JOURNALIST: It is the official debut of postal voting in the European elections of June. Deputy Minister, you recently visited Vienna and Stuttgart, where you briefed associations and members of the Greek Diaspora on the initiatives of the Greek Government regarding Greeks living abroad. What did you get out of this trip?
G. KOTSIRAS: During my visit to Vienna and Stuttgart, I had the opportunity to meet with Diaspora organizations and Greeks living in Austria and Germany. I was able to see their keen interest in developments in Greece and the initiatives of the Greek Government for the Diaspora. I informed them about the process of postal voting and invited them to register in time on the Ministry of Interior’s platform epistoliki.ypes.gov.gr, so they could exercise their voting rights. We also discussed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad, which was entered into consultation through the Ministry’s website mfa.gr, and I sought their views. On this particular trip, as well as in every interaction with the Diaspora, I sense our compatriots’ enthusiasm and love of for the motherland, as well as their concern for preserving their Greek identity, especially the Greek language and culture, and passing them on to younger generations. This genuine and strong interest of the Diaspora increases our sense of responsibility and our determination to further enhance communication, cooperation, and our ties with Greeks all over the world.
JOURNALIST: You referred to the Foreign Ministry’s Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad. What are its primary objectives? What kind of actions does it include?
G. KOTSIRAS: With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad, we aim for the first time to form a comprehensive, cohesive policy for Greeks abroad, with a four-year horizon, specific targets, and actions to ensure continuity. The Plan reflects our vision to support the Greek element worldwide and to tighten our bonds with the Greek Diaspora. The Plan is structured around six strategic objectives: supporting and developing the Diaspora networks and structures, leveraging the Diaspora’s presence to promote issues of Greek interest, enhancing the Greek language, traditions, and culture with an emphasis on the new generation, maintaining and strengthening ties with Orthodox ecclesiastical institutions, enhancing bilateral and multilateral collaborations in the Diaspora sector, and upgrading the services provided by the Consular Authorities. Each objective is further analyzed into pillars, for which specific actions are planned. These include establishing a registry for Diaspora organizations and a website for the Greek Diaspora, educational exchange programs, hospitality and internships for young Diaspora members in Greece, expanding the digital platform for learning the Greek language staellinika.com, and the continuous digitization of services provided to Greeks abroad. Many proposals submitted by Diaspora members during the consultation will be incorporated into the final Plan. Beyond that, we strive to give the Strategic Plan a dynamic character. The actions will be evaluated and adjusted to achieve the best possible result.
JOURNALIST: Questions are being raised by opposition parties as to whether the postal voting process is safe following the alleged leak of personal data to Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou.
G. KOTSIRAS: The postal voting process is absolutely incorruptible. We adhere to best international practices from countries where postal voting has been implemented for decades and meet all specifications set by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Voters' personal data are fully protected by the EU's General Data Protection Regulation and by national legislation.
JOURNALIST: What feedback do you receive from Diaspora Greeks on this particular issue?
G. KOTSIRAS: The process of postal voting has been in place for decades in many countries worldwide. As such, most Diaspora Greeks are familiar with postal voting. Besides, the establishment of postal voting has been a long-standing request of Greeks living abroad and has been received with enthusiasm. The Diaspora Greeks are looking forward to the next step, which is to extend postal voting to national elections so that true equal treatment of Greek citizens is ensured, wherever they live.
JOURNALIST: Do you think that Greece has been slow to adopt postal voting?
G. KOTSIRAS: Let me remind you that the issue has been hotly debated since 2019, when the then government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the initiative, establishing the ability for Greek citizens living abroad to participate in elections from their place of residence. The legal conditions imposed at the time, to achieve consensus, were finally lifted in the summer of 2023, following the New Democracy party's renewal of popular mandate. Postal voting is a measure that deepens democracy, meets the demands of the times, strengthens the voice of Diaspora Greeks, and reduces their distance from the metropolitan center to the benefit of the entire Hellenism.
JOURNALIST: Two years on, the war continues in Ukraine. I would like your comment regarding the recent missile attack on the port of Odessa, at the time when the Greek Prime Minister was meeting the Ukrainian President.
G. KOTSIRAS: The recent missile attack on the port of Odessa, just a few hundred meters from the Greek delegation, reminded us all, in the most painful way, that the war in Ukraine rages on with intensity. This vindicates once again our country's choice to stand by Ukraine from the very beginning. We will continue to support Ukraine in its righteous cause and actively participate in the common European effort to restore its territorial integrity.
JOURNALIST: What is your response to those who are concerned about Greece's involvement in the military operation in the Red Sea?
G. KOTSIRAS: Greece's presence in the operations in the Red Sea is entirely compatible with our commitment to International Law and the Law of the Sea, and is part of international efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. As a major maritime power, it is of particular symbolism and substantial importance to defend free navigation and protect our commercial fleet and the lives of our sailors. A further escalation of the crisis in the Red Sea would have serious consequences for commodity and energy prices, international trade, and global security.
March 17, 2024