Dear Prime Minister, dear friends,
Today is a great day for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because we have the pleasure of presenting a visionary Strategic Plan. All of us at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have warmly embraced it. And today we are particularly pleased to present the Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad 2024-2027, in the presence of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister, today the whole world is focused on our Strategic Plan… However, I think that, at least for us, this is something extremely important. Speaking of the US Presidential elections, this Plan is also of major interest for our Diaspora in the United States.
First and foremost, I would like to thank those who contributed to the preparation of the Strategic Plan: the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kotsiras, who has been involved in this project from the very beginning, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy and the Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Directorate General and the Director General for Greeks Abroad. Thank you very much.
I would like to proudly say, Prime Minister, that this Plan is the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There was absolutely no external involvement. The staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs always strives to be of great service to the country.
Of course, none of the above would have been possible without your political will, Prime Minister. This was expressed immediately following the 2019 elections, when you set the framework on how we should perceive our relationship with the Greek Diaspora, regarding both major as well as minor issues.
Regarding the major issues, I believe our first important initiative was the amendment of Article 54, paragraph 4 of the Constitution, which facilitated the vote of Greeks living abroad, so that they feel closer to their homeland and are able co-shape the political landscape. This was followed by two laws, in line with the Constitution. Therefore, today, we can proudly state that all obstacles have been lifted regarding procedures and prerequisites for Greeks living abroad to exercise their right to vote via postal voting. We are now one of the few countries that have eliminated all obstacles, enabling their citizens living abroad to exercise their voting rights.
Οn the minor issues, in recent years there has been an intense effort to improve the lives of Greeks living abroad, particularly by using new technologies and by providing high quality consular services through digital tools. The online service "MyConsulLive" already employs new AI technologies to render procedures easier for Greeks abroad. Recently, we introduced new legislation, which has been passed by the Greek Parliament, aimed at digitizing most of the passport issuance process for Greeks living abroad. In collaboration with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, this initiative will make life significantly easier for Greeks around the world.
Prime Minister, the Strategic Plan, which will be presented to you by the Deputy Minister and the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, provides a vision for connecting Greece with the Greek Diaspora. This Plan is tailored to the different needs of Greeks living abroad. It utilizes new technologies, which enable us to bridge distances with digital tools. It customizes the services provided according to their specific needs.
At this point, I would like to thank you in particular, Prime Minister, for your personal commitment in reinforcing the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in increasing the available resources.
In closing, Prime Minister, I would like to say that the Greek Diaspora is not just an element of soft power. Greeks abroad should feel a sense of belonging. And it is this sense of belonging that we try to strengthen in every possible way.
There are 13 cities around the world that have a population of Greek origin or Greek citizens. Of these 13 cities with a population of over 100,000, 6 are located in Greece, and 7 abroad. There are 7 cities worldwide with Greek populations exceeding 100,000 people. And this is our great strength.
In conclusion, I would like to mention again that this government, just like it has done in the past five years, is acting in accordance with the true meaning of our Constitution. Our Constitution stipulates that powers are exercised by the State for the benefit of the nation. And it is the nation that participates in shaping Greece's political will, through the exercise of political rights. And Article 108 of the Constitution stipulates that the State carries the responsibility to attend to Greeks abroad, and to maintain and strengthen their ties with Greece.
We safeguard the true meaning of the Constitution. We bring together Greeks across the world. They are our greatest strength, perhaps much more so now than they were in the past. Diaspora Greeks are present all over the word and we are determined to bring them all closer to Greece. Thank you very much.
November 6, 2024