Greek Ambassador pledges support to maritime sector

Sep 04, 2015 News

President David Granger with Greek Ambassador Nikolaos Kotrokois in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

The need to restructure the United Nations Security Council along with the obligation of nations to solve issues peacefully was brought into focus yesterday when the Greek Ambassador (the Hellenic Republic) Nikolaos Kotrokois, presented his Letters of Credence to President David Granger.

The ceremony took place at the President’s Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown office yesterday before representatives of the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; the Ministry’s Director General (DG) Audrey Waddell and other officials.

In presenting his Letters of Credence, Kotrokois brought greetings from the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopios Pavlopoulos as well as the government who appointed him Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guyana.

Kotrokois pledged to work hard towards the further development of the countries’ bilateral relations. “Every effort to enhance the mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries will always find a favourable response on my side,” Kotrokois vowed.

Greece’s Ambassador remarked that his country’s relation with Guyana over the past years as well as their cooperation in the framework of international relations, especially the UN, has been “more than harmonious.”

He thanked Guyana for the support it extended to Greece’s candidature to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Heritage Committee for the period 2011-2015, on reciprocity for the support rendered by Greece to Guyana’s candidature to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the period 2016-2018.

This time, the Ambassador said that Greece would be ready to support Guyana’s candidature for election to a non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2024-2025 at the elections to be held in 2023.

This, he said, would be on the understanding that Guyana would render its support to Greece’s candidature to the same body for the period 2025-2026 at the elections to take place in 2024. Kotrokois asked for a written confirmation of acceptance.

“I am sure that our countries share the view that the restructuring of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council’s reform, 70 years after their establishment is an imperative need,” the Ambassador said.

He belabored that the organisation should be revitalized and adapt to the new world realities, in order to respond effectively to the increased requirements of the present era and address efficiently new challenges and threats, such as international terrorism, humanitarian crises, global inequalities and natural disasters.

Kotrokois said, “It is implied that this process for further democratization and upgrading of the UN’s role with the ultimate goal of strengthening its ability to serve international law and promote the vision of its founders, should be based on the broader possible consensus of the UN member-states.”

Noting that both countries share the same concerns and sensibilities for issues related to climate change, Kotrokois said the two nations needed to focus their energies on a successful outcome of the coming 21^st Conference on Climate Change in Paris later this year, aiming at an ambitious global agreement on climate change.

The Ambassador also asked for Guyana’s support in matters of international affairs in which it is embroiled, including that with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The country’s representative also asked that Guyana remain neutral in the issue of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia “in order to avoid predetermining the outcome of the ongoing negotiations at the United Nations.”

Further he asked that Guyana accept and use any name which derives from the UN-led talks.

“My country is willing to strengthen the ample potential that exists in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, especially in the fields of mercantile marine, tourism, new technologies as well as the field of agriculture, which is the main income for Guyana and one of the many sectors of the economy of the Hellenic Republic,” he said.

The Ambassador expressed that exploring possibilities of cooperation in those sectors could produce results for mutual benefits to the two countries and their people.

President David Granger reflected that Guyana and Greece established diplomatic relations since May 14, 1979. There is scope for enhanced relations at the bilateral level between the countries, he added.

“Guyana stands ready and willing to work with Greece and its other international partners for the development and attainment of common goals,” he said. Granger said that his country shares Greece’s hope for viable, sustainable development agenda.

“Guyana also is committed to the purpose and principles of the charter of the United Nations. We view it as sacrosanct the obligation of all United Nations member states to settle international disputes by peaceful means and to refrain in their international relations from the treat or use of force against territorial integrity or political influence from any State,” the Guyanese Head of State remarked.

The President accepted Greece’s proposal for support in UN Security Council elections. He expressed confidence that Kotrokois’s appointment will serve as a catalyst to enhance cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Kotrokois is Greece’s non-resident Ambassador to Guyana. He is stationed in Caracas, Venezuela.

Later yesterday, Kotrokois paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure where he met with Minister David Patterson and Junior Minister Annette Ferguson.

Greece’s Ambassador pledged his country’s offer to render technical assistance to the Ministry, especially in the maritime sector to Guyana, a release from the Ministry noted.

Establishing maritime links with the European country will significantly boost the local industry as Greece is viewed as a maritime giant.

The last EuroBank report, 2014 stated that the Greek shipping industry has a prominent position in global maritime transports. The Greek-controlled fleet is ranked first globally regarding international merchant fleet capacities, accounting for 16.16% of the world’s total transport capacity.