“Greece is at the end of a decade-long adventure that cost it a monumental loss of GDP following the successive economic solutions imposed on the country, many following a wrong formula. It is without question that, over the course of the last decades, our planet became modernised and westernised under the influence of three forces: economy, technology and communications. However, the perennial political, ideological and realistic goal has been respect towards the individual — and, speaking more broadly and from a position of responsibility for the governance of the country, respect towards peoples. Today, when the political forces of Greece, irrespective of ideology, tried to steer the country away from catastrophe for the good of all Greeks, we are obliged to become streamlined under realistic terms in a global reality.
During his recent visit to Athens, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, acknowledged that “Greece can be a pillar for stability in the region of Southeastern Europe”. In fact, this is the most accurate definition of Greek foreign policy since 1974, and it is what our newly elected government is steadfastly pursuing: for Greece to become a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, this is not a simple task.
We all know that Southeastern Europe and the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean is a volatile region. In fact, during the last century, the Balkans was a powder-keg for war, armed conflict and geopolitical crisis. Faced with these challenges, Greece has made a strategic choice to promote a policy of stability and respect for international law.
More specifically: In the Balkans, Greece considers regional cooperation and the accession of countries to the EU as an effective tool for the overall growth of the region. We are aiming at enhanced coordination and cooperation in order to develop connectivity, transport and the relevant infrastructure as a means for rapprochement between countries and their peoples. Thus, the new government has grouped all bodies competent for bilateral economic relations, for promoting exports and for attracting direct foreign investments under the ‘umbrella’ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the auspices of Economic Diplomacy. Given the order we received from the Prime Minister, we are working hard to implement projects that are particularly important for the wider region of the Balkans,
namely:
The integration of the Ionia Odos motorway with the Adriatic motorway. Sections of these projects have already been constructed in both Greece and Croatia. As soon as this project is complete, Trieste in Italy will be connected to Kalamata in Greece.
Pan-European Corridor X from Salzburg to Thessaloniki.
The railway connection from Piraeus to Belgrade and from there to Budapest.
The modernisation of the Igoumenitsa - Thessaloniki - Istanbul railway connection and the operation of the Thessaloniki - Kavala - Alexandroupolis railway connection to Burgas and Varna up to the port of Ruse on the Danube.
Greece firmly supports projects with the potential to reshape the Balkans. in reality, the Adriatic and Ionian coasts will become connected to the ports of the Aegean and the Black Sea. This will afford a tremendous benefit to transports, trade and the connection of peoples in the region. Despite the serious political and economic crisis of the past ten years, our country has transformed from a source of uncertainty to a source of stability and solutions, thanks to the resilience of the Greek people.
A wind of change, growth and prosperity is blowing throughout the country. Through economic reforms, we will realise the powerful political will of the new government to transform our country into a centre of economic growth and investments for the wider region.
Above all else, though, we will always remain a regional pillar of stability, with respect towards the individual and the peoples of the region.”
November 25, 2019