Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had contacts with prominent members of the two congressional chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States, on the second day of his visit to Washington, at a time when a significant number of initiatives and bills were recorded.
The meetings reflect on the one hand the emergence of the Eastern Mediterranean basin as a region of major strategic interest to the United States and the importance that the Capitol attaches to Greece and Cyprus, and on the other, the positive momentum in Greek-American relations.
The prime minister first met with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has significant influence on shaping American foreign policy and is staffed by prominent, seasoned senators who play a leading role in the two major US parties. Members of the commission, notably senior Democrat Robert Menendez , pioneered the promotion and voting for the East Med Act in December.
The meeting was attended by the Committee President Republican James E . Risch , Mr Menendez and Senators Jean Shaheen , Marco Rubio , Chris Murphy , Chris Coons , Rand Paul , Mitt Romney – former Republican candidate for the presidency – Ron Johnson , Ted Cruz and Ed Markey . It should be noted that it is rare for a foreign leader to be accepted by so many members of that Committee.
Importantly, the members of the Committee on Foreign Relations showed great interest in investment opportunities in Greece and the prospect of its “return” as a leading force in the Balkan region and as a factor of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Prime Minister then met with the leadership of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and the leaders of both the Democratic majority in the House, Mr Hoyer as well as the leader the Republicans, Mr McCarthy .
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has outlined our country’s positions on illegal and provocative Turkish actions, which tend to destabilize the fragile balance both the eastern Mediterranean region and beyond. He informed members of Congress of the “memorandum” signed by Turkey with Libya, which ignores the rights of the Greek islands.
He emphasized Greece’s cooperation with Israel and Cyprus in the implementation of the EastMed pipeline , which, he noted, is a project of peace and development in which parties are welcome to participate.
He highlighted the important geostrategic role of Greece for the regional stability of the wider region and the continuous, significant contribution of our country to NATO, as well as the recent update of the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US.
The Prime Minister briefed members of Congress on developments on resolving the Cyprus problem, where intransigence is again demonstrated by the other side, while emphasizing Greece’s firm position on the Balkans: that the future of the states of the region is directly linked to their participation in the Euro-Atlantic structures. He then underlined the Greek initiatives in this direction.
Mr. Mitsotakis outlined to the US Representatives and Senators the actions of the Greek Government to improve the economic climate in Greece by simplifying investment procedures, making Greece an ideal focus to attract US investors in a number of important areas.
Before the meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi , Mr. Mitsotakis made the following statement:
“Thank you for your kind words. It’s a pleasure to be here, it’s a pleasure to see you again. We have known each other for a long time. It is the first time that I am visiting Washington as the newly elected Prime Minister of Greece – six months since the day I assumed the Prime Minister’s Office.
I come at a time when the relationship between our two great countries is going from strength to strength. We attach special value to this relationship. It is a relationship of great strategic depth that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, and that makes us particularly happy.
In a time of great turmoil in our region, you can always count on Greece as a credible and reliable partner.
We are, in fact, two long-standing Republics, and as Greece celebrates, in 2021, the 200th anniversary of war of Independence, largely inspired by the US founders, it will be another great opportunity, Madam President, to reaffirm the commitment to the common values that unite our two great peoples. Thanks again for your very warm welcome. ”
“It is an honor to welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the US Capitol to discuss the strong partnership between our two countries,” Mr Pelosi wrote on Twitter .
Senator Bob Menendez for his part uploaded photos of his meeting with the Prime Minister with the following comments:
“Pleased to welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Capitol today to discuss the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. I also had the opportunity to present Kyriakos Mitsotakis with a framed copy of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act which wouldenhsance our joint efforts to promote peace, prosperity and security. ”
