The president of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations Mr. Paterakis and the member of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of German dept Assert Mr. Aristomenis Syggelakis progressed into a collaboration following a decision of the two bodies.
“The aim of the cooperation is the Cretans to contribute to the return of the German dept to Greece” underlined in an interview to “In-On” magazine, the president of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations, Mr. Emmanuel Paterakis.
Question: Which are the new social and cultural activities of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations?
Answer: The Pan-Hellenic Federation moves to new cultural activities. We participate in Syrrakio in Ioannina in a commemoration and honor event for those Cretans who fought for the liberation of Epirus. Additionally, in Xanthi a three day Pan-Hellenic Cultural Gathering will be realized in which musical dance groups from all over Greece will take part while there will be parallel literary and art events.
At the same time in order to celebrate the 100 years of the Unification of Crete with Greece, the Foundation Venizelos, the Region of Crete, the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations, the Pan-Cretan Association, the Cretan Hestia and the Fraternity of the Cretans in Piraeus “Omonia” will cooperate for an event which will be held in the Peace and Friendship Stadium so as to celebrate the Union of the Island with the rest of the country.
Question: Which is the contribution of the Cretans in the return of German dept?
Answer: As in the past when the Cretans helped in the liberation of prefectures of modern Greece the same applies today, so we moved in cooperation with the National Council of German dept Assert to contribute to the return of the German dept and not crediting it because Crete constitutes a Holocaust itself. In most Cretan villages, the Cretans sacrificed themselves and they did not escape the fury of the German occupation troops because men, women and children fought in order to liberate the island from the Nazis. The result was many to be slaughtered, to be tortured and to have their houses, their fields and livestock burnt. Mothers wept for their children’s ultimate loss, children became orphans, fathers were never found and all these to have the island liberated. Today, our duty is to fight for the return of the German dept. The Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations will assist through its cultural groups with events that present information and data regarding the truth about the German dept.
Question: Which is the role of the Cretan Popular University?
Answer: The role of the Cretan Popular University is the expatriate Cretans to preserve their roots and also to highlight the Cretan Culture as well as the wider Greek civilization.
The representatives of the Popular University work with the Cretan Cultural Associations and the municipalities of Crete, so as to promote the contribution of a global projection of the Cretan and generally the Greek culture over time from Mythology until Odysseus Elytis and Mikes Theodorakis.
Curriculum Vitae
Emmanuel Paterakis was born in Lakkoi in the prefecture of Chania, Crete, in 1941. He is the president of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Cretan Cultural Associations, President of the Cretan Popular University, President of the Pan-Cretan House of Culture, member of the Board of the Foundation “Eleftherios Venizelos”, Honorary President of the Cretan Association of Chalandri and he has also served as a Vice President of the World Council of Cretans.
He was honored for his social and cultural activities as well as for his voluntary work in the Olympic Games of 2004 as head of the Cretans and their participation in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
He was also honored for the financial and material assistance to the Patriarchate of Alexandria as well as by the Association of Preservation of Historic Vehicles and the municipality of Sfakia and the Union of Sfakians worldwide for his significant contribution in the purchase of the hospital vessel “Glory”.
Moreover, he was honored by the municipality of Sfakianon in Lefkada for his twinning initiative with the municipality of Sfakia. He was also honored by the Cretan Association in Fthiotida where he was unanimously declared an honorary member of the Association as a minimum token of appreciation for his offer in the cultural life of Crete. Additionally, he was honored by the municipality of Gortyna in Arcadia for his assistance to the fire victims and also for his initiative to offer a fire truck along with five tons of olive oil and 25 tons of feed.
Return of the German dept not offsetting it
