"Khaleej Times" 22 April 2005
Dubai
"DIPLOMATIC DIARY"
Dr Panayotis Theodoracopoulos is Greek Ambassador to UAE. He has beenin UAE since January 2004. Before UAE, he served in Libya.
Since your appointment as Ambassador to the UAE have you marshalledsupport for Greek business to increase exports to the UAE and to whatextent? Could you provide us with actual figures?
My main concern as a diplomat is to further enhance the historicallyexcellent relations of Greece and the Greek people with the Great Arabnation and the UAE in particular and also to broaden the frame of thisrelation in all fields. The aim is that of integration andinteraction. The increase of figures simply follows.Speaking on commercial turnover, I would like to point out that Greekexports to UAE were equal in 2003 to 86.7 million Euros and fromJanuary to August 2004 were equal to 56 million Euros. The Emiratiexports to Greece for the same period were 31.6 million Euros and 16million Euros, respectively. So Greece exports more than it imports.
The above figures could and should be higher. But this is not thepoint, since for me the substance lies in the integration of the humancapital of our two countries. The imminent future should be visionedas human resources interaction and integration. Figures will simplyfollow.
Could you elaborate on the nature of relationship that exists betweenUAE and Greece, both on trade and cultural fronts?
First of all I would like to assure you that in the field of trade,the nature of our relationship is that of give and take. On thecultural front it is that of cooperation here in UAE. Last year weorganised in cooperation with Alliance Francaise, lectures on thegreat Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. This year, in a wonderfultrilateral cooperation between UAE Ministry of Culture, our Embassyand Alliance Francaise we brought from Greece the 14 member theatricalgroups of Mary Vidali. It was the first time in UAE and we willcontinue with more cultural events.My wish is to see UAE cultural productions presented in Greece, and myvision is to get involved in cross-cultural production first here inUAE and later in Greece. I also think we have to add one more field ofpotential cooperation i.e. the educational field. An additional fieldshould also be added and that is religious dialogue. That ofcommunion, communication and "Taaruf". Let us bring ourselves togetherand talk and enjoy all things that unite us. This is a mission you tolive. I have done it in another country, I will repeat it here and Iam sure the Lord would guide me.
What is the tourism potential of Greece? How do you evaluate thetourist inflow from UAE to Greece?
Greece, an EU country with relevant background of Europeaninstitutions, has proved champion of the excellent use ofinfrastructure and business investments. The 2004 Athens Olympic gameswere the most striking, but not the only example. With suspendedbridges, brand new highways and national and international road axis,with modern train services, yachting marinas and tourist influx closeto 12 million people, Greece is for sure a place for mutuallyprofitable UAE investments. I am sure Greece has a parallel life withthat of UAE in the investment area. As far as the tourism potential ofGreece are concerned, these are enormous in quality and in figures.But the most important is the quality based upon the big idea andpraxis of hospitality. So we do not only speak for tourist flow, butwe should rather speak for quality and multifaceted tourism.
As far as tourist flow from UAE to Greece is concerned, we will verysoon intensify our efforts since Greece can offer a variety of touristoptions to the Emirati families for quality tourism in all kinds ofresorts.
Your country has just celebrated National Day? What are the challengesahead in your opinion?
Our ancestors used to say that ‘life without festivity is an endlesslylong road'. This means that we always take strength and we face withoptimism the future by celebrating our National Day and bringing toour mind the paradigm of our ancestors who sacrificed their lives sothat we can live in freedom. Nevertheless, the struggle for freedomstill goes on. Freedom from injustice, from drugs, from exploitation,from fear, from lack of deficit of human rights. The Cyprus issueshould be settled in accordance with the international law and UNResolutions. All forms of foreign invasion, occupation and illegalcolonists should be eclipsed. No fait accompli should be condoned.Furthermore there is a lot to be done in the fields of fightingpoverty all over the world, of protecting the environment, ofenhancing the human as well as the civil rights, and of world culturalintegration and interaction.
As head of the Greek diplomatic mission in the UAE what are your keyresponsibilities?
As ambassador of Greece, I have the feeling that all myresponsibilities can be considered as having the same coefficient ofimportance. First of all, I have to express gratitude to thePresident, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and to allUAE authorities for their hospitality. I am also grateful to Rulers ofthe Emirates for their hospitality and protection of our mission andof all Greek citizens. So I could say that my primary responsibilityis to constantly strengthen the bilateral ties, enrich the contractualframework and the everyday cooperation of our two nations.
Atmospherics and building a healthy environment is the number one taskfor a diplomat. Cultural events, receiving delegations, cooperation inconcert with other colleagues, especially those of the EU, travellingto all the Emirates, meeting the Rulers and the local authorities and,of course, meeting the members of the Greek community also compose keyduties of the mission.
What is your typical day like? Is social interaction an integral partof the job? Do you enjoy going to parties?
The first thing to do in the morning is to read newspapers and thereports from all over the world. After that you start meetings.Administrative work takes a lot of the morning time. So, there is notime for drafting and editing texts. The serious report drafting onlytakes place at home. As far as social interaction is concerned, Icould say that is the most crucial part of our mission. Sincediplomacy is the art of communication, yes I enjoy going to partiessince there I have the opportunity to intermingle with strata of thehosting society and to communicate. I give and take. Plus, I feelgrown and enriched in meeting people and in knowing more and moreabout the hosting country and society. Public diplomacy! That's nameof the game in our days. Thank God, diplomacy is not necessarilyconfined to the offices of embassies and ministries.
Could you tell us how many Greek nationals there are in the UAE? Whatis the level of interaction you have with them?
It is not the number (600 approximately) but the excellent quality ofGreeks in UAE that it counts for me. They are good and productivepeople — businessmen, executives, college and university professorsetc.. I have to admit that in my heart I have broadened the scope ofcommunity with the congregation of the church as well as with allfriends of Greece irrespective of ethnic background and religion.
What is the methodology you adopt to reach out to Greek citizens andgauge their areas of concern?
I don't need a methodology to reach out to the Greeks or to anypeople. My personal inclination to fellowship, I believe is the surecompass for communicating with people and I follow an open-door policy.
What would you say is the worst part of your job?
I do not think there are any bad parts of my job, and consequently aworst part. Thanks to my job, which I call mission, everyday isdifferent than the previous one. This has enriched my life and myexperiences. In an indicative or poetic exaggeration, I say that it mewho has to pay my government for all the beautiful things I haveexperienced all over the world.
Nevertheless, there are indeed inconvenient times when rules andregulations prevent you from satisfying all demands. Anyway, withgoodwill and good faith, there is always room for prudent advice foroptimum solutions. This is also a matter of communication.
