Greek-origin parliamentarians visit Alexandroupolis

Members of the Executive Board of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), comprising elected parliamentarians of Greek origin from around the globe, visited Alexandroupolis as part of a two-day visit to Greece.
The delegation, led by Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas Raptakis, was hosted on January 16, 2025, by the Governor of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region, Christodoulos Topsidis. During their visit, they toured the city of Alexandroupolis and the Greek-Turkish border region.
Topsidis expressed gratitude for the continued support from the Greek diaspora, particularly during challenging times. "This visit is a profound honor for our region and for me personally. It reinforces my belief that achieving our local development goals is only possible through unity and collaboration," said Topsidis.
He highlighted the region's potential for international cooperation and strategic outreach, emphasizing sustainable development in agriculture, business, trade, tourism, culture, and environmental preservation. Topsidis urged WHIA members to strengthen ties with their respective countries and support initiatives that attract investments and bolster regional development.
The WHIA delegation included:
Leonidas Raptakis (Rhode Island State Senator, USA)
Nicole Claridis Ditria (Connecticut State Representative, USA)
Steve Malagari (Pennsylvania State Representative, USA)
Steve Georganas (Australian Parliament Member)
Effi Triantafillopoulos (Ontario Provincial Parliament Member, Canada)
Annie Koutraki (Federal Parliament Member, Canada)
Marietta Karamanli (French Parliament Member)
Giorgos Michalakis (South African Parliament Member).
Topsidis concluded by reaffirming his commitment to maintaining and strengthening the bonds established during the visit.