A major development for Hellenism worldwide was announced from Perth, the final stop in Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos’ official tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Loverdos revealed that the Australian government has decided to formally recognize and support UNESCO’s declaration of February 9 as World Greek Language Day.

The decision represents an important step in honoring the history, vitality, and timeless significance of the Greek language, while also strengthening the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Greece and Australia.

“This recognition is not only about our language, but about the very soul of Hellenism, which remains alive in every corner of the world,” said Deputy Minister Loverdos.

The announcement comes as Australia’s Greek community continues to play a leading role in promoting the Greek language and culture. Earlier this year, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) celebrated a remarkable academic success: all students enrolled in its language programs achieved a 100 percent pass rate in the Certificate of Attainment in Greek Language examinations — a milestone that highlights the community’s enduring commitment to Greek education abroad.

In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had welcomed UNESCO’s decision to designate February 9 as “World Greek Language Day”, describing it as a landmark moment for Greek cultural diplomacy.

“The whole world will now celebrate, each year, the very language through which the values of the nation that gave birth to democracy — and laid the foundations of philosophy and science — have been transmitted across centuries,” PM Mitsotakis stated.

The date of February 9 was chosen to commemorate the death of Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet and author of the Hymn to Liberty — the poem that became the Greek national anthem.

Australia’s official recognition of World Greek Language Day is expected to encourage new educational and cultural initiatives across the country, further strengthening the connection between the Greek diaspora and their heritage, and celebrating the universal legacy of the Greek language.