Dear Secretary Blinken,
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Let me begin by expressing my deepest condolences to the families of the five members of the crew of the marine helicopter who lost their lives tragically yesterday.
Our meeting today marks the opening of the 5th U.S.-Greece strategic dialogue.
Please allow me at the outset to place emphasis on the importance of these two Greek-origin words.
Strategic, deriving from the Greek word στρατηγικός, meaning of top hierarchy.
And Dialogue coming from the Greek word Διάλογος, meaning discussion, debated on the grounds of logic and reason.
Therefore, our strategic dialogue is a means to set vision and enhance policies based on shared values. And it is important that today we are signing the Artemis Accords in order to just be together. Not only on Earth, but also in space.
Such meaningful cooperation is needed today more than ever, in light of the pressing global challenges, such as climate change, migration and pandemics, which directly affect the lives of billions of people.
But also in the context of serious regional conflicts – from Ukraine and South Caucasus to Gaza, the Red Sea and the Sahel – with imminent extraterritorial effects.
What is urgently needed is global cooperation based on ethical commitments under the auspices of international law. This is after all the epitome of global governance, calling for rules-based international order and universal solidarity.
In this respect, the further cultivation of our bilateral ties as well as of the transatlantic cooperation, is of outmost significance.
And it is important that we are here, one of the oldest members of the European Union and of NATO, in order to discuss together and find new ways of cooperation.
We actively support EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and Ukraine.
We underline the respect of international law and of the International Law of the Sea. We urge to resume talks concerning the Cyprus problem towards a viable solution according to the UN Security Council resolutions.
In relation to the Middle East, we are in a position – by virtue of our relations with all involved parties– to work constructively to prevent further humanitarian deterioration. And I would like to take this opportunity to stress Secretary Blinken’s tireless efforts to prevent the escalation and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East from where he just returned. We are all grateful for his efforts.
In relation to Ukraine, we are hosting next week, alongside with the European Investment Bank, a reconstruction summit in Athens.
And of course this April, we are hosting in Athens the 9th “Our Ocean Conference,” concerning the sustainability of the preservation of oceans globally. I had the opportunity earlier this morning to have a very interesting talk discussion with Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry. And it was really outstanding to see how we are completely like-minded in many respects.
Further, our economy is back on a strong growth trajectory. This is also thanks to emblematic FDI’s from the US.
And we are increasingly becoming a key player and a hub in the energy sector, with particular emphasis on infrastructures and interconnectors in order to make energy diversification more plausible in Europe. Just last month, our new floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) arrived in Alexandroupoli and will soon start providing gas to the Balkans and Eastern Europe, via Greece.
And we further develop our defense capabilities. The upcoming acquisition of up to 40 F-35s reflects the depth of our relationship.
In light of the above, I daresay that the US and Greece complement each other, doing everything in their power to contribute to the regional and global stability.
Let me conclude, my dear Secretary, by mentioning People-to-People ties, a vital underpinning of our strategic dialogue.
The Greek American diaspora is a significant bridge of the two civilizations and of the two peoples.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of educational exchanges and institutions like the Fulbright Exchange Program, the US German Marshall Fund and other educational vehicles.
And, of course, we also value the 53 Greece-related programs at American universities, including 11 chairs of Greek Studies.
Dear Secretary,
Today we celebrate the international day of Greek language. It is a great day for us. And on this occasion, please allow me to conclude with some ecumenical Greek words. Thank you for your philoxenia and I look forward to further synergies among our governments and nations on grounds of common ethos, so as to develop a peaceful and democratic ecumene.
Ευχαριστώ, thank you.
February 9, 2024