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Minister of Education Ligia Deca highlighted on Friday, in her message to the participants of the 8th International Olympiad of Hellenism, the importance of affirming the cultural and linguistic identity of national minorities.
"Language is a reflection of one's own being and spiritual strength. The Neo-Greek language, by its reference to the inexhaustible fund of ancient Greek, has built its universality, so that today, the ancient acquisition of most civilized countries is found in scientific and technical terminology in various areas: medicine, chemistry, physics, natural sciences, philology, philosophy, but also in components of the everyday lexicon. All these aspects demonstrate that mankind continually discovers stimulus in the intellectual heritage of Greece, thus recognising the essential common character with the Greeks as a form of perpetual proclamation of the universal vocation of Greek civilisation," Deca added in her message.
Furthermore, presidential advisor Sergiu Nistor mentioned that "the Neo-Greek language remains the cradle of European civilisation, the linguistic matrix of a long-lived culture whose values continue to nourish our spirit, imagination and way of living peacefully in a diverse world."
"Freedom, truth, beauty, knowledge and solidarity are the seeds on which the language of the ancient Greeks continues to surround and inspire us. Democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are civic community values which, thanks to the Greek language, have lived through time to lay the foundations of contemporary societies. These broadly humanist principles, and the outstanding personalities who gave them life, constitute a valuable heritage that must be cultivated and passed on in the spirit of dialogue between ethnic groups, languages and cultures," said Nistor.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Hellenic Union of Romania, is being held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs - the General Secretariat of the Greek Diaspora and Public Diplomacy. The initiative to organise this event, since 2014, belongs to the Hellenic Union of Romania President, MP Dragos Zisopol.
He stressed that the event, which brings together students from 12 countries, being unique in the world, "has already become a tradition for Romania, which aims to keep alive the flame of Olympism, knowledge and promotion of the Greek language and civilization in Europe."
"It is a celebration for young people, for all those who participate from different countries, who have learned and are learning the Greek language and we will see how they will rank. I am sure that all our young people in Romania will have good results. In all the previous editions Romania came out with the best results and we hope that this year we will be the best too," Zisopol said at Parliament on Friday.
Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Romania Sofia Grammata appreciated the involvement of the Hellenic Union of Romania in the "unparalleled organisation" of this International Olympiad of Hellenism.
"Thanks to all of us, Greeks and our friends who love Greece and ancient and modern Greek culture, the Greek language, which offers access to the unique works of ancient and modern Greek literature, always thrills peoples across the length and breadth of the Earth, through its evolutionary path and the preservation of vivid and brilliant words and expressions that remain the same from Homer's epics to the present day," said Sofia Grammata.
Secretary General for Greek Diaspora and Public Diplomacy Ioannis Hrysoulakis stressed in a video message that for his compatriots around the world, knowledge of the Greek language is not only an important channel of communication, but also the main means of preserving and strengthening their identity - a decisive factor in strengthening the ties of the diaspora with their country of origin.
For the first time, the Romanian-Hellenic Bilateral Chamber of Commerce will offer, in addition to the prizes that the Hellenic Union of Romania and the Ministry of Education give every year, a prize of 5,000 lei to the young person who will obtain the highest average score. Each participant will receive a book and each prize winner a tablet.
