Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a meeting today in Montreal with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeauin the context of which the mutual will to strengthen bilateral relations was confirmed, with an emphasis on economic and commercial cooperation.
After the completion of the extended talks, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Justin Trudeau attended the signing of the agreement to acquire seven new state-of-the-art firefighting aircraft, type DHC-515.
During his meeting with Mr. Trudeau, the Prime Minister highlighted the prospects of the Greek economy and the investment-friendly business environment that has already attracted significant Canadian investment to Greece, while adding that there is further room for improvement.
The two leaders also referred to the significant presence of Greek businesses in Canada, as well as the great dynamics that can be developed in the tourism sector between the two countries.
The challenge of climate change and dealing with extreme weather events were also discussed. Particular emphasis was placed during the meeting on the need for coordination, preparedness and training to deal with fires, as well as mega-fires.
The prime minister focused on Greece’s initiatives in the field of renewable energy sources, as well as the diversification of supply sources and the energy security of Southern and Eastern Europe through interconnection.
The two leaders made special reference to the Greek community. The prime minister underlined the importance of the right to vote by letter, while he referred to the strategy for Greek diaspora.
Here is the dialogue of the leaders at the start of their meeting:
Justin Trudeau: It is my great pleasure to welcome my friend Kyriakos to Canada. It has been 41 years since a Greek Prime Minister came to Canada and it was because of my father’s friendship with then Prime Minister Papandreou that this happened the first time. Therefore, this time I am glad that our friendship has brought you here today.
But the friendship between Canada and Greece runs very deep. One of the proudest and most successful communities of the Greek diaspora is here in Canada. We have deep and growing ties. The challenges in the world require friends with common principles and perspectives to join forces and work together, whether it’s the Middle East or one of the real challenges in Eastern Europe, Ukraine and elsewhere, or how to continue to step up investment, even down to the fight once morest climate change and how to deal with forest fires in good cooperation.
We have a lot to do, a lot more to do, but I am really happy to welcome Prime Minister Mitsotakis here. I am glad of your presence here, Kyriakos.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. It is a great pleasure to be in Canada, following 41 years. It is a real honor for me to visit Canada and spend this very, very important day with my good friend, Prime Minister Trudeau, but also to mingle with one of the most dynamic communities of the Greek diaspora, the Greek-Canadian community.
Today is a very important day as we celebrate the Greek Independence Day. Of course, however, it is also an opportunity to take stock of our bilateral relations, to emphasize the common values that unite our two countries in times of significant global geopolitical challenges. Greece and Canada stand side by side, defending the rules-based international order.
And of course, it will be an opportunity to talk regarding our economic ties. It is an opportunity for me to point out to the Canadian business community that Greece has changed and that we have left the difficult years of the crisis behind us.
It will also be an opportunity to sign important agreements that will consolidate our cooperation in tackling climate change. Greece will be the first country – and there are many others waiting – to procure the new Canadair firefighting aircraft, and we will be able to ratify and sign this agreement shortly.
So there is much to discuss in a visit that has both a political and an emotional dimension for me. And in fact, I must say that I found a photo of you in 1983, with your father, when you visited the Acropolis. You were very young then, but 41 years is a long time. I am glad to be able to spend this important day here with you and the Greek community.
Justin Trudeau: But I have to say the Prime Minister is moderate. The change in the state of the Greek economy – in fact it is much more than a change – is impressive. What you have been able to achieve in terms of the economic strength of Greece right now is extraordinary and we are delighted to continue to play a role in the incredible growth you are experiencing.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Thank you.
The friendship between Greece and Canada is reflected in the close strategic, economic and cultural ties between the two countries
In the joint statement they adopted following their meeting in Montreal, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Justin Trudeau affirm the enduring friendship between Greece and Canada that is reflected in the close strategic, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
“Canada and Greece have a rich history rooted in our shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We believe in working together to tackle the world’s greatest challenges.
We stand side by side for the promotion of international peace, development security and the promotion of human rights”, they emphasize, among other things. Special mention is made at this point of the recent legislation on the marriage of same-sex couples and the joint commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in initiatives related to Women, Peace and Security is confirmed.
“As NATO allies and transatlantic partners, we reaffirm our commitment to collective security and defense, and we stand united in our commitment to promote peace, stability and prosperity around the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. Climate change affects security dynamics around the world and we will work together as partners to address these challenges through the NATO Center of Excellence on Climate Change and Security.”
It then highlights the need to support countries to become more resilient to global challenges, including those already facing crises from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“We agreed to work together to find ways to deepen our cooperation, with a focus on emergency management and our preparedness and adaptation to the effects of climate change to deal with increasingly frequent natural disasters, such as droughts, floods and fires.
In this context, we were pleased to witness the signing of an agreement between Greece and the Canadian Commercial Corporation for the purchase of seven state-of-the-art DHC-515 firefighting aircraft.
These aircraft will contribute to the fight once morest the devastating forest fires that are increasingly affecting areas of southern Europe.”
Reference is also made to the Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU (CETA) which offers significant opportunities for Greek and Canadian businesses and workers. It is indicated that since its temporary application in 2017, trade between Canada and Greece has increased by 80%.
In addition, investments in industries such as health, renewable energy, infrastructure and mineral resources have injected billions of dollars into the respective economies.
“The potential for further growth in trade and investment between our countries remains strong, in areas including aerospace, defense and security, vocational training and tourism,” it also underlined, “which will create more jobs in Canada and Greece and more opportunities for our workers.”
It is especially emphasized that “tourism is a key driver of economic development, job creation and cultural exchange for both Canada and Greece” and a willingness to strengthen mutual cooperation in the sector is expressed, including the exploration of a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote tourism, which concerns the sharing of data to facilitate and strengthen tourism flows between Canada and Greece, but also cooperation to deal with the effects of natural disasters and climate change in the tourism sector.
The strong cultural ties between the two countries are then highlighted, with reference to the nearly 300,000 Canadians of Greek descent and the many Canadians who live, work and study in Greece. Special mention is made of an initiative to create a new state-of-the-art Center that will host sports and cultural events and initiatives to promote cultural tradition with the participation of the Greek Community of Montreal.
It also confirms the support of both sides for bilateral cooperation in the field of scientific research, also making use of European tools, such as the Horizon research and innovation programme.
“Canada and Greece are committed together to building a better future. We both believe in creating good jobs, taking action on the climate and defending democracy,” reads the end of the joint statement with the aim, as underlined, of the well-being of the two peoples.
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