Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis signed the country’s accession act to the ‘Artemis’ space cooperation agreements, part of the framework of the 5th Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the United States on Friday at the State Department.
Following the meeting’s conclusion, the two ministers announced the commencement of the 5th Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the US, attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Kostas Fragogiannis. Greece is the 35th country to participate in the agreements alongside Australia and 33 more countries.
Mr Gerapetritis also spoke of the relationship between the two countries through the strategic dialogue, stating, “We can define a vision and strengthen policies based on common values to collaborate for the prosperity of our nations and global peace.”
Topics covered in the 5th Strategic Dialogue include Regional Developments, Defense and Security, Humanitarian Challenges and Disaster Preparedness, Energy and Environment, Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism, Trade and Investment, and the Bonds between the two peoples.
🌌FM G.Gerapetritis signed Greece's accession to the “Artemis” Space Coop.Accords in the presence of Secretary of State A.Blinken @SecBlinken, @NASA Admin. B.Nelson @SenBillNelson &President of Hellenic Space Center I.Daglis
🇬🇷 becomes the 35th country to join “Artemis” Accords pic.twitter.com/wbD01Bfjxt
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) February 9, 2024
Meanwhile, Giorgos Gerapetritis expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the five crew members of the military helicopter who tragically lost their lives on Thursday in an accident.
Blinken: Relations with Greece stronger than ever
“Thank you for all that you do to further understanding of space to the benefit of everyone here on Earth. I’m very happy to host my colleagues for what is now our fifth US-Greece strategic dialogue, but also for this ceremony marking an important new step in our relationship. The partnership between our countries is, in my judgment, the strongest it’s ever been. This was reinforced when I had a chance to visit Athens a year ago for our last strategic dialogue and also reinforced by my recent visit just a few weeks ago when I met the prime minister in Crete. Our countries are working together to promote peace and stability, standing with Ukraine, defending freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, confronting terrorists, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to people who need it, responding to natural disasters. We’re bolstering transatlantic defense and security through our mutual defense cooperation agreement. Our work to strengthen NATO. The sale of F-35 Jets to Greece. We are building more opportunities for our people,” he said.
“We are further developing our defense capability. The imminent acquisition of up to 40 F-35 fighter jets demonstrates the depth of Greek-American relations and highlights our excellent defense cooperation, as governed by the MDCA,” Gerapetritis said on the same topic.
Regarding cooperation between Greece and the US, he emphasised that such substantive collaboration is needed not only bilaterally but also globally under the auspices of International Law, given regional conflicts from Ukraine to the South Caucasus, and from Gaza to the Red Sea and the Sahel region.
He highlighted Greece’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean as a pillar of security and its role in NATO and the EU.
“We actively support EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans and Ukraine,” Gerapetritis added. He also mentioned the Cyprus issue, while for the Middle East, he stressed:
“Greece, thanks to its relations with both Israel and the Arab countries, can work constructively to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and work for sustainable peace… And on this occasion, I would like to emphasise Secretary Blinken’s relentless efforts to prevent escalation and humanitarian disaster in the Middle East, from where he has just returned,” he said.
Regarding Ukraine, Mr Gerapetritis announced that Greece is hosting, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank, an International Conference next week for the country’s reconstruction.
The coalition of countries with a common vision of peaceful space cooperation is growing through the #ArtemisAccords. Watch @SecBlinken participate in an Artemis Accords signing ceremony with Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis and @NASA’s @SenBillNelson: https://t.co/RRLFkQ6gqY
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 9, 2024
