Australia–Greece relations

Australia–Greece relations

Greece	Australia

Macedonia is Greece rally in Melbourne

Australia–Greece relations are the foreign relations between Australia and Greece. Relations between the two states are close: the countries were allies during both World Wars and the Korean War. During World War II, Australian forces took part in the Battle of Greece and Battle of Crete. There is a large Greek community in Australia (dating from the 1950s and 1960s).^[1] Each country has an embassy in the other's capital. Greece also has consulates general in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as a consulate in Perth, honorary consulates general in Brisbane and Darwin, and honorary consulates in Newcastle and Hobart.^[2] Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

List of bilateral visits

The following state visits have occurred:^[1]

• March 1955, Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies visited Greece^[3][4]
• June 2002, President of Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos visited Australia
• July 2002, Prime Minister of Australia John Howard visited Athens
• April 2005, Prime Minister of Australia John Howard visited Greece
• May 2007, Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis and Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and a delegation of Greek officials and media visited Australia

List of bilateral treaties and agreements

2 agreements are pending:^[2]

• bilateral Social Security Agreement
• Greek–Australian bilateral Agreement on Holidays with Employment Rights

Economic and trade relations

Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Greece (A$ millions) since 1988

Monthly value of Greek merchandise exports to Australia (A$ millions) since 1988

Bilateral economic relations between both countries are at a very low level and there are significant fluctuations in the volume of trade. According to data by the National Statistical Service of Greece, the total volume of trade between the two countries rose by 34.05% reaching 143.228 million Euros.^[2]

See also

• Foreign relations of Australia
• Foreign relations of Greece
• Greek Australian
• Australians in Greece
• Hellenic Australian Business Council

External links

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the relation with Greece
• Australian embassy in Athens
• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Australia
• Greek embassy in Canberra
• Greek general consulate in Sydney
• Greek consulate in Perth
• Hellenic Australian Business Council

Notes

1. http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/greece/greece_country_brief.html Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the relation with Greece
2. http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/Asia+-+Oceania/Bilateral+Relations/Australia/ Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Australia
3. "Menzies on Tour: Greece". Menzies on Tour: Travelling with Robert Menzies, 1950-1959. eScholarship Research Centre, The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
4. "Mr Menzies in Greece". The Canberra Times. 2 March 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 18 December 2014.