I am honored to be with you today, representing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who was unable to be here, due to the devastating and unprecedented floods plaguing our country.
The tragic loss of life, as well as the catastrophic effects of the floods on property, livelihood, infrastructure and the environment only enhance our determination for swift reconstruction of the affected areas, the identification of the best prevention methods, and the acceleration of global efforts for addressing the root causes of climate crisis, which is evident in the Mediterranean.
This evening, our Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has asked me to convey you a message of gratitude for your contribution to forging of Greek-American relations which have reached their highest point in history.
This was clearly demonstrated by the historic visit of our Prime Minister to the US for the commemoration of the bicentennial of the Greek Independence War, during which he addressed the Congress. It was the first time a Greek Prime Minister had this privilege.
This impressive celebration of Greece was mainly a way for the American leadership to honor the Greek-American community, thus recognizing your tremendous contribution to the American society, your crucial role in building the United States and your firm commitment to Greek-American relations.
Your dedication to strengthening our bilateral relationship has paid off. Greek-American cooperation today is at an excellent level and its scope is broader than ever.
In a world of rapid and radical changes, Greece has proven to be an ally to the United States, a valuable player in the Eastern Mediterranean region and a hub of great potential for economic growth.
Our united front against the Russian invasion of Ukraine derives from our shared long-standing values of democracy and respect for the rule of law and International Law.
Standing alongside the US against revisionism around the world, Greece has proven to be a trustworthy ally of the US and has upgraded the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean for American interests.
On the other hand, domestically, Greece is a very stable democracy that managed to overcome a sweeping economic crisis without surrendering to extremism.
Greece has a resilient economy which has recovered rapidly and robustly, reaching a GDP growth of almost 6% in 2022, a European record.
Greece is a safe and reliable destination for investment, thanks to our sector-wide reform agenda.
Recently we had a series of rating agencies raised our economy to the investment grade.
Now, coming to our foreign policy, I would like first of all to thank my Vice Ministers, who are present now, Vice Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and Vice Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, for their invaluable assistance in the very difficult task we have at the Foreign Ministry, and especially to thank Alexandra for setting up this magnificent event and for spending so much time and energy to strengthen Greek-American relations. Thank you. Alexandra.
Now, coming back to foreign policy, apart from our firm commitment to NATO and the EU, we have prioritized our bilateral relationship with the US.
Our military co-operation has been enhanced through the new Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement.
The base and the port of Alexandroupoli have proven to be extremely important for NATO forces, in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Obviously, we continue our defense cooperation through the F-16’s upgrade and the purchase of the new F-35s.
Our economic ties are growing stronger, thanks to important American investments, namely in the field of Big Tech and Pharma.
Our people-to-people contacts are reinforced with an unprecedented wave of American tourists in Greece this year, but also through educational exchange programs.
I would like to underscore the importance of the energy sector. I know that some of you are particularly interested in this field of cooperation. Because this area of cooperation is of extremely crucial in light of the war in Ukraine.
It is my firm belief that the US and Europe now need to work together in order to phase out the dependence of our countries on Russian hydrocarbons.
In this respect, the Eastern Mediterranean presents a lot of opportunities.
The US has recognized the importance of our region for Europe’s energy diversification. Electric interconnectors in the Eastern Mediterranean are an invaluable and clean source of energy supply for the European electrical grid.
The Eastern Mediterranean has been at the forefront of the energy transition, since it has claimed the role of a hub for clean energy produced in the Gulf.
Energy is one of the sectors– and the most important one so far – of our trilateral cooperation with Cyprus and Israel.
We attach particular importance to this trilateral cooperation. We are like-minded countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. This has also been recognized by the American government, which participates in the so-called 3+1 format.
I am sure that you are eager to hear a few things about our relationship with Türkiye, in view of the approach which is going to be established.
First of all, it is sure that we encounter a period of calmness in the broader region of the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, especially after the catastrophic earthquakes in Türkiye, last February.
We had a recent meeting to Ankara with my Turkish counterpart, and we agreed on a roadmap of a bilateral rapprochement in the coming months.
We are going to establish a new relationship based on three particular pillars. The first pillar is the political dialogue, which will be led by Vice Minister, Ambassador Papadopoulou. The second pillar which includes the positive agenda with measures which are mutually beneficial for the two countries, led by Vice Minister Fragogiannis. The third pillar will be the measures of confidence-building, which is going also to be led by an experienced diplomat.
This roadmap includes meetings of all the three pillars, in October and November. By the end of the year, we expect to have a High-level Cooperation Council in Thessaloniki between the two governments, in order to have a set of agreements to be signed.
As you probably know, the Greek and Turkish delegation will meet on Wednesday, here in New York, to further enhance this cooperation. The two leaders will agree on how we proceed with the next steps.
