Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis' participation in the 78th UN General Assembly in New York and his visit to academic institutions in Boston – A review (18-25.09.2023)

Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis concluded his visit to New York, where he participated in the High-Level Week of the 78th of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Minister participated in multilateral meetings and events and held bilateral contacts, with a view to conveying Greece's positions, on the one hand, and to promoting Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, on the other.

Specifically, regarding his contacts with officials of international, regional and European organisations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the President of the 78th UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. He also accompanied Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Mr. Gerapetritis also held a series of meetings on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Balkans. Specifically, he participated in a trilateral meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, as well as in trilateral meetings between Greece and Cyprus with Egypt and Jordan, respectively. Additionally, he had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

Regarding the Balkans, the Minister participated in a quadrilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of Greece - Croatia - Bulgaria - Romania and the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). He had bilateral meetings with his Serbian counterpart and the Kosovar Foreign Minister.

Mr. Gerapetritis also held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye and attended the meeting between the Turkish President and the Prime Minister. During this meeting, a roadmap for the next steps in Greek-Turkish relations was discussed, with a focus on December 7, when the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Türkiye will be convened in Thessaloniki.

In the context of international meetings and events organised during the High -Level Week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs attended:

The open debate at the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine.

The High-Level Event on the Middle East Peace Process titled: The Peace Day Effort - A new Effort for the Middle East”.

A discussion with the leadership of the American Jewish Committee.

The Foreign Affairs Council of the Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States.

The Ministerial Roundtable “Review of the Rome Statute” on the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court.
The Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future.

The signing of the Implementing Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, on the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Transatlantic Dinner hosted by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

In the context of promoting Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term, and with a view to enhancing Greece's bilateral relations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held more than 20 bilateral meetings. He met with his counterparts from Armenia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Panama, Somalia, and Tunisia, among others.

Lastly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs attended an event organised  by Greek Diaspora associations and organisations in the United States.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Boston.  Visit to MIT, addresses at Harvard and Tufts Universities.  Contacts with institutions of science and innovation.

Following his stay in New York, Mr. Gerapetritis traveled to Boston, where he visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and Harvard University. He had held meetings with American and European academics, as well as with representatives of the Greek Diaspora and with institutions such as the Hellenic Innovation Network (HIN) and the Hellenic Institute for Advanced Studies (HIAS), operating in the field of research, science, and innovation.

At the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, at an event co-organized by Professor Photini Pazartzis, holder of the Karamanlis Chair, the Foreign Minister had the opportunity to exchange views with academics and students on issues of global, European, and Greek interest, as well as on Greece's priorities as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term.

At Harvard University, Mr. Gerapetritis was the keynote speaker at an event hosted by the University's Center for European Studies. His address focused on global challenges and Greece's standing in Europe and the world. The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Greece, guided by International Law actively participates in the shaping of European policies and positively contributes to addressing global challenges through multilateral diplomacy.