Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Economic Diplomacy Harry Theoharis is in New York for Greece\u2019s participation in the Capital Link investment forum, with the main aim of attracting American capital, strengthening the extroversion of the Greek economy and promoting strategic partnerships.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Athens News Agency in New York, Mr. Theoharis talks about the country\u2019s investment prospects, his contacts with investors, and Greece\u2019s role in the reconstruction of Syria and \u2014 under certain conditions \u2014 of Gaza.<\/p>\n
The full interview of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs H. Theoharis to ANA-MPA and G. Garantzioti:<\/p>\n
Q: Minister, let us begin with your presence in New York and the Capital Link forum. What is the main message you are conveying?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: \u201cAt Capital Link we are, of course, talking about the investment prospects our country offers. We are in contact with investors interested in expanding their presence in Greece. There is strong interest from the Greek-American community of New York \u2014 people who know our country well and have already invested, whether in banks, in shares and bonds, or more actively, through participation in businesses.<\/p>\n We believe it is the right time to invest in Greece, and those who do will truly come out winners. Beyond the speeches and direct contacts, however, we will continue in Washington with meetings at both the State Department and the US Department of Commerce, in order to promote Greek interests, particularly as regards the recent technology cooperation agreements we signed in Athens, as well as EU\u2013US trade relations, always from the perspective of Greek products.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: I would like to move on to issues of broader geopolitics and economic diplomacy. Does Greece have a specific interest in, and plans for, participating in the reconstruction of Syria?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: \u201cCertainly. The Prime Minister, as you will surely have followed at the General Assembly, during the UN High-Level Week in New York, had a one-to-one meeting with the President of Syria, Mr. Al-Sharaa. There it was agreed that our country will be active in the reconstruction of Syria.<\/p>\n Possibly, in the coming period, we will also be able to send a business mission. Greek businesses have a traditional and historic presence in Syria. There are, for example, factories built by Greek interests, such as METLEN, as well as many contacts and connections more generally, mainly through business people of the Orthodox community, which remains active in the region.<\/p>\n We want to strengthen and support this historic presence, so that through the reconstruction process there will not only be economic benefits, but above all stability in the region. A stability that will benefit minorities and all population groups in Syria, with particular emphasis, for us as a country, on the Christian and Orthodox community.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: So Greece aspires to play an active role in post-war Syria?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: \u201cAbsolutely. Syria is a country in our immediate region. It is a much-suffering area, one of the most unstable in the world \u2014 perhaps with the sole exception of Gaza. Greece has an active strategy of \u201cexporting\u201d stability and prosperity throughout the region, because we truly believe that through this process we will all gain the so-called \u201cpeace dividend\u201d. This has always been our position; this is the DNA of the Greek people, and this is the strategy of the Greek government.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: You mentioned Gaza. Greece, together with its partners, states that it will make every possible effort to support the reform process of the Palestinian Authority, in which Hamas will have no role on the day after. Has our country expressed interest in the reconstruction?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: \u201cThere, things are still one or two stages behind. The positive step of the UN Resolution must be followed with the same speed and effectiveness in creating the international stabilisation force for peace in Gaza. This will pave the way for us to be able to discuss reconstruction issues seriously.<\/p>\n At the moment, no comprehensive reconstruction plan is conceivable while issues of security, disarmament and continuing outbreaks of violence remain open. This does not mean that discussions and understandings are not taking place behind the scenes, but this stage must first be overcome before we can talk realistically about the day after.<\/p>\n Greece is among the countries that want to contribute, in their own way, to Gaza. The issue will probably also be raised in the bilateral contacts we will have in Washington, so that we can look at the broader planning through a coordinated political mechanism, with the United States playing a decisive role as a catalyst for developments. Perhaps at a slow pace, but with remarkable steadiness, given past experience in the region, we are moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n G. 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