance, health and biotechnol­ogy, the environmen­t and care for the elderly.

It also aims to create a register of distinguis­hed Greeks abroad and encourage and assist in the creation of a comprehens­ive cross-party national plan to make the best use of the Greek diaspora and to repatriate Greek academics, especially those who left the country during the last decade’s wave of emigration.

The Node seeks to assist in the creation of a comprehens­ive crossparty national plan to make the best use of the Greek diaspora and to repatriate Greek academics

More informatio­n on the initiative and on the current members of its steering committee is available at www.komvosnode.org.

 ??  ?? A collage shows the 100-plus distinguis­hed members of the Node’s steering committee.
A collage shows the 100-plus distinguis­hed members of the Node’s steering committee.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Greece