Prime Minister pays Official Visit to Canada – joins in the Greek Independence Day celebrations

 

 

Canada and Greece renew their commitment to expanding collaboration

 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid an Official Visit to Montreal and Toronto on March 24th-25th, meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, in Montreal and attended the signing of an agreement for Greece’s purchase of seven new state-of-the art firefighting aircraft (DHC-515).

During their meeting, the two leaders discussed Greek opportunities for foreign investors and the significant presence of Greek businesses in Canada, as well as the opportunities in tourism between the two countries.

They discussed climate change challenges and placed special emphasis on coordination, preparedness and training for managing fires, while Premier Mitsotakis also mentioned Greece’s initiatives in renewable energy sources and the differentiation of energy supply networks, guaranteeing energy security in Southeastern Europe through connectivity.

The two leaders also referred especially to the Greek Community in Canada, with the Greek Prime Minister referring to the importance of Greeks being able to vote from abroad and to the government’s strategy for Greeks abroad. Their meeting was followed by expanded talks between delegations, before the signing of the agreement for the firefighting aircraft.

In a joint statement, the two Premiers spoke of the continuing friendship between Greece and Canada that are reflected in close strategic, economic and cultural ties between the two countries and renewed their commitment to expanding their collaboration.

 

“Canada and Greece hold a shared commitment to building a better future. Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit will deepen our friendship as we create good jobs, grow trade, tackle climate change, and protect democracy. On this Greek Independence Day, we look forward to advancing this relationship – and making life better for all those who call our countries home.”

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

 

Joint statement by Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Mitsotakis

We, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, met today in Montreal to celebrate Greek Independence Day. Canada is honoured to host Greece on this occasion, reaffirming the enduring friendship between our countries, as reflected in the strength and extent of our close strategic, economic and cultural ties.

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 address the world’s greatest challenges. Together, we stand shoulder to shoulder to advance international peace, security, development and the promotion of human rights. Canada welcomes Greece’s recent legalisation of same-sex marriages. Canada and Greece affirm their commitment to supporting LGBTQ rights at home and around the world. We are also committed to deepening our collaboration on Women, Peace and Security initiatives.

As NATO Allies, and transatlantic partners, we reaffirm our commitment to collective security and defence and we stand united in our pledge to promote peace, stability and prosperity around the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. Climate change is impacting security dynamics around the world and we will work together as partners to address these challenges through the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence in Montreal, Canada.

We support helping countries become more resilient to global challenges, including those facing the shared crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

 

 

We have agreed to work together to find ways to deepen our partnership, with a focus on emergency management and preparedness and adapting to the impacts of climate change in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters, including droughts, floods and wildfires. In this context, we were pleased to witness the signing by Greece and the Canadian Commercial Corporation for Greece to purchase and acquire seven state-of-the-art DHC-515 firefighting aircraft. These aircraft will help fight devastating forest fires that are increasingly ravaging areas of Southern Europe.

This is a sign of the dynamic trade and economic partnership that Canada and Greece enjoy. The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has created significant opportunity for both Greek and Canadian businesses and workers. Since its provisional application in 2017, trade between Canada and Greece has grown by 80%.

Moreover, investors, in industries like health, renewable energy, infrastructure and mineral resources, have injected billions of dollars into our respective economies.

 

“I can’t imagine a better place to spend Hellenic Independence Day than to be with you here in Montreal, to celebrate these diverse facets, the vigour and dynamism of the Greek Canadian community… what I will remember most about this day is the image of the little kids who sang both the Canadian and Greek national anthems with equal pride, with equal energy, with equal enthusiasm.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece

 

The potential for further growth in trade and investment between our countries remains strong, including in sectors such as aerospace, defence and security, professional training and tourism. This will create more jobs in Canada and Greece and create more opportunity for our workers.

Tourism is a key driver of economic growth, job creation and cultural exchange for both Canada and Greece. We look forward to strengthening our engagement and collaboration in this area, including exploring a Memorandum of Understanding in tourism promotion that looks at sharing data on how to best increase tourist flows between Canada and Greece and collaborating on best practices to deal with the impact of natural disasters and climate change on the tourism sector.

We both take pride in the strong bonds and close cultural ties between our two countries. With nearly 300,000 Canadians of Greek origin and with many Canadians living, working and studying in Greece, our relationship is tied together by our people. That is why Canada is investing in a brand-new Laval Community Complex alongside the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal.

The complex will be a space for the public, including the Greek community, to celebrate culture, tradition and heritage. It will include a theatre, sports complex, library, offices and other spaces to bring the community together and host commemorative events. With funding through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Programme, it will be a modern and environmentally friendly community centre.

Finally, we reaffirm our support for close collaboration between our science research communities. Canada and the European Union recently concluded substantive negotiations toward Canada’s association in the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.

We look forward to working with Greece, through this programme, to explore new opportunities to work together on projects and initiatives in emerging technologies such as AI.

Canada and Greece have a shared commitment to building a better future. We both believe in creating good jobs, taking climate action and standing up for democracy. Our shared values are deepened by the vibrant communities, families and businesses across our borders. Our people make our economies stronger, our countries more prosperous and our friendship resolute. Together, Canada and Greece will advance our work to make life better for all those who call our countries home.

Premier Mitsotakis attended the March 25th parade of Greek Community associations of Greater Montreal, joined by his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

Following the parade in Montreal, Premier Mitsotakis said that he felt honoured to attend the event, adding that “the heart of Hellenism beats very strongly here in Canada and the message of March 25th reverberates lively and timely throughout the world and in Canada as well.”

His presence in Canada had an additional significance, he said, as it is the first time the decades-long dream of Greeks abroad to vote by mail from their permanent country of residence becomes reality. The Greek Prime Minister also thanked Prime Minister Trudeau personally for the opportunity to attend “this glorious parade, on this very important day.”

Premier Trudeau, on his part, said that Greek Canadians form “an incredibly dynamic community” that has contributed greatly to Canada, while Greek Canadians also remain very proud of their Greek heritage, and “it is wonderful to be with you today.”

Earlier, the two leaders attended a celebratory liturgy for Greek Independence Day at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation.

The Premiers also paid visits to stores owned by Greek Canadians and chatted with them and with customers.

During his stay in Toronto, the Premier Mitsotakis addressed a Greeks abroad event at the Toronto Convention Centre, in the presence of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

 

(Photos: D.Papamitsos/Office to the Prime Minister.)