Delegation was headed by the Mayor of Alexandroupolis Evangelos Labakis. The delegation included the leadership of Chamber of Commerce from Evros region, Rector of Democritus University of Thrace as well as the deans of medical and pedagogical faculties, the Chairman of the "Russian House" organization and others.
During the visit, they signed agreements on cooperation between the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University and Democritus University of Thrace (Hellenic Republic).
Development of contacts is being carried out within the "intermutual" Year of Russia and Greece in 2016 in accordance with the Agreement on cooperation between the Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg and the Municipality of Alexandroupolis, signed in November 2015.
Official ceremony of signing an agreement on cooperation between the Herzen University and Democritus University of Thrace followed the working meeting of the management of universities. From the Greek side, the Rector of Democritus University of Thrace, Mr. Athanasios Karabinis spoke about the history and structure of the university and the key areas. "Memorandum of cooperation with the Herzen State University is based on the same opinion about education and the general work principles of our universities ", – he stressed. The Dean of Education Science Faculty of Democritus University of Thrace, Theodoros Kevrekidis and the Head of the Greek Department, Zoe Gavriilidou also told about their work. During the meeting, the sides discussed the details of the future inter-university cooperation, experience exchange and the organization of academic exchanges.
The ceremony of the cooperation agreement signing was attended by the Rector of the Herzen University V.P. Solomin, the Mayor of Alexandroupolis Mr. Evangelos Labakis, the Rector of Democritus University of Thrace Mr. Athanasios Karabinis, the Chairman of the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St. Petersburg A.S. Maksimov, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, S.L. Markov, the Consul General of Greece in St. Petersburg Mr. Panos Beglitis and the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Mr. Constantine Gabaeridis.
When opening the ceremony, V.P. Solomin noted that the signing of the agreement was the beginning of not only cooperation, but also the friendship between the leading universities of Russia and Greece, the next step in the development of relations between St. Petersburg and the city of Alexandroupolis. "I am convinced that the spiritual elite is born and develops in the universities. Joint activities of universities will bear fruit for our cities", – the mayor of Alexandroupolis Evangelos Labakis said.
The Chairman of the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St. Petersburg A.S. Maksimov welcomed the participants and guests of the ceremony on behalf of the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko and wished fruitful cooperation between universities and the successful implementation of plans in the sphere of science and education. The Rector of Democritus University of Thrace Athanasios Karabinis noted that Russia and Greece share common cultural values. "By signing the cooperation agreement, we maintain friendly relations between the two countries and create a path between two nations to reconcile them in educational and other spheres", – A. Karabinis added. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg S.L. Markov emphasized that "relations between St. Petersburg and the city of Alexandroupolis are the sample of international relations". Consul General of Greece in St. Petersburg Panos Beglitis also wished fruitful cooperation for the universities and noted that the "intermutual" Year of Russia in Greece and Year of Greece in Russia in 2016 can be considered open.
Reference
Alexandroupolis is located in northern Greece, near the border with Bulgaria and Turkey. Its population is more than 72 thousand people, one tenth of which is Russian-speaking. In Alexandroupolis faculties (pedagogical and medical) of one of Greece's largest universities, Democritus University of Thrace are located. Currently, the city is actively developing its logistics center, the core of which is a large seaport.