Last month the World Council of Cretans Congress was held in the Prefecture of Lasithi, Crete, from July 19 to 21, 2023.  

The Conference, which is organized every three years in Crete, acts as a gathering point for both residents and expatriate Cretans, thus strengthening ties with their place of origin. This year, Cretans from all over the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the World Council of Cretans, in 2003, in Rethymno.

An important aspect of this year’s conference was also the holding of a Round Table discussion, with the Mayor of Rethymno, Mr. Giorgos Marinakis, in charge of coordinating the discussion, and with the presence of the Vice-Regional Governor of Rethymno, Ms. Mary Lionis.  The discussion focused on defining a program of Greek Language and Culture courses for Expatriate Youth.

Representing Oceania was, the President of the World Council of Cretans, Mr. Nikolaos Markogiannakis, the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, Mr. Antonis Tsourdalakis, the President of the Sydney & NSW Cretan Brotherhood, Mr. Emmanuel Vitetzakis, the President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, Mr. Miltiadis Stamatakos, the President of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne Ms. Argyro Michelaki, the President of the Cretan Youth of Australia & New Zealand Ms. Irini Kyriakaki, the treasurer of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, Ms. Mary Rissakis, the dance teacher of the Australian Team Mr. Pavlos Spanoudakis and the Conference members Anna Psarakis, Manolis Kaloutsakis, Charalambos Heretakis, Maria Georgas, George Georgas, Father Georgios Adamakis, Irini Adamakis, Pagona Saisanas and the youth Angeliki Belivanis,

Full article by Neos Kosmos can be read here: https://neoskosmos.com/el/2023/08/07/news/community/me-epitychia-oloklirothike-to-6o-synedrio-kriton-opou-gis-tou-pagkosmiou-symvouliou-kriton/