Your Excellency, Mr. President, Honourable Mrs. Mulino,
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you and your delegation to Greece. Your presence today at the Presidential Mansion reaffirms the strong ties and the feelings of appreciation and friendship that bind our two countries and signals our shared will to further strengthen our bilateral relations.
The sea has shaped, over time, the history of Greece and Panama, bringing our two peoples together and effectively eliminating the geographical distance that separates us.
Beginning with the contribution of many Greeks to the completion of the Panama Canal project at the start of the previous century and the appointment of the Greek captain Nikitas Mavrakis, known as John Constantine, as the captain who navigated through the Canal for the first time, our countries have forged a substantive relationship of cooperation, as Greece’s long-standing maritime tradition converged with Panama’s pivotal geostrategic role in international shipping.
It is well known that Greece has one of the strongest merchant fleets in the world, playing a pivotal role in international maritime transport.
On the other hand, the Panama Canal is one of the most strategic hubs of international navigation, of immense importance to global trade, but also a symbol of international cooperation and interconnection between peoples. In this spirit, Greece, as a member state of the European Union and a steadfast advocate of international law, unequivocally supports the status governing the Canal.
I would also like to note that Panama serves as a global symbol of unity, a powerful reminder that common ground can be found even between the most distant regions and, by extension, between the most divergent ideas and positions. Panama connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The two largest and most distant oceans merge in Panama.
This union is of immense importance to the global economy, but it is also a profound metaphor. A symbol that expresses the idea that common ground can be found even between the most “foreign” of positions, between the most “foreign” of civilizations.
Mr. President,
Our shared system of values, respect for international law—including the law of the sea—the defense of human rights and the promotion of multilateralism and international cooperation constitute the compass for our navigation through the turbulent waters of the modern world.
The concurrent tenure of our countries on the United Nations Security Council in practice confirms this alignment and highlights the role of Greece and Panama as responsible members of the international community and defenders of international peace, security and legality.
In this context, the protection of maritime security and the safeguarding of freedom of navigation, in accordance with the dictates of international law, is a vital priority and a shared strategic objective, particularly in the current geopolitical circumstances.
At the same time, addressing climate change and protecting natural resources at a global level is an urgent necessity and a shared responsibility of us all, in order to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations.
In a time of rapid geopolitical change, ongoing armed conflicts and successive humanitarian crises, Greece remains a staunch supporter of international law and of the resolution of disputes based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, including those of respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty and the prohibition of the use or threat of force.
As a matter of principle, we believe that good-faith dialogue and diplomacy are the only path that can lead humanity into a new era of peace and prosperity.
Your Excellency, Mr. President, Mrs. Mulino, distinguished members of the Panamanian delegation,
I am certain that you will agree that the ties between states acquire true substance and meaning through the development of human relationships and contacts.
In our case, the presence of the historic Greek community in Panama is a vital element and a driving force for our bilateral relations, serving as a living bridge of friendship and cooperation between our countries.
I would like to express the gratitude of the Greek people for your country’s hospitality, which has embraced the Greeks from the very beginning, allowing them to thrive in their new homeland.
Expressing once again the feelings of high esteem and warm friendship that we hold for your country, I raise my glass, wishing you personally good health, strength and success in your mission, and to the friendly people of Panama, prosperity and fulfilment of their national expectations.
