It is with great pleasure that I welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Canadian Foreign Minister, Ms. Mélanie Joly.
The friendship between Greece and Canada is long-standing. While welcoming the esteemed Minister, I had the opportunity to show her the royal decrees from 1895, 1920, and 1937, which established our General Consulates, Consular Offices, and Embassy in Canada. Two years ago, in 2022, we celebrated 80 years of our diplomatic relations.
Through the years, the bonds between our peoples have become sincere, deep and unshakeable.
We are linked with Canada by common understanding and shared principles based on the defence of democracy, the rule of law and humanitarianism. We join our voices in international fora to uphold these universal values.
We are particularly concerned about the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which threatens peace and stability not only in Europe but globally.
Greece and Canada have stood from the outset together against revisionism, against the challenge to International Law and Ukraine's territorial integrity, offering our support both bilaterally and within the framework of NATO.
On the other major front in our region, the Middle East, we are experiencing a humanitarian disaster. We share grave concerns about the destabilizing and spill-over effects of the war in Gaza and the Middle East.
It is more necessary than ever to halt hostilities, to put an immediate end to the bloodshed, so that humanitarian aid can flow unimpeded into Gaza.
Greece contributes in a productive way to the resolution of the problem. We participate in the peace processes, bilaterally but also within the European Union and the UN. For a solution within the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions, for a two-state solution, with the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the pre-1967 borders.
We also discussed with the Minister our bilateral relations.
I had the opportunity to emphasize that Greece's economic and investment climate has drastically changed. Greece is now a very investment-friendly country, as demonstrated by the presence of Canadian investments in Northern Greece and at the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
We seek to strengthen and increase these investments, considering the growth path of the Greek economy, Greece's geopolitical position and the country's political and economic stability.
Our close cooperation was further sealed when Greece purchased seven Canadian Canadair aircraft, which will be used in forest firefighting.
Unfortunately, climate change is relentless. We are watching with bated breath the devastation caused by forest fires in Canada these days, particularly in western Canada. I would like to express Greece's solidarity with the Canadian government and the Canadian people from this podium. Greeks have experienced great pain and sorrow due to these extreme climate phenomena.
Investing in green energy is a one-way path and of vital importance for our survival.
Greece aspires to become a geostrategic hub, supporting energy projects such as vertical natural gas corridors as well as transport and infrastructure projects and interconnections with Greek ports.
To promote all the above-mentioned policies, we coordinate our actions with Canada within international organisations.
We warmly thank Canada for its commitment to support Greece's candidacy as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.
Our priorities will include, inter alia, fighting climate change and promoting women's and children’s rights, values traditionally supported by Canada's liberal society.
The motto of the Greek candidacy is Dialogue, Democracy, Diplomacy.
These three Greek words have great importance, depth, and global resonance.
In asymmetrical times, it is our duty to keep dialogue alive and to support the diplomatic resolution of international and transnational disputes.
Honourable Minister,
As a Greek, I am grateful for the fact that the Greek language is taught in your great country, within an excellent educational system, and that great Canadian universities have Departments of Modern Greek studies.
Today, the Hellenism of Canada, Greeks and those of Greek origin, are estimated to be around 350,000 people. They are the bridge that connects the two countries and the two cultures.
This was personally witnessed by the Greek Prime Minister during his recent visit to Canada and his meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau. It was the first visit of a Greek Prime Minister to Canada in 41 years. As he pointedly said, before leaving Canada:
"At the end of the day, what I will remember most from my visit is the image of young children who sang both the Canadian and the Greek national anthems with the same pride, with the same energy, with the same enthusiasm".
Minister, dear Mélanie,
It is a great honour to welcome you to Greece today.
May 17, 2024