The tackling of Greece's difficult fiscal situation "should not be taken as a more general national weakness", warned prime minister George Papandreou, addressing the Greek Ambassadors’ Conference at the foreign ministry building in Athens, on Thursday.
The prime minister added that his government's target is "upgrading the country's international prestige and highlighting Greece's new qualitative identity."
He also noted that during last week's Eurozone summit Greece's partners "gave us a vote of confidence."
Papandreou further referred to Greece's competitive advantages such as the merchant marine, tourism, qualitative agriculture, renewable energy sourcs, the crative manpower and the great possibilities for growth and investment opportunities, underlining the role and contribution of economic diplomacy.
According to the Greek premier, the object of international relations has widened. The issues of climate change, migration, energy, Papandreou said, create "a new and more complex landscape" while they highlight the need for a serious global governance.
"The Greek crisis broke out at a time when the European Union was reforming itself, putting it to test in its new role," Papandreou noted, adding that in the development of this process "the EU appears stronger, with a common political stance and voice." He referred to EU plans for the creation of an Economic Monetary Fund, of a European credit rating agency, the introduction of a eurobond for growth and of a tobin tax.
The prime minister also insisted to the need for Greek foreign policy to maintain its extroversion while referring to the Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish relations, the fYRoM issue, the Balkans etc.
ANA