I need to stress that a constructive dialogue with Türkiye can only be based on the respect of International Law including the treaties on the Law of the Sea and the treaties, which establish the sovereignty of the States, the borders and the territorial integrity of the two countries.
Our position is that dialogue on the strict basis of International Law is the only way to resolve our differences. I have to stress quite categorically that the difference between Greece and Türkiye is the delimitation of maritime zones and in particular the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. However, issues of national sovereignty are altogether excluded from any sort of dialogue because they are a matter of the exclusive competence of the State.
I would like to make a comment concerning Cyprus
I know quite a few of you do have roots from Cyprus and I want to be very straightforward concerning Cyprus, which is our top priority in terms of foreign policy and diplomacy. We are working very closely with the government of Cyprus. Today I saw the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We are fully aligned when it comes to promoting the idea of the united Cyprus on the basis of the resolutions of the Security Council of the UN. We fully adhere to the idea of a single state, a bizonal bicommunal federation. In no way do we discuss the idea of a two-state solution.
Further I would like to conclude with the situation in the Western Balkans. As you probably know, Greece has been a lead country when it came to the enlargement of the European Union towards the Western Balkans. It was in Thessaloniki back in 2003 when we decided that the future of the states of the Western Balkans belongs to the EU. We had the opportunity to repeat this statement in Athens last month, when the Prime Minister called all the leaders from Western Balkans and also from Ukraine and Moldova in order exactly to reinstate the idea that the Western Balkans should be in the European family.
Obviously when it comes to the accession process there are specific conditions and milestones that need to be met by all states and the most important of these milestones is the respect for International Law, for the rule of law and for the fundamental principles of democracy. And in this respect, I would like again to stress the point that our neighboring state Albania has been rather opposing the idea of rule of law, of respect for political rights and for democracy by illegally withholding Fredi Beleri, the elected mayor of Himare and essentially prohibiting from being sworn in. This is what the people of Himare decided. Unfortunately, the Albanian authorities are refusing to allow Beleri to be in his post. This is not something that one might expect from a candidate country for the European Union.
Dear fellow Greeks, αγαπητοί συμπατριώτες
Our Government wants to hear the voice of Greek diaspora.
Since it was reelected, the Mitsotakis' Governement has lifted immediately the restrictions concerning the Vote of Greeks abroad.
That was the first bill to be introduced in the immediately after the elections.
What happened essentially was that all bureaucratic requirements have now been lifted, so it is a very simple process for every Greek to vote from the place of his domicile. So, please take full advantage of the new legislation.
It will be much easier for all of you to vote and actively participate in the political situation in Greece.
Furthermore,
We took a series of steps in order to make your life easier and to establish a direct channel of communication with the motherland.
- the Register of the Citizens, which promotes the direct registration of foreign registry acts by the Consular Authorities,
-the Virtual Assistant that provides automated electronic responses with consular affairs,
- "MyConsulLive", a service, which remotely serves citizens via video calls.
Additionally, a special page on the gov.gr for Greeks Abroad and now
In addition, we have the digital learning platform, staellinika.com which allows people to get familiarized with the Greek language.
In spite of all the above, all the digital developments, I realize as Head of Greek diplomacy, political Head of Greek diplomacy that there are still a lot of things that ought to be done.
I understand that often our Consulates are overwhelmed and understaffed. Please be reassured that will I do everything in my power in order to facilitate the enlargement of the Consulate with staff and resources in order to perform their duties more effectively and more constructively.
Dear fellow Greeks,
Αγαπητοί μου συμπατριώτες,
I firmly believe that Public diplomacy and Diaspora are complementary concepts.
The Greek communities are emerging as strong players in the international political scene.
Our Diaspora can be very supportive of our Public diplomacy.
You are the most meaningful part of Greece’s soft power.
Each one of you is an ambassador of Greece and of what Greece represents, such as Orthodoxy, culture and History.
Your success is the success of Greece and we are very proud of your achievements.
We rely very much on your help, support and advice.
Thanks to you, Greece’s footprint in the United States is today larger than ever.
Our Embassy in Washington and our General Consulates all over the country are grateful to you and remain, as I do, at your disposal in order to discuss all our problems and try to solve those problems in good faith and for the interest of our glorious country.
As I say proudly, if you want to get to know genuine Hellenism, then travel the globe. You are the most spectacular example of success of Greeks all over the world. Greece’s heart beats through you.
Μέσα από σας χτυπάει η καρδιά της Ελλάδας.
Keep our country in your soul.
Κρατήστε την πατρίδα στην ψυχή σας για πάντα.
Σας ευχαριστούμε για όλα.
September 20, 2023