President of the Republic at the dinner hosted by the President of Greece: only together can we be stronger

Dear Colleague President Tasoulas, dear friends,

It is said that when Pytheas of Massalia was exploring the far North, he reached the shores of the Baltic Sea.
He described the cold climate and very short nights, things unimaginable for Greeks at the time. This happened about 2300 years ago. The first faint registered contact between our regions.

Things developed over millennia. Hellenic civilisation laid the groundwork for European culture, way of life, science, politics, democracy. Today our societies are based on these foundations.

It's not something we think about in our everyday lives, until we arrive in Greece and the root connections become wonderfully obvious.

Even though Estonia and Greece are both situated on opposite ends of Europe, we understand each other better than one might think at first glance.

Greece gained independence a little over 200 years ago, Estonia a century later. We both had to fight for our independence and therefore know the pain and loss, but also the courage and determination that comes with it. We both succeeded - because we believed in ourselves and in our cause.

Estonia and Greece both are and continue to be partners in the European Union, allies in NATO. We have cooperated in various endeavours, in the United Nations and in other international organisations.

We are likeminded on many issues, such as the bolstering of our security and defence, the enlargement of the EU, digital transition or supporting each other's candidacies in various organisations.

We both have a big neighbour who often poses challenges if not direct threats to us.

That neighbour will always be there. So, we both need to find ways to deal with it, contain it, restrain it.

Overall, the world and the international order as we have known it is crumbling around us. We are faced with unprecedented, sometimes unbelievable challenges on a daily basis. Crises are piling up.

In such a situation it is paramount to hold fast to our values and international law. We need each other's encouragement and support - only together can we be stronger.

Greece is currently a member in the UN Security Council, while Estonia is a member in the UN Human Rights Council. We are both working on parallel fronts with the same goals and aims - to secure peace, security, respect of fundamental values, of democratic principles and human rights.

Unfortunately, in today's world, this is not enough. Therefore, we have to take bold and swift steps to make sure that our collective as well as national security and defence are strong, credible and deterrent.

Europe is moving in the right direction - several incentives and boosters have been made available. Time and speed are of the essence here. Estonia and Greece are both trying to make the most of it.

After all, defence expenditure in our countries has been the highest per capita in NATO for many years. Today, several Estonian defence startups are cooperating with Greek partners. Actors from the Greek defence industry have been investing in the Estonian defence sector, particularly when it comes to modern warfare technology.

Yes, it is sad that these investments are not going into cultural or social cooperation but reality requires us to be adaptable, flexible, resilient.

Dear Colleague, dear friends,

There aren't many countries in Europe who have experienced what it means when your families are deported or driven out of your homes by force and ill will. Estonians and Greeks know that. This is what drives us today to support the people in Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democratic values and a future among us.

The fight Ukraine is fighting is not only about Ukraine. It's about all of us. It's aboutEu rope. We need to continue to stand next to them and put maximum pressure on the aggressor, to ensure that peace will be fair and lasting and that those responsible for the atrocities and destruction will be brought to justice.

When we turn our gaze to the southeast, the people of the Middle East - Gaza and beyond - deserve lasting peace, security, and a meaningful future. The turmoil must stop, not spread.

Shipping is historically one of the most significant pillars of the Greek economy. It faces several challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, unfair competition on the world seas and strict environmental standards.

Estonia is affected by the consequences of the Russian shadow fleet operating in the Baltic Sea beyond our control. Here is a sharp need and potential for valuable cooperation between our countries to try to harness these illegitimate shipping practices.

Another area that matters to Estonia is education innovation - helping schools adapt to the age of artificial intelligence and fostering meaningful learning.

Today, I had a valuable opportunity to see what Greece is doing in this field, and I was pleased to find that we are moving in the same direction, toward the same goal.

In Estonia, we have launched the AI Leap programme for our upper secondary students and teachers, and we are ready to share our experience.

Finally, Greece is and will always remain a coveted holiday destination for Estonians, a place where we can enjoy the warm and sunny hospitality of your great nation. Your people are just as welcome to discover the quiet and slightly cooler beauty of Estonian nature and scenery.

As Pytheas experienced, we have a cold climate in the North - but we have warm hearts. And we are now entering the period of very short nights - a precious time to be used for living fully and enjoying the sun - the same sun that shines upon and warms the land and people of Ellàda.

Thank you!
Gia mas!
Terviseks!