N. KOTZIAS: Good afternoon. Thank you for attending. Thank you also to the interpreting team for the excellent work it is bound to do, as always. Without interpreting, there is no dissemination of thoughts and ideas. So, thank you. Thank you “Theodoros” (I am translating his name in Greek), it is a pleasure and an honour; you are visiting Athens on a day which is not so sunny. But he has an open invitation to come again, and then it will surely be a sunny day.
Moldova is a country that belongs to South-eastern Europe. It is a country in which we have great interest. We are interested in building relations with it, not only because it is an integral part of Europe, not only because it is part of the most deeply rooted European traditions; but also because it belongs to a region where our outlook and plan is to strengthen our cooperation, to develop joint programs and joint plans, to base ourselves on European values, and to dream of a common future together.
There can be no growth for our country, as we strongly desire, without the cooperation and growth of all South-eastern European States. Greece, is a relatively small country, albeit the strongest in the region, therefore has a duty to contribute in this regard.
So, we have, in our opinion, a great responsibility to contribute to the further development of the relations between the European Union and Moldova within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
We believe, and I will stress this on Monday afternoon as well, in Luxembourg, where we will have a discussion on the Eastern Partnership, that Moldova is a unique case among these countries, which requires special care.
We agreed to strengthen our cooperation. To strengthen the cooperation between our two countries, as well as to strengthen our cooperation with those other EU Member States that share such a rational and, in our opinion, correct outlook and relationship with Moldova, so as to overcome the difficulties and obstacles, or even prejudices and stereotypes, that exist in the minds of many people.
We want Moldova on our side, and not on the opposite side. And as I have said many times, Europe must not limit itself to harsh or repressive measures. Europe must have a vision, and it must - together with the other peoples and countries that are still not part of the European Union- envision the future.
We agreed that the 4th Joint Inter-ministerial Committee will take place in December, to look at a series of issues on how we can further strengthen our economic relations. This is in our common interest and will benefit both our countries.
We discussed strengthening our diplomatic relations, a cooperation between our diplomatic academies - the Diplomatic Institute as it is called in Moldova and our own Diplomatic Academy; to establish a special cooperation scheme between our two Directorates which deal with European issues in order to transfer our knowledge and experience; and also, to look at building upon the excellent relations everybody in the region has with Moldova, for Moldova to also be present at meetings of the cooperation schemes between countries in the region which were formed upon our initiative.
I think that supporting Moldova will be more effective if done collectively rather than individually.
We also agreed to open and support a series of honorary consulates in our country as well as one in Moldova, and I hope that our A5 Directorate, together with the A’ General Director, will see to this.
Dear Theodoros, thank you also for the discussion we had together. We discussed issues related to strategy, strengthening our relations and our strategic outlook.
Thank you for coming to Athens. You brought with you your youthful smile of optimism. Optimism is very important in life. I have always said that my philosophy is the philosophy of historical optimism.
Thank you very much. We shall continue at the luncheon that follows.
October 12, 2018