“Our cooperation with the United States in shipping and shipyards will take on strategic dimensions,” said the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, in an interview he gave to OPEN TV and journalists Spyros Charitatos and Alexandra Hatzigeorgiou.
Referring to his recent visit to the United States and the meetings he held there with ministers and high-ranking officials, Mr. Kikilias underlined the importance of the strategic cooperation between Greece and the US in shipping, energy and the shipbuilding industry, noting: “America produces large quantities of shale gas and makes it available for export. Our country has important storage areas such as Revithoussa, it has terminals and reverse pipelines to supply all of Europe, such as those starting from Alexandroupolis and others to be created in the near future, along with important infrastructure such as ports in a strategic geographical location. But it also has something else: 5,800 ships of Greek-owned shipping, which make us proud. Greek shipping and its people – captains, engineers, crews and shipowners – constitute a very strong bargaining chip, because without ships and sailors, American natural gas cannot be transported to Europe and the rest of the world. We have 20% of the world fleet and over 25% of the LNG ships on the planet. Our already strong relationship with the United States will take on further strategic dimensions, through cooperation in shipping and shipyards. And this will unfold in the coming months and years.”
Regarding the new Ambassador of the United States, he emphasized that “Kimberly Guilfoyle is a prominent figure with very important work, a former Deputy Attorney General in California, with an incredible record of over 90%, a member of President Trump’s staff, with direct access to the US government and the first ambassador of the post-regime who, if necessary, can communicate directly with the President of the United States.”
Mr. Kikilias noted the development potential of the Greek economy and the new perspective that is being shaped through shipping, shipyards and energy: “Greeks should feel and be proud. The country is not a scumbag and it is not the last hole in the bag. It has enormous potential, comparative advantages and shipping is obviously – and its people have earned it – the spearhead, along with energy and shipyards, because investments are now being made in Greek shipyards and I am happy about this. Soon there will be the prospect of constructing ships for the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard through competitive procedures. Our ports and infrastructure, since they host LNG, bulk cargo or container ships, can also welcome NATO or United States warships. All of this creates jobs, drives the economy and generates wealth for the country. This is a vision for today, tomorrow and the next generation,” he said, adding that “tourism is very important, as are services and real estate. However, the time has come for other sectors of the economy to flourish and expand, so that the next generation can stay in Greece, not go abroad and have these very well-paid jobs that are created through shipping, energy and shipyards. This is the government’s goal and an opportunity that, under no circumstances, should be missed.”
Speaking about the modernization of the means and infrastructure of the Coast Guard, he stated: “We will proceed with the procurement of two large offshore vessels, over 80 meters, for the surveillance of territorial waters and the shielding of the southeastern Mediterranean. At the same time, many 30-meter vessels, high-speed pursuit vessels, as well as smaller vessels of 12 to 18 meters, so that the Coast Guard can be equipped everywhere. We are also procuring drones and new technologies for the surveillance of the EEZ and the protection of marine resources. We are proceeding with 500 new port recruitments, digitalization of the Ministry and a new operations center – a modernized “War Room” for the Merchant Navy and the Coast Guard.”
Finally, in response to a question about the Routsis case, Mr. Kikilias emphasized that “parents are sacred figures. There is nothing crueler, nothing more tragic than a mother or father who has lost their child. Everyone has the right to express their pain, as he or she feels. I would like to stay there, with respect for these people. Petty politics never interested me, I never got involved. This is not my culture and my code of values.”
