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Dear Prime Minister,
dear Kyriakos, dear friend,

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I'm honored to be here today
at the Delphi Economic Forum

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and especially to participate
in the meeting during which

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we discussed a variety of issues.
As you said,

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the links between Greece
and Slovenia are very old.

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Some originated in the mists
of history millennia ago.

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Some are very fresh.

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All known data speaks
about friendly relations.

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I'm glad we were able to discuss
the priorities

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of the Slovenian presidency
of the Council of the EU,

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set to take place in the second
half of this year.

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We share common approaches

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toward the main challenging
we are facing

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as EU member countries.

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I congratulate you

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for dealing with the Covid
situation

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very successfully.

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We learned some things
from your measures

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and we strongly support your
initiative to issue the Green Pass,

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which will make free movement
among EU member states

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possible even before we completely
defeat the epidemic.

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I think that the citizens
of EU member states

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deserve this after the suffering
of the epidemic,

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and it's our duty
to make this possible.

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We'll fight on the European level
to make this possible

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as soon as possible.

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We also discussed
the Western Balkans.

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This is the region between Greece
and Slovenia.

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I started to deal
with enlargement issues

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in Salonica in 2003 when
the historic decision was made

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by the European Council for
the Western Balkans countries

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to be granted EU membership
when they fulfill the conditions.

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Since then, this is the most
important drive toward implementing

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EU standards and reforms
in the region.

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We have to do two things.
First, to keep this drive alive.

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There are some signs of fatigue
in this process.

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The second goal is to keep it real
and to fulfill the promise.

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It's time now after the EU
has faced different crises

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over the past 15 years: economic,
financial, and migration crises,

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the pandemic, and Brexit.
Now it's time to recover

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as quickly as possible and then
to focus on the strategic issues

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that are of crucial importance
to the EU.

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Among the first on the list
of priorities is enlargement.

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We still have to fulfill
the old dream of a Europe

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that is whole and free
and in peace with itself.

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This noble goal is not
fulfilled until

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all European countries are a part
of the European Union,

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at least those that wish to be,
and the wish is very strong.

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This is why Slovenia is making
the European path

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of Western Balkan countries
one of our priorities.

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As Kyriakos just said,
we're panning to organize

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an unofficial summit between
EU members countries

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and the Western Balkan
countries. This will take place

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this October in Slovenia.
I thank you for some good ideas

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on how to tackle this issue
with the ultimate goal

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to make the European perspective
of those countries

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a real goal to be fulfilled
sooner

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than anyone could have
predicted even a year ago.

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There is still a way to go.

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Some homework still needs to be
done,

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not only by the Western Balkans,
but also by the EU.

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We have to fulfill our 2003 promise
from Salonica.

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Thank you for also briefing
me on the Cyprus issue

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and some details regarding
the situation

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in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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This is not only a problem
for Greece and for Cyprus.

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It's an European issue.
As I've said,

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the two-track approach is workable
and real

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when the EU acts as a family.

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The more we can unite
behind our colleagues

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from Greece and Cyprus,

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the sooner we can fulfill
the goals we set in March

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in the conclusion of
the EU Council Summit.

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At the end, I also want
to thank you for your support

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in bringing Slovenia into
the Med-7,

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the family of Mediterranean
countries, where we belong.

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Slovenia is a mixture of Alpine,
Pannonian, and Mediterranean

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regions, and we think this
is something very precious.

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We don't want to lose any part
of this jewel. Thank you very much.

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We're also prepared to share
the responsibility

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for solving ecological and security
questions in the Mediterranean.

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Finally, Slovenia is celebrating
30 years of independence,

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and Greece is celebrating
200 years of independence.

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As I said during
the Delphi Economic Forum,

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we still have a real feeling
of change,

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but we also see in Greece
the moment

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when a nation is gaining
independence

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is for the second time in history.

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We have to remember
and celebrate this.

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It doesn't matter which
EU member country

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is celebrating its birthday,
because all this diversity

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is enriching us.

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We're all Europeans because we are
Greek, because we are Slovenian,

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because we are German,
because we are French.

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Thank you very much.
I really enjoyed our discussion.