At a particularly critical juncture for international shipping, Greece once again highlighted its historical and contemporary role as a global maritime power, through the statement of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, at the 34th Ordinary Session of the IMO Assembly in London.
Focused on Greece’s maritime tradition, the Minister called on member states to support the Greek candidacy for Category A, underlining that Greece is not simply claiming a seat on the Council, but is committed to actively contributing to the formation of a fair, unified and sustainable global framework for shipping. He also pointed out that global measures must combine environmental ambition with economic realism and be imbued with justice.
“It is an honor for us to be candidates in IMO Category A and to ask for your vote. Greeks are people of the sea. We have traveled all over the world. We believed in trade. From Ulysses until today, we have built our historical heritage, our economy and our future on the future,” Kikilias underlined at the Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), noting that “we humbly ask that you take this into account and give us the opportunity to continue moving forward and working not only for our own rights or the rights of our people, but for a global framework that is compatible with all, that recognizes the importance of today’s fuel – LNG – and that gives us all the opportunity to cooperate and achieve much.”
Kikilias underlined that “we believe that global measures must combine environmental ambition with economic realism and be imbued with justice,” stressing the need for the green transition “to be carried out with caution, in order to avoid economic and technological shocks.”
As he noted, “it is important to ensure that international rules do not constitute a punitive mechanism”, while “realistic timetables and reward mechanisms” are crucial to benefit the entire shipping industry.
Referring to the operation of the IMO, the minister pointed out that “we respect, support and honor all opinions within the IMO, aiming for a safe, sustainable and effective regulatory framework”, insisting that “every effort must be made so that we can reach a global, common framework within the Organization.”
He also clarified that “we recognize that perhaps no one can win 100% of what they seek through such agreements, but the greatest possible effort must be made so that there is a basic, common framework of agreement, on which we will work and try to find solutions together.”
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