Mr. President,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you on your first state visit to this country, a visit which will further promote the age- long relations between our two countries.
At one time, whether myth or history, my ancestors traveled aboard Argo toColchis, met with your culture and your traditions and returned bringing the Golden Fleece to our country.
Christianity came toGeorgiaat the time of the creation of theByzantine empire-another proof of civilizations with a parallel development, which were communicating with each other. This is also shown by the story of the Byzantine empress Maria, daughter of the Georgian king Bagrat, which is vividly related by Anna Comnena. In the centuries that followed, many Greeks lived and prospered inTbilisi, Chalka and other cities inGeorgia.
We, of course, never forget that Georgiawas the land where hundreds of thousands of refugees from Pontuswent during the difficult times at the beginning of the 20th century. These people found shelter in your country and many remained and are still living inBatumi, Sokhumi and Poti. They created communities, built schools and churches and have lived peacefully and creatively alongside the friendly people ofGeorgia. The Street of the Greeks still exists inBatumi with the splendidchurch ofSt. Nicholas, full of the offerings of Greek seamen.
Our thoughts are with the Georgian citizens of Greek origin who live in your country. I should like to thank you personally for your initiatives which aim at recording their property and thus facilitating their effort for full integration inGeorgia. I am certain that your government’s measures will solve the relevant issues.
On our side, we have received thousands of Georgian citizens in the past years. They live and work here peacefully and have fraternal relations with the Greeks.
Mr. President,
I am especially happy at the vivid interest in Greek studies and culture inGeorgia. The Greek state supports and will continue to support the Tbilisi Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek studies which along with its important academic activities and publications is also the coordinator of the teaching of the Greek language in Georgian state schools. I am also pleased that there is a similar department at theUniversityofBatumi, the city where the Greek diaspora flourished.
The Greek state will continue to provide a number of scholarships to Georgian students who wish to study inGreece.
Georgiais a very important country forGreecein the region. For this reason we support, as you are aware, numerous development programmes in the fields of public administration, agriculture, tourism and business. The Strategy Document in the field of development cooperation for a period of three years will be signed before the end of this year.
Mr. President,
The Black Sea and Caucasus, with which we are bound by geopolitics as well as by historic friendship and cooperation, are very important toGreece. We are interested in the promotion of the rule of law and more importantly in the peaceful resolution of the differences which trouble the region, so that safety and stability can prevail. This is the direction of our work within the BSEC, as this is the only way to regional cooperation and prosperity.GreecesupportsGeorgia’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders as a matter of principle. I sincerely wish that, through sustained efforts and self-restraint, a fair solution to the existing problems, will be found, as soon as possible.
Our thoughts are also with the more than 17000 Georgian citizens of Greek origin who had to leave Abkhazia and abandon their homes and properties.
Mr. President,
Our countries follow the developments inTurkeywith which we both have borders. A democratic and politically stableTurkeywill be to the benefit of us all.
We hope that after the recent election and the election of a President of the Republic, the country is heading toward political stability and that the functioning of the democratic institutions will be catalytic to this end.
We are in favour of the European orientation ofTurkeybut at the same time we expect full compliance with the EU criteria and requirements as regards respect for human rights and religious freedom as well of course, as the settlement of the relations betweenTurkeyandCyprus.
Mr. President,
TheCyprusissue remains a problem of the invasion and occupation of an independent state, a member of the UN and of the EU. Our policy has always been and will continue to be in favour of a full, fair and viable solution for the reunification ofCyprusin the interest of all its legal inhabitants, on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The reunification of the island will bring the benefits of an EU member state in conditions of security and prosperity, to the whole people ofCyprus, both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots.
In relation to FYROM,Greecehas offered important help to the country, mainly through important investments by Greek firms. Nevertheless, FYROM does not show signs that they wish to collaborate in order to find a mutually acceptable solution of the issue of the name, which is a requirement of the road map to their accession to the international organizations to which they aspire.
With these thoughts, I once more want to welcome you warmly and to raise my glass to wish you personal health and happiness and growth and prosperity to the proud and friendly people of Georgia.-
