Honorable President of the Hellenic Parliament, dear delegates, dear friends. It is with great joy and honor that I welcome you to Athens today. I consider this meeting to be of exceptional importance in these challenging times. I feel an additional obligation, as I too come from a predominantly Francophone educational background.
In my academic studies at the primary and secondary level, French was taught as the first foreign language. Furthermore, my own children attended a Greek-French school during their primary education. The value of French education and the French language is inalienable to us Greeks.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of the Regional Assembly, welcome to Athens. I am delighted to be here for the 35th European Region Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie.
Greece firmly upholds the values of La Francophonie and places significant emphasis on all activities organized within the Francophone family. We are gathered here to promote our common actions and goals. In this spirit, we participated in the Ministerial Assembly.
We currently find ourselves in a particularly worrying regional environment. My country, Greece, finds itself in the immediate vicinity of two major conflicts. Allow me to briefly outline our principles-based position. Ladies and gentlemen, as of February 2022, Europe is once again confronted with a war on our continent, in Ukraine, which has radically changed the situation in our neighborhood. A war that has challenged the democratic values upheld by the Francophone community, as well as the wider international community. Greece has, from the very first moment, adopted the clear position that the invasion of Ukraine constitutes a flagrant violation of International Law.
Our country has also expressed its full solidarity with Ukraine and is committed, along with other states and the European Union, to continue to provide it with every possible support. In this regard, Greece consistently underlines the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, such as respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the independence of all states.
We are proud of our participation in the International Organization of La Francophonie, a community of values where respect for International Law and human rights is at the forefront.
Ladies and gentlemen, the invasion of Ukraine has been a stark reminder that many of the certainties upon which we have relied should not be taken for granted. Unfortunately, amidst an ongoing crisis in our immediate vicinity, we have witnessed another huge crisis in a region that lies even closer to our country.
A region with which Greece is connected through traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation. A region that has already been suffering for many decades. We have unequivocally condemned all forms of terrorism, expressing our abhorrence for the tragic loss of so many innocents.
We highlighted Israel's legitimate right to defend itself, noting that it must be exercised within the limits of International Law and, in particular, International Humanitarian Law. This presupposes adherence to the principle of proportionality.
We underscored that a terrorist organization like Hamas cannot represent the Palestinian people. From the very beginning, we put forward a specific plan that included condemning terrorism, establishing humanitarian corridors, releasing all hostages, not targeting civilians, and convening an international summit to resolve the crisis.
We have taken action. Just a short while ago, a Hellenic Air Force aircraft departed, carrying humanitarian aid to Sinai and eventually to the Gaza Strip, from where it will be provided to people in need.
Our intention is to continue aiding people in need as long as deemed necessary. Concurrently, we are exploring, together with our partners, ways for the direct transport of humanitarian aid by sea. We are making every effort to end hostilities, ensuring timely delivery of this aid, and striving for sustainable peace in the region.
It is my intention to travel in the coming days to Paris in order to discuss with our partners the coordination of these actions. Ladies and gentlemen, Greece is convinced that in an ever-changing international environment, the International Organization of La Francophonie remains a pillar of stability within the framework of effective multilateralism.
We consider the Organization to be a space of common values and solidarity, whose primary goal is the defense and promotion of the rule of law, democracy, and the assurance of respect for human rights.
Ladies and gentlemen, the contribution of La Francophonie in an unstable world through multilateralism is crucial, since it builds bridges of understanding between peoples and governments.
In this regard, my country, Greece, is ready to contribute to the efforts of La Francophonie to promote the values that unite the Francophone world and stability across the world.
Thank you very much.
November 6, 2023