Challenges on water resources and environmental narratives for a sustainable and climate resilient future: event by the Embassies of Greece and Tajikistan in Belgium

An event titled “Challenges on water resources and environmental narratives for a sustainable and climate resilient future” was co-organized on June 13, 2025, at the premises of the Greek Embassy, by the Embassy of Greece in Belgium with the Embassy of Tajikistan.

Ambassador of Greece to Belgium Sofia Grammata welcomed the speakers and the audience, while Ambassador of Tajikistan Muzaffar Mahmurod delivered welcome remarks.  The event was addressed by the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee (ministerial level) under the Government of Tajikistan Bahodur Sheralizoda, the President of the bilateral section Belgium-Greece of the Belgian Federal Parliament Senator Kris Verduyckt, the Director for Environmental Protection and Climate Change issues of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Maria Diamantopoulou, the Ambassador of Costa Rica to Belgium Eliana Villalobos, Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for Europe and Central Asia Natalia Alonso Cano, the Director of the UNESCO Office in Brussels Lodovico Folin Calabi, and the EEAS Deputy Managing Director for Central Asia, regional cooperation and OSCE Luc Devigne. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' address at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, as well as video messages from MEPs S. Arnaoutoglou and D. Tsiodras were  screened during the event.

Ambassadors and representatives of Embassies in Belgium, EU officials and experts on environmental issues attended the event, which was organized in the context of Greece’s activities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The event was preceded by a meeting between Mr. Bahodur Sheralizoda and Ambassador Ms. Diamantopoulou, during which the strengthening of bilteral cooperation on climate protection issues was discussed. The Tajik delegation referred to the cultural ties that connect Greece with their country since the times of Alexander the Great and both sides expressed the will to deepen relations in the cultural sector.