Democracy is a Greek word
Compiled by Laura Beaulne-Stuebing
In a bright sitting room at the Greek residence in Ottawa, on a sunny January morning, Ambassador George Marcantonatos extolled the virtues of his home country, speaking highly of the effect Greece and Greek culture has had on Western countries and the world.
Democracy, philosophy, tragedy in arts, he said, were all thanks to Greece. And that cultural heritage extends beyond borders by the millions of Greek descendants and expats abroad.
“We have here [a] thriving Greek-Canadian community [in Canada],” Mr. Marcantonatos said in an interview with Embassy on Jan. 26, noting that there about 350,000 Greek-Canadians in the country.
“It is my strong belief that this community constitutes the most important bond between our countries.”
Many time zones away, the birthplace of democracy had just come out of an historic election: electing the left-wing Syriza party on Jan. 25, and its charismatic leader Alexis Tsipras, in a very strong signal against austerity measures.
The government, supported by the right-wing Independent Greeks who are also anti-austerity, is looking to renegotiate Greece’s debt with the European Union, and many expect the coming months will usher in a new era few the EU.
“I am optimistic about the future. I think that we shall manage to find solutions on pending issues,” said the ambassador.
“Democracy is a greek word. And what does it mean? It means “the power in the hands… of the people,” Mr. Marcantonatos said. “So the free will of the Greek people was expressed.”
The ambassador noted that he has three specific goals while in Canada: to strengthen bilateral relations, strengthen ties between Greece and Greek-Canadians and to promote Greek culture and civilization.
An exhibition coming to the Canadian Museum of History in June is one way Mr. Marcantonatos will work on that third goal. The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great is currently showing at Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière but will be coming to the museum in Gatineau, Que. starting June 5.
He said the exhibition will give Canadians the opportunity to have better knowledge of Greek history.
“German, English, French…would be much poorer if there was not the contribution of the Greek vocabulary,” he said.
“And this is something I think our European friends should not forget, mainly in this difficult period. [The] huge contribution of the Greek culture, language and civilisation to their civilisation.”