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Official Texts and Speeches

Statement to the Thessaloniki Media by Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard

City Hall, Thessaloniki, Greece February 7, 2008

Thank you, Mr. Mayor [Vassilis Papageorgopoulos].  It is really an honor to receive your hospitality here.  As I mentioned to you in our meeting, it really is special for me to be in Thessaloniki because I know what an important city this has been throughout history as a center for commerce, for culture, and for education.  I am very pleased with the cooperation between our government and your city to try to promote and broaden mutual understanding between our people, to promote cultural exchange and educational exchanges -- and our common interest in sports --  but also, equally important, to promote trade and investment. 

I look forward to working with you and your administration over the years to come to help strengthen our cooperation in all these areas. I was struck by something you said at the beginning of our meeting which touched my heart.  That is that our two countries share a basic common belief in democracy and the fundamental values for human.  In spite sometimes in differences of policies from one year to the next, the fundamental values have never changed and they have been the same and have bound our people together.  So I believe based on these fundamental values and shared beliefs we have a good opportunity for further cooperation and support to help Thessaloniki grow and continue to develop.  So again, thank you to the people of Thessaloniki for your hospitality.