“For the elected leader of Greece, the birthplace of democracy, there is no greater honor to address the representatives of people who have strongly defended democratic ideals since the founding of their country,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his speech to the US Congress. Tuesday.
The Greek Prime Minister addressed the joint session of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate at the invitation of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Wuhan, Kerensky), who chaired the event along with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Prime Minister of Greece addresses the US Congress for the first time.
“Our two countries have always been on the right side of history,” Mitsotakis said, starting with the Greek War of Independence, which marked its bicentennial last year but events were canceled due to Covid-19.
Speaking of “special bonds between the two peoples in an era when our values are being tested,” the Greek leader said that today the name “Greece” should be replaced with a war of independence from Ukraine where the defenders of the city of Mariupol defended their city, like the fighters of Missolonghi in 1826, who preferred death to the loss of freedom.
“Our common belief is in freedom over tyranny, in democracy over authoritarianism, in the fundamental importance of respecting the rule of law over war and anarchy,” he said to applause.
without naming Turkey Mitsotakis referred to the “open wound” Cyprus and ongoing overflights of uninhabited and inhabited islands and islets, and violations Greek national sovereignty.
“The language of nostalgia for the empire cannot continue. Please do not forget the open wound: I mean the invasion and division of Cyprus. This issue should be resolved in accordance with international law and UN resolutions. The same goes for all other regional conflicts,” he said.
He continued: “Greece always extends the hand of friendship to its neighbors, but there is only one basis for resolving our disputes with our neighbors – international law. We will not tolerate violations of our national sovereignty. Flights over the Greek islands must cease immediately. “I urge you to take into account the risk of instability in the southeast wing of NATO when making decisions on the supply of military equipment to the region.”
Welcoming the Prime Minister of Greece, Nancy Pelosi said Greece had been a source of democratic principles since ancient times and a source of inspiration for America’s founders. She also expressed appreciation for the friendship between the US and Greece through NATO and said the United States recognizes Greece’s role in helping Ukrainian refugees, fighting the coronavirus pandemic, and fighting climate change.
“As I always like to say, we learned from the Greeks, and the Greeks learned from us, and now we stand together as democratic nations,” Pelosi said.
Members of the US Congress reacted to the Greek Prime Minister’s speech with a standing ovation. After all, the leader of a country that purchases military products and US gas for such a decent amount, while placing 9 military bases on its territory, deserves at least applause.
Earlier, at a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday, the Greek Prime Minister focused on purchase of F-35 fighter jets, energy, Ukraine and Turkey.
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