The Cyprus High Commissioner, Andreas Chrysostomou and the Cypriot Minister for Communications and Works Marios Demetriades
On the occasion of the candidacy of Andreas I. Chrysostomou for the post of the new Secretary-General of the IMO, the Minister of the Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, the Hon. Mr. Marios Demetriades and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in the United Kingdom and the Permanent Representative to the IMO, H.E Mr. Euripides L. Evriviades hosted earlier on tonight a reception at the Cyprus High Commission premises at St. James’ Square; who wasn’t there!
The video that follows is the introductory speech of the Hon.Marios Demetriades, presenting Andreas I. Crysostomou; a very down to earth introduction:
Andreas Chrysostomou Strategic Vision as well as the purpose of the IMO and his Ultimate Promises can be read herebelow:
Introduction
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established itself as the sole international forum for the improvement of existing and the development of new regulatory frameworks. Some examples of these include the safety of life at sea, the safety of navigation, the search and rescue of persons in distress at sea, the training and certification of seafarers, the enhancement of security of the international maritime transport sector, the prevention of pollution of the environment from ships, the preparedness and response to accidents resulting to pollution of environment, the compensation of victims of pollution and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
IMO is also the only global body providing comprehensive technical assistance to all developing countries on maritime-related matters within its competency.
When we say a full house, we mean a full house…
This success of the IMO is a result of the joint and collaborative efforts of its Member States, the Associate Members, the shipping industry, the seafaring community, the civil society and of the IMO’s Secretariat. This is what drives IMO to work as a team serving a global industry and safeguarding the transport needs of humanity.
The IMO Secretary-General has the utmost duty to safeguard this unique accomplishment and to ensure that it continues to serve the emerging and foreseeable needs of the international maritime transport, the environment and the people associated with it.
Strategic Vision
The success of IMO stems and will continue to rely on the work of the Committees and their subsidiary bodies. The Committees have successfully put in place a comprehensive and well-structured regulatory framework of the shipping industry, always within the scope of the mandate of IMO.
Nowadays, following their recent restructuring the Committees and their Sub-Committees, whilst pursuing the achievements and the goals of the IMO’s Strategic and High Level Action Plans, are primarily engaged in updating and further enriching what is already in place. Hence, they stand ready to adopt changes to existing, or new, regulatory requirements in response to emerging needs.
The efficiency of the Committees and subcommittees depends on the excellent services provided by the secretariat and as such I strongly believe that the effectiveness of the Secretariat highly depends on good leadership and stewardship provided by the Secretary-General. I do therefore intend to exert every effort for maintaining prudent leadership, sound stewardship and providing effective and constructive motivation.
It is clear that in recent years, Member States, do require a decision making process which is “Member State” driven that includes all and attends to the needs voiced by the maritime industry and other interested civil society groups. As someone who has been working through all his professional life with the Member States, the industry and the civil society, I have developed good skills to understand and comprehend the needs of different nations or even group of nations and be able to provide compromise solutions that could accommodate all. It is therefore my goal to promote and make “inclusiveness” the IMO’s moto as long as I am Secretary General.
A considerable number of Member States, in particular the developing countries, continue to face difficulties in their efforts to give full and complete effect to the IMO-instruments, mainly because of knowhow-related constraints and the absence of the necessary resources.
Under my persuasion I will strive to see the Organization establishing a more focus strategy on how to build the capacity of the developing countries with specific deliverables towards human and institutional capabilities so as to be able to adequately discharge states’ obligations under the IMO instruments, in a long-term sustainable manner.
The Ultimate Promises
- Stewardship: I will provide prudent leadership, sound stewardship and effective and constructive motivation to the secretariat;
- Inclusiveness: I will further, the already established excellent relations and cooperation with the Member States and the Associated Members and any new ones by encouraging and stimulating “inclusiveness’; and
- Leverage peer knowledge: Under my persuasion I will establish a focus strategy on how to enhance the capacity of the developing countries with specific deliverables towards human and institutional capabilities.
Amongst the 300 plus guests we spotted: Radm (HCG) Thimio E. Mitropoulos Secretary-General Emeritus of the IMO, the President of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee Harry J. Fafalios, George Mouskas, Andreas A. Tsavliris, Paul Dixon, Captain Esteban Pasha, the New Greek Harbour Master of London and his assistant, the Director of the GSCC Commodore (rt) Konstantinos Amarantides, John M. Hadjipateras, Stathes Kulukundis, Cyprus‘ Maritime Permanent Representatives at the IMO Christos Attalianis, and many many others.
Excellent drinks and traditional Cypriot deeps and intense networking was the name of the game, given the circumstances. Earlier on, and before the reception started, Members of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee were briefed by the Cypriot Minister about the advantages Cyprus offers to international shipping; watch this space!
