THE JOHNNITON MASTERS AND Swords
Al. Basic
The foundations for further expansion of cooperation between the towns of Schwerte and Ioannina were laid yesterday in Ioannina, which welcomed the delegation with 25 members led by the mayor, Dimitris Axourgos. The mission was welcomed by the mayor, Tómas Begas, who had a close collaboration with his colleague, and a meeting followed in the town council room in which town councilors from the Ioanniton area participated.
The topics that were discussed and in which it was agreed that there would be closer cooperation between the two linked cities relate to education, sports, culture, commercial affairs, with participation in exhibitions and events, development tourism and diplomacy of the cities as well as common participation in European. programs, while the German connection with the airport of Ioannina was found on her hidden record.
At the event in the city council chamber, Mr. Begas mentioned his experience with Mr. Axourgos during his first term as mayor of Ioannina, which led to the connection of the two cities.
He then spoke about the issues discussed, talking about dynamic and multi-level cooperation.
Speaking on the main topic, Ioannina’s air connection with Germany, Mr. Begas emphasized that this is not the first time that this issue concerns our city, adding that, although -however, now is the time to deal with it in a different way. organized way.
“I am happy because from the side of Mr. Axourgos the interest in Germany has been reaffirmed and I believe that we can achieve our goal together. This effort must be common, but this time it should be done more seriously and systematically in collaboration with the relevant ministries, and I will make sure to inform you immediately. Our country has the potential to grow and it is worth trying to get the transport infrastructure we need. Ioannina airport is the gateway that will connect us to Europe faster so that we can increase our market share,” said Mr. Begas.
For his part, Mr. Axourgos, after thanking the mayor and the members of the city council for the welcome, gave, among other things:
“I am happy to be in Ioannina again, this time more as a visitor and less as a politician. I brought with me 25 of my fellow citizens from Schwerte, many of them coming to Greece for the first time and they told me that they were excited from the Ioannina region. That was also their question because, since Ioannina has an international airport, there is no flight from Germany. We discussed this matter with Mr. Bega and I hope that we will succeed in establishing direct flights from the Dusseldorf area to Ioannina since the interest from the German side is there.”
Along with Mr. Axourgos in Ioannina, the mayor of the town of Shtime in Kosovo, Qemajl Aliu, with whom he closely cooperates, was also present.
The aim of his presence in Ioannina is to explore the possibilities to start a similar collaboration with our city.
“I am honored to be here today, facing the representatives of the city council of Ioannina so that we can find common ground to cooperate with Ioannina as we are already doing with the city of Schwerte”, said Mr. Aliu.
The former Mayor, Dimitris Papageorgiou, also spoke to the German delegation, as the two cities were officially joined during the previous term of the city.
“I am particularly pleased with the connection between our municipalities and I am sure that our cooperation will expand. We, from our side, will be helpful in this effort”, said Mr. Papageorgiou.
Reception of cyclists
It was a special moment to welcome four cyclists, Chrysovalantis Karasakalides, Peter Schubert, Werner Schröder and Harald Miehe, who started on April 20 from Schwerte heading for Ioannina making a route of around 2,100 kilometers with 23 destinations intermediate through the Alps, the coast of Italy. the Adriatic, Bari and thence to Epirus and Ioannina.
The purpose of the bicycle tour was not only to highlight the cooperation between the two cities of Schwerte and Ioannina, but it was also part of an educational trip organized by the Ioannina working group in the context of relations with the city of Schwerte.
“It is important that active citizens implement the link between the two cities and send messages of cooperation,” said Mr. Begas welcoming the cyclists.
“It was an interesting experience that was successfully completed. Our first goal was to get healthy, which we did. We arrived on time, which is also important. I am happy to be in Ioannina after we have passed through many countries”, said Chrysovalantis Karasakalides on behalf of the cyclists.
