Welcome Message by Marietta Giannakou, Head of the Greek Delegation to NATO PA

Dear Colleagues,

As the Annual Session and Plenary Meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is about to begin, I would like to pay my respects to you. In happier circumstances, this should have been my message welcoming you to Athens.

Unfortunately, as the second wave of the pandemic assaults the world with great force, the Bureau decided to hold its 66th annual session online, in consultation with the Greek delegation. Indeed, it is our duty to ensure public health.

We are living in an era where our parliaments and governments have had to overcome many difficulties, and – even worse – we have lost many of our fellow citizens to the noxious coronavirus.

This crisis is simultaneously sanitary, social, economic, and political, and the forthcoming days will bring their share of struggles in a plethora of areas. We are already – and will continue to be – expected to tackle these difficulties.  

Consequently, this session represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate that, once again, the NATO's Parliamentary Assembly has a major role to play in its area of responsibility.

The Assembly is a forum where parliamentarians debate the Alliance’s defence and security matters and influence the decisions being taken in this respect. It is crucial to continue our efforts to strengthen and champion transatlantic relations as well as the values underpinning the Alliance, while bearing in mind the importance of its role to protect and support the people and societies of the Euro-Atlantic area.

By using parliamentary diplomacy during Assembly meetings, our values of parliamentary democracy, partnership, and solidarity and cooperation inside NATO are constantly reinforced and propagated.

This November, we have the privilege of being able to continue to exchange views, submit ideas and reflect – as the NATO Secretary General  suggested – on a wide range of issues affecting the Alliance and the parliamentary priorities as part of the NATO 2030 process. These online meetings offer us this opportunity!

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the Hellenic Parliament and myself, I would like to wish you all the very best, and I sincerely hope that we will all succeed in overcoming the difficulties and crises facing our countries, together and united.