The unity and continuous cooperation of the Region of Crete with the Diaspora Cretans around the world was confirmed by the meeting held on Friday at the headquarters of the Region, with the Presidency of the World Council of Cretans (WCC) and the Presidents of the Federations that constitute it.
The Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, welcomed the WCC delegation with warm words, underlining the crucial role of the organization in promoting the culture, history and values of Crete internationally. “The Region of Crete was, is and will be by the side of the World Council of Cretans, because it is the best ambassador of the island around the world,” he emphasized.
The meeting was held in the presence of the Regional Councillor for Expatriate Cretans, Sofia Malandraki-Krasoudaki, and was attended by:
President of the CRF Nikos Kastrinakis,
President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand Manolis Mountakis,
President of the Pan-Cretan Federation of Europe Eftychia Saviolaki,
President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Macedonia Petros Petrakakis,
Vice-President of the CRF Fotis Fiotodimitrakis,
Secretary of the CRF Maria Vamvaki,
Treasurer of the CRF Nikoleta Pigounaki,
and former president of the CRF Nikos Markogiannakis.
The main topic of the discussion was the strengthening of Crete’s ties with the diaspora and the promotion of joint initiatives that focus particularly on the younger generations of Diaspora. As noted, the goal is to transmit the cultural heritage, customs, traditions and identity of Crete, with modern tools and means, adapted to the needs of the diaspora.
The President of the World Council of Cretans, Nikos Kastrinakis, warmly thanked the Regional Governor for the unwavering support of the Region in all the Council’s actions. At the same time, he announced the holding of the next triennial conference of the World Council of Cretans, in 2026, in Chania – an institution that is hosted each time in a different regional unit of the island.
The official announcement of the conference and its themes will be made on August 10 at the Orthodox Academy of Crete.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the representatives of the CWC congratulated Mr. Arnaoutakis on two important successes of the Region: the inclusion of the Minoan Palaces in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the declaration of Crete as a European Region of Gastronomy for 2026.
It is worth noting that on Saturday, August 2, at 10:00 in the morning, in Rethymno and specifically at the “Theomitor” Social and Cultural Ministry Center, the annual General Assembly of the World Council of Cretans will take place.
This visit further strengthens the already close relations of the Region of Crete with the Cretan diaspora, highlighting the key role played by expatriates in the preservation and extroversion of the island’s identity. Through synergies and systematic cooperation, a dynamic presence of Crete on the international scene is sought, with an emphasis on cultural, educational and development initiatives.
