ODESA, NOVEMBER 18th, 2010, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE — Festive opening of the academic conference The Greeks in the North Pontic: History and Culture and IV Marazli readings have taken place in Odesa Greek Culture Centre today, 18 November, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The organizers of the conference are Odesa Regional Administration Department for Nationalities and Religions, Consulate General of Greece in Odesa, Odesa Regional Greek Community n.a. Marazli, and Faculty of History, Odesa National Mechnikov University.

Chief of Odesa Regional Administration Department for Nationalities and Religions Mrs Yaroslava Reznikova read Governor’s of Odesa Oblast greetings to the participants: “I believe this scientific event will facilitate organization of a complex for new scientific approaches to the problems related with the history of Greek population on the territory of the North Pontic, study on the contemporary processes of the Greek population on the territory of Ukraine, strengthening ties of Greek and Ukrainian people.”

Consul General of Greece to Odesa Mr Yerassimos Davaris in his turn said: “The contribution of the Greek Diaspora in the entire region of the North Pontic territory is very important, it concerns studying the culture, traditions and other spheres where Greeks are working in this region. I would like to emphasize the special importance of Odesa. It was exactly here where the idea of independence of Greek people was born.”