Day: September 7, 2021

It is a great pleasure to be back in Tunis today. This is my second visit in a year. The previous visit by a Greek Foreign Minister took place in 2008. This in itself shows a lot about the importance that Greece attaches to its relations with Tunisia. And the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit Tunisia in November on the occasion of the Summit Meeting of the Francophonie.
I had the honour today of meeting President Saied earlier and in this context I underlined the pioneering role that Tunisia is playing in the broader region. In your effort to establish a genuinely democratic and sustainable system, we are here to help as much as we can. You have made significant steps, in addressing challenges, such as the unstable situation in your immediate neighbourhood and the pandemic.
Today, I came here to carry two important messages.
First of all, Greece is a friend. We want to support you in these difficult times. We are a country with which Tunisia does not necessarily have only historic or cultural affiliations. We have more than that. The Greek community has been present in Tunisia for centuries now. And contrary to other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, we do not have a hidden agenda in our relation with Tunisia. Our sole interest is your stability and your prosperity.
In this vein, we support you and we will continue to support the forces of moderation in Tunisia. We are against any forces that try to usurp power, using as a cover religious or ideological principles.
Our support for Tunisia is concrete. We have already sent several tons of medical supplies a few days ago and today we brought 100,000 vaccines in order to help Tunisia address the pandemic.
And we will continue our support, as much as it’s needed.
In order to achieve this, we have to make use of the full potential of our bilateral relationship.
Last time I was here, we signed a maritime transport agreement. We have to work on its implementation. And convene, as soon as possible, the Bilateral Ministerial Committee, which has not met since 2016.
There is also scope on enhancing cooperation in the multilateral field.
Tunisia was the first country to sign an association agreement with the EU, back in 1995. We need to insert a new dynamic in EU-Tunisia relations. Greece will continue to advocate for a stronger partnership between the EU and Tunisia. We need more.
We strongly appreciate Tunisia’s support in our bid, Greece’s bid, to join the UN Security Council in 2025-2026. And I take this opportunity to praise the moderate and constructive stance that Tunisia has taken as a Member of the UN Security Council.
And, I also want to praise you for the principled position you have adopted on Libya. Yesterday in Athens, I received the Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush. I underlined the need to hold elections in Libya before the end of the year, as it has been agreed. I also stressed the need for all foreign forces, military or mercenaries, to leave the Libyan territory, so as to allow the conducting of free and fair elections in Libya.
And this brings me to my second message.
I came here to support the efforts undertaken in the context of democratic transition by the President.
We cannot allow Tunisia to slide back. That is what the President said and I subscribe to that wholeheartedly. We cannot allow losing what has already been gained and there is a need for a Tunisian solution for the Tunisian people.
Many important efforts have been undertaken in this regard. We are convinced that the path of reforms should continue.
We hope that there will be a quick return to the normal functioning of the institutions, in compliance with the will of the Tunisian people.
We also hope that a new government will be formed as soon as possible, a government that will continue the efforts already undertaken and engage in a dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including the civil society in order to address the pressing economic, health and social needs of the Tunisian people.
I believe that Greece, its partners in the region and the European Union are ready to assist Tunisia in building a better future.
For Tunisians, for all of us, for the region as a whole.
Thank you so much for your hospitality and your kind reception in Tunisia here today.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this afternoon participate virtually in the inaugural Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit.

The summit, which will be virtually attended by Heads of States and Government of the African Union and CARICOM Member States, will explore opportunities to strengthen the linkages between the people of Africa and the Caribbean regions by addressing integration challenges across continents.

The Caribbean Community is an association of 15 states across the Caribbean who are working together to promote economic integration and cooperation and coordinate foreign policy, with a view to equitable development for all member states.

Today’s discussions will focus on thematic areas including the promotion of trade, investment and economic integration, transport integration, the mitigation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ocean agenda and sustainable blue economy, climate change and leveraging emerging technologies amongst areas.

This historical Summit was proposed during a meeting between His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, and the CARICOM Heads of Government held in August 2019 in Bridgetown, Barbados. This was in recognition of the common heritage between the two regions and the need for cooperation to leverage opportunities for development and shared prosperity.

President Ramaphosa’s virtual address to the summit will be streamed live on PresidencyZA digital platforms.

Source: Presidency Republic of South Africa

Your Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya,

His Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission, Her Excellency, Dr Carla Natalie Barnett, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community,
His Excellency Mr Gaston Browne, Chairperson of CARICOM

Distinguished Heads of State and Government from Africa and the Caribbean, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to be part of this first Africa-CARICOM Summit.

This initiative places us on the threshold of a new epoch of integration, unity and cooperation.

It calls to mind the words of Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta, who said: “Our children may learn about the heroes of the past. Our task is to make ourselves architects of the future.”
Your Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, this Summit presents a reimagining of the future of relations between our peoples, who, although separated by a vast ocean, are united by a shared history.

This Summit is taking place in the first year of the Decade of African Roots and Diaspora, which was declared in February this year at the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.

The diaspora is an integral part of the story of Africa, the progress of Africa, and indeed the future of Africa.

Greater cooperation between the countries of our continent and the Caribbean community was espoused by our forebears who convened the 5th Pan African Congress in Manchester in 1945.

It was there that leaders like Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah planted the seed that would become the Organisation of African Unity in 1963.

In this sense we are fulfilling an important aspiration of the pioneers of pan-Africanism, and, within a contemporary context, of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

Our common heritage should encourage us to deepen our engagement, strengthen trade and investment, collaborate in research and development, and share expertise and knowledge amongst our countries.

Just as we share a common history, we also have common challenges.

We are all contending with the devastating human, social, political and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are all working to overcome the effects of colonialism and underdevelopment by building inclusive economies and creating more opportunities for our people.

We are all vulnerable to the effects of climate change through rising sea levels, adverse weather effects and social and economic disruption.

This pandemic has demonstrated the value and the necessity of confronting challenges together.

From the onset of the pandemic, we developed a united African continental response strategy, established a special COVID-19 Response Fund, and launched the groundbreaking African Medical Supplies Platform to enable countries to access vital medical supplies.

We share a determination that when it comes to vaccines and other critical health interventions, no region, no country and no person should be left behind.

It is therefore a matter of great significance that Caribbean countries have joined in the efforts galvanized by the African Union on acquiring vaccines.

Just as we have worked together to access vaccine doses for our peoples, we need to share experiences, expertise and technology to better respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

We must mobilise the global community behind the call for a temporary waiver of the TRIPS agreement at the WTO, and continue to lobby for partnerships on licensing and technology transfer with those countries that have the capacity to produce their own vaccines.

The pandemic has shown what is possible when principled solidarity is put to the service of the common good.

Let us draw on this solidarity as we rebuild our economies.

Let us, in particular, explore the opportunities that are presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area to advance our aspirations towards economic integration and shared prosperity.

Through this partnership, let us work to transform the fortunes of all the people of Africa and all the people of African descent.

Through our actions, let us be the architects of our common future, where Africa and the

Caribbean are joined together by the common goal of the prosperity of our people. I thank you.

Source: Presidency Republic of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the Jewish community well on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

The holy period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time of introspection and of reaching out to others.

“This holiday is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, and to commit ourselves to treat others with kindness and integrity in the year ahead,” President Ramaphosa said.

“May this be a good and sweet year for the Jewish community, and for all South Africans.”

Source: Presidency Republic of South Africa