Speaking on one of the largest news channels of the Middle East, the Prime Minister stressed that early on since the new government took office, Greece has supported development-friendly policies, sending a message across the world that our country is open to new partnerships and presents opportunities for capital investment.
The day after his meetings in Saudi Arabia, where bilateral investment opportunities were promoted and ministerial visits were scheduled, the Prime Minister noted that the UAE’s investment authorities have the opportunity to participate in the economic development of our country.
“Our economy has been doing very well over the past six months, ever since we took office. There has been a significant reduction in the borrowing cost. We just issued a 15-year bond which was very well received by the markets. Our stock market was the best-performing stock market in the world for the year 2019 and we expect a growth close to 3% within 2020”, noted Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
He pointed out that Greece meets the necessary criteria in order to become a surprise story of the Eurozone.
Read below the complete interview of the Prime Minister on the Al Arabiya news channel:
Journalist: Welcome to the UAE. Does this visit aim to the conclusion of major agreements between Greece and the UAE?
Prime Minister: This is an important visit for me and my country. No Greek Prime Minister has visited the UAE, in the context of a bilateral visit, since 1992. In this respect, I place particular emphasis on strengthening the economic ties between the UAE and Greece, at a time when Greece is coming out of a prolonged and strenuous 10-year crisis. The economy is doing significantly better and it is important to let investors in this part of the world know that we are open for business and that Greece can now provide significant investment opportunities to the Gulf countries, particularly to the UAE.
Journalist: What are Greece’s next financial steps?
Prime Minister: The economy has been doing very well over the past six months, ever since we took office. There has been a significant reduction in the borrowing cost. We just issued a 15-year bond which was very well received by the markets. Our stock market was the best-performing stock market in the world for the year 2019 and we expect a growth close to 3% within 2020. Therefore, we meet all the necessary criteria to become a surprise story of the Eurozone. We have also attracted significant investment interest over the past months, something that makes me very optimistic about the future of our economy.
Journalist: Do you believe our country can contribute to the development of the Greek economy? And if so, in what ways? Yesterday you visited Saudi Arabia and met with the King and the Crown Prince; today you are in Abu Dhabi …
Prime Minister: I had the opportunity to meet the King and the Crown Prince in Riyadh and your investment authorities, ADIA and Mubadala, during my stay in Abu Dhabi. They already know Greece; they have already invested in Greece. We want them to be part of the success story of the Greek economy. Greece is well known in the investment authorities of Abu Dhabi and I am here to make a convincing case on why they should further invest in our country.
Journalist: What are your thoughts and what is Greece’s strategy in relation to its borders and in relation to the Arab countries and the United Arab Emirates?
Prime Minister: This is a deeply strategic relationship. The Gulf countries are geopolitically aligned with Greece on many different fronts. We see things in a similar manner, in a similar perspective. And of course, culturally, there are very strong connections between the countries of the Gulf and Greece; they are ancient civilizations that go back in time, so one of the purposes of my visit is to strengthen the cultural ties between Greece and the Gulf countries. This is something I will also discuss with the Crown Prince. I will also have the opportunity to visit the new Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi and discuss with local authorities the possibility of significant cultural exchanges. I would like to strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.
Journalist: Taking into account the tensions in the region, how do you expect to cooperate with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and our country on security issues?
Prime Minister: Our cooperation extends not only to the financial sector but also to the field of security, an issue that concerns both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We greatly appreciate the support we have received on the eastern Mediterranean issue. Greece supports peace but we will always defend our sovereign rights and territorial interests with vigor. In this respect, I consider both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to be strategic partners in this effort.
Journalist: In relation to the eastern Mediterranean issue, how could you, in cooperation with the Arab countries, handle this situation? Because there are many rivalries, for instance in Iran and Libya.
Prime Minister: Greece supports regional stability and we are particularly interested in what is happening in the eastern Mediterranean. You mentioned Libya. We are very concerned about the so-called agreement signed between Turkey and part of the Libyan government regarding the delimitation of maritime zones. We consider these agreements to be null and void. We have succeeded in receiving international condemnation of these agreements, which clearly violate International Law for many countries, including the countries of the Gulf. It is also important to understand, in this part of the world, that Greece is a regional actor that supports peace and will always align itself with those countries that share the same vision of regional stability.
Journalist: What is Greece’s view of the situation in Libya and of the fact that many weapons originate from Syria? What are your concerns and how do you think the situation should be resolved?
Prime Minister: We want a prosperous and stable Libya. We want to give the Libyan people the right to express their opinion and decide themselves the future of their country. After the Berlin Process, it became very clear that all foreign interventions in Libya should cease. I’m not sure whether this is actually implemented. We have made it very clear that as far as the European Union is concerned, no political solution in Libya can accept the memorandum signed between Mr Sarraj and the Turkish government. Therefore, we approach the Libyan situation from the perspective that a political solution to the Libyan problem must state, as a prerequisite, that these agreements are null and void.
Journalist: What do you think will happen after the United Kingdom exits the European Union?
Prime Minister: Brexit is definitely going to be a challenge. It was a decision of the British people. In my opinion it was a sad decision, but it was made and it has to be respected. I hope that, as the European Union, we will be able to sign a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom. But of course it has to be a fair trade agreement that does not allow for any double standards. At the same time, every problem is also an opportunity for my country. As I said, now that we are coming out of the crisis we seek to attract further investments in Greece. I’m sure this is a message that will be heard by the people of the Gulf. Greece and Cyprus are the two European Union countries closest to the Gulf region, and the Greek economy will provide significant opportunities for foreign direct investments in the foreseeable future.
Journalist: Thank you very much for your time.
Prime Minister: Thank you, too.
