Athens, 13 May 2008

“Greece is at the avant-garde of developing stronger EU-Africa ties”

Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Petros Doukas referred to Greece’s desire to be at the avant-garde of EU-African relations in his speech at today’s proceedings of the Africa Day Symposium, which is being hosted by the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, at Zappeion Conference Center.

Analyzing the basic issues of international socio-political interest as regards the potential that can be tapped by the world through the development of the African continent, Mr. Doukas stressed the desires of, and efforts being made by, our country – on the level of the EU, as well as on a bilateral level with African countries – “to be at the avant-garde of EU-African relations, just as Greece is at the forefront of expanding relations with Black Sea states and promoting the Mediterranean Union initiative.

Noting the externalisation policy being implemented by Greece in Economic Diplomacy issues, Mr. Doukas underlined that “Greece can and wants to contribute to the development of Africa with its very strong banks, the largest merchant fleet in the world, with its very active food-processing and aquaculture enterprises, with its strong enterprises in the sector of ore, steel and cement processing, as well as with its major companies in the construction and pharmaceuticals sectors.”