Statement by Foreign Minister Mrs Bakoyiannis to the High Level Event on climate change convened by the Secretary-General
Thursday, October 04, 2007

I would like to thank the United Nations and the General Secretary for organizing this conference and to extend my heartfelt congratulations.

There has been a great deal of procrastination where climate change is concerned. For too long we have been consumed by unreasonable doubts and postponed an effective response to this unique global challenge. For too long climate change was approached as ‘an abstract phenomenon’ – understood by scientists, scorned by ill-advised skeptics, downplayed by vested interests and ignored by myopic political systems. Today time is running out.

If current predictions are accurate, the deterioration of our environment due to climate change is one of the greatest social and economic realities facing our planet.  And most of its consequences within the next few decades will occur no matter what we decide to do today to mitigate the problem of emissions. There are two time lags involved here. One is the time lag between policy decisions and policy implementation. The second time lag is inherent to the phenomenon itself, as the scientists predict that oceans have stored most of the heating that occurred in the last 40 years and are going to gradually release it, in the next few decades.

So our responsibility is not only to find the political will for an effective global policy to stabilise emissions, but also to face the challenges our past actions are already producing. And we must realise that, climate change can no longer be seen as an environmental issue – in isolation. It is not solely a matter of environmental consciousness. It is not even, merely, an environmental imperative. It is an all-encompassing threat. And it must be approached as such.

It is a question of ethics and human rights. A question of human security and a possible cause of major future conflicts. A question of sustainable Economic development. It is also and a threat to world health. In consequence, it must be tackled more broadly to include socio-political dynamics which are unavoidably necessary if we are to have a holistic approach.

HEADLINES

Address of Deputy Foreign Minister Valinakis to the General Assembly
Thursday, October 04, 2007

 Monsieur le President, Excellences,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

 Les grands défis et problèmes à l’ échelle mondiale et régionale demandent des réponses urgentes et cohérentes. Les responsabilités et le rôle de l’ ONU pour assurer une prise de conscience et une unité de direction sont maintenant encore plus importants et accrus. C’est exactement pour cela que le respect des décisions de l’ONU devrait être la première priorité des tous, y compris des ceux qui sont élus pour représenter l’Organisation et ses institutions.

 Je voudrais féliciter Sheikha Al-Khalifa, qui fût juste la troisième femme dans l’ histoire de l’ ONU qui a tenu le poste du Président de cette Assemblée, pour ses efforts visant à promouvoir les buts et les principes sur lesquels notre Organisation a été fondée.

 J’exprime aussi notre appréciation au Secrétaire-Général pour ses efforts incessants pour sauvegarder la paix et la sécurité internationale, ainsi que pour maintenir vifs l’ autorité et le rôle de l’ Organisation à cet égard.

Mesdames et Messieurs,

La Grèce s’aligne entièrement à la déclaration faite par le Premier Ministre du Portugal au nom de l’ Union européenne. Nous voudrions, quand même, ajouter quelques mots sur les grandes questions qui se trouvent sur notre agenda pour la période qui suit.

Deputy FM Mr. Doukas chaired “Human Security Network” working lunch on the margins of the UN General Assembly (New York, 28 September 2007)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

On Friday, 28 September 2007, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Petros Doukas chaired the annual working lunch of the Human Security Network, which took place in New York, on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Our country, which is holding the one-year Chairmanship of the Human Security Network since last May, presented an Action Plan, the central issue of which is “Climate change with the focus on the impact on vulnerable groups, such as women, children and persons fleeing their homes due to climate change”.

Greece’s contribution to the International Compact for Iraq (3 May 2007)
Thursday, May 03, 2007

The Ministerial Meeting for the launching of the International Compact for Iraq (ICI) was completed successfully in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Greece was represented at the meeting, which was co-organized by the UN and the Egyptian government, by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Evripidis Stylianidis. The ICI is a five-year programme aimed at the consolidation of peace, the implementation of good governance and economic reconstruction in Iraq. It includes commitments and measures that must be taken, by both Iraq and the international community, for the development of Iraq over the next five years. The basic objective of the ICI is the economic recovery of Iraq through the process of establishing democratic institutions, consolidating peace, and implementing the rule of law and respect for human rights. International assistance for Iraq and the expected writing off Iraq's debts will depend on the country's commitment to the above terms. Representatives

Signing of a Memorandum on the promotion of the mission of Francophonie
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis met on Wednesday, 7 March 2007, in Paris, with the Secretary General of the International Organisation of French-speaking Communities (Francophonie), Mr. Abdou Diouf, and signed a “Memorandum on the promotion of the mission of Francophonie and the promotion of the French Language”.

After the signing of the Memorandum, Ms. Bakoyannis made the following statement:

“With particular satisfaction, I signed today with the Secretary General of the International Organisation of French-speaking Communities, Greece’s participation in an organization whose objective is, of course, the spread of the French language, but also the promotion of the principles and values that connect all these countries who believe in democracy and human rights.

Greece is present. Our role, particularly in our region, is important, and we believe that our participation will be particularly useful.”