Your Excellency, Mr. President, dear Alar,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your delegation to Athens today. Your visit reflects the bonds of friendship that unite our two peoples and confirms the high level of cooperation between our countries in all areas.
Greece and Estonia, though geographically distant, share common values, principles and goals. Situated on the northeastern and southeastern edges of Europe, respectively, our two countries work daily to ensure the security, stability, and prosperity not only of their neighborhoods, but of our common European home as well.
The historical course of our peoples demonstrates that national existence and freedom are not granted but are achieved through the power of language, unity and belief in a common cause.
As, moreover, proclaimed by the great Estonian poet, Kristjan Jaak Peterson, in his poem “Kuu” (Moon), language constitutes the eternal soul and identity of every people striving for its independence.
With the same fervour, after all, Greece’s national poet, Dionysios Solomos, wondered in 1824, “Is there anything else in my mind but freedom and language?”
In the modern era, the bonds of friendship that unite us have grown stronger through our joint course in the European Union, NATO and other international organizations.
In fact, in 2026, 22 years are completed since your country’s official accession to the European Union and it is quite fortunate that Estonia’s Accession Treaty was signed in Athens during the Greek Presidency.
Moreover, in 2022, our countries jointly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of official diplomatic relations and on that occasion, my predecessor visited Estonia.
At the same time, our bilateral relations are steadily developing across a wide range of sectors, from defence industry to digital governance, an area in which your country is a pioneer, as well as education and from innovation to tourism. I am confident that your visit to Greece will significantly contribute to the further advancement of our cooperation, producing results that are mutually beneficial and tangible for both our peoples.
Your Excellency, Mr. President,
As you yourself have very aptly pointed out recently, the international order established after the Second World War, based on the rule of international law, the prohibition of the use of force and the peaceful resolution of international disputes, is in jeopardy.
Incidents of revisionism and aggression, as well as blatant violations of fundamental international rules and principles, are multiplying every day.
The unprovoked and illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine has made it clear, in a dramatic way, that peace cannot be taken for granted in Europe. Our support for Ukraine has been unwavering from the very beginning and it will not cease to be so. For Greece, this choice is the only path forward, especially in light of the ongoing, 52-year-long illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus.
At the same time, the conflict in the Middle East threatens regional security and stability, as well as the global economy and freedom of navigation, making it imperative to de-escalate and peacefully resolve the crisis with Iran.
At the same time, the implementation of the peace plan for Gaza remains essential, with the ultimate goal of resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of a two-state solution.
These developments and, more broadly, the many contemporary challenges, such as hybrid threats, climate change and rapid technological progress, have highlighted the need to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union and to take decisive initiatives across all fields, from defense and security to competitiveness and innovation.
In this framework, we note with satisfaction that Estonia and Greece support the drafting of an ambitious multiannual budget for the European Union, giving priority to issues such as defense readiness, cross-border connectivity, particularly in the energy sector, the strengthening of the Common Agricultural Policy, the preservation of cohesion and the promotion of convergence among Member States.
Your Excellency, Mr. President,
Greece and Estonia remain committed to the need to strengthen international legitimacy, multilateralism and European unity. In this spirit, I am certain that our cooperation will continue to grow, serving as a model for bilateral relations within the broader European family.
With these thoughts in mind, I raise my glass and wish you and the friendly people of Estonia health, peace and prosperity.
