The first joint meeting of the presidency and seven regional coordinating councils of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) ended in Thessaloniki on Sunday with the adoption of a resolution regarding the Cyprus issue and calls for further improvement in the teaching of Greek to the expatriate community.

In the resolution, SAE members hailed and supported the continued readiness of the Cyprus government to enter into substantive negotiations in order to find a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue based on the resolution of the United Nations charter and the principles of the European Union.

It also stressed that the continued occupation by Turkey of 40 percent of the territory of the Cyprus Republic was unacceptable and asked for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and illegal settlers from the island, the return of refugees to their homes, information on the fate of those still missing and restoration of human rights for all Cypriots.

All speakers at the meeting agreed on the need to further improve the teaching of Greek to expatriates, especially making this attractive to third and fourth-generation children of Greek background now living in other countries.

Representatives of the Greek education ministry said they were open to new proposals while noting that the number of teachers hired in the past year increased from 50 to 80, with a further increase scheduled for 2008.

Source: Athens News Agency

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