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Principles of democracy born in Greece
 In 2005, the Embassy of the
Republic of Greece was opened in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuanian airlines start regular
flights to Greece from May.
On June 5-9, ship owners, leaders of shipbuilding and ship-repair companies, interested in
commercial ships and shipping business gather in Piraeus, Greece.
What unites Greece and Lithuania? What are the cooperation
perspectives for these two countries?
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece in Lithuania George
Christofis tells about it in an exclusive interview to our magazine.
- You are the first ambassador of Greece in
Lithuania; you have been working here from February of last year. What were the reasons to
open an embassy in Lithuania?
- Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Malta were the only EU countries, in which we did not
have our embassies. Now, there are embassies of Greece in all the European Union
countries, - such is our approach.
Lithuanian - Greek political relations are very good, both our countries belong to the
European Union and NATO. Before the embassy had been established, it was more complicated
to develop commercial and cultural relations. Now the cooperation with your country will
develop faster and more effectively.
- What are these cooperation relations? How could our countries become attractive
to each other?
- We are very close in the scope of the EU and NATO, besides we are tied by cultural
relations. There are cultural cooperation and friendship groups operating in the cities of
Vilnius and Piraeus. Last year the orchestra from Lithuania visited Greece, a Greek group
visited Lithuania, too. At present some 200 Lithuanians live in Greece, there are citizens
of Greece in Lithuania, as well.
Both countries are united by trade relations. Certainly, this field has not been developed
enough yet, - more information, more advertisements about business possibilities are
necessary for that. We still do not have a commercial department in our embassy, and at
present, the embassy of Greece in Sweden is in charge of trade relations with Lithuania
and Latvia.
But we receive a lot of questions and proposals from Greek companies already concerning
business opportunities and conditions in the Baltic States.
Most of the enquiries are related with the trade of Greek food, drinks, clothes, the
electronics products, and the fur. Greece is famous for the fur products of high quality.
Besides, the tourist flow from Lithuania is growing very rapidly. Unfortunately, we do not
have tourism information centre in Lithuania so far, the closest one is in Sweden; but
here, in the embassy, we are ready to provide necessary information.
Greece is a very favorable for tourism country. The principles of democracy and
hospitality were born in Greece. The father of all gods, the mightiest god Zeus, was also
a patron of hospitality.
Greeks are also looking at Lithuania. We have felt this interest for, approximately, two
years, and now more and more tourists travel to the Baltic countries. Greek tourism
companies most often offer traveling packages to visit all the Baltic countries.
- From May Lithuanian national airlines FlyLAL start regular flights to
Thessaloniki; our shipbuilding and ship-repair companies participate in the world shipping
exhibition Posidonia, held in Greece, Pireaus. In your opinion, what business,
economic perspectives could connect our countries?
- As I have mentioned, our countries are tied by trade relations, which, I hope, will
develop further. I am very pleased that regular flights are launched to Greece. As far as
I know, during summer period direct flights to Crete and Thessaloniki are being carried.
There are very attractive places for tourism, but I hope that this direct communication
between our countries will serve business development as well. Greece has one of the
biggest commercial fleets in the world. We have a lot of modern shipbuilding and
ship-repair companies, the services of which are used not only by our but by foreign
ships, too.
I am glad that Lithuania also will have representatives in one of the most important
shipping, shipbuilding and ship-repair world exhibitions. I hope, we will find
possibilities for cooperation in this business field.
- Will you please share your impressions of the first work year experience? What
has already been done in this short period, and what are your plans for future?
- The first years of embassy establishment were very positive and effective. Certainly,
these were also complicated years; we started the embassy from the scratch; we had to find
the residency and premises, to rally the team. We are thankful to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Lithuania for their help.
After the embassy started working, we integrated into the country social life. On May
25-28, invited by the Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, the
Chairman of the Greek Parliament Anna Psarouda Benaki will visit Lithuania. Ties of
friendship unite the parliaments of our countries, too. Last year the vice-minister of
Foreign Affairs of Greece Yiannis Valinakis visited Lithuania, he participated in the
meeting for Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO countries. Other visits of high officials
of our country to Lithuania are already planned, as well.
- What do you think of Lithuania as a new EU member?
- Since the year 2004, when Lithuania became a member of the EU and NATO, your country
proved the rest of Europe, that it is perfectly well prepared to cooperate and join these
structures; is an equal member and can make a great contribution to the well-being of the
EU.
During the last historical period, Lithuania showed a rapid political and economic growth
in infrastructure, industry, and trade. Being the member of important international
organizations, Lithuania successfully developed political, economic, and commercial
relations with the countries of the world.
I hope Lithuania will go on growing and developing rapidly in political and economic life.
- Thank you for the conversation.
Interviewed by
Milda Manomaityte
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