Today marks a truly historic day for Greece and for relations between Greece and the friendly country of Libya. We are inaugurating the new building of our Consulate General in Benghazi. As of today, the Greek flag will be proudly flying here, in the heart of Benghazi. This signifies the great importance that Greece places on its relations with Libya. Greece is at the forefront, it has a significant international footprint, making a positive contribution to a challenging world. It is extremely important to expand our infrastructure, our facilities abroad, especially here in our immediate neighborhood, in nearby Benghazi.
I would particularly like to thank and express Greece’s gratitude to our compatriots of the Greek Community of Benghazi, who, with exceptional effort and positive energy, contributed to the construction of this exquisite building of our Consulate General in Benghazi. I would also like to extend my special thanks to Mr. Kanakis Mandalios, a distinguished member of the Greek Diaspora, who, under difficult personal and emotional circumstances, devoted every possible effort, resource, energy, and dedication so that today we can inaugurate our new Consulate General, in memory of the young people who lost their lives, Angela and Philippos.
It is very important to uphold high ideals. Both served these ideals with devotion, finally paying the ultimate price, their own lives. Greece is grateful to you, Mr. Mandalios. This also sends a strong message that Greece is everywhere. It stands with Hellenism worldwide. A Greece that is prosperous, strong, and proud.
I would also like to warmly thank the honorable Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Libyan Asset Recovery Committee. Greece will stand by Libya in all international organizations. In these challenging times, with conflicts ongoing, it is extremely important that neighboring countries, bound by centuries of history and shared geography, stay close to one another.
Thank you very much.
March 28, 2026