US-Greece relations are stronger today than ever before, says Ambassador Pyatt

US-Greece relations are stronger today than ever before, says Ambassador Pyatt

US-Greece relations are stronger today than ever before, says Ambassador Pyatt

US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt exclaimed that he was "happy to be back in beautiful Thessaloniki for the first time since the start of the pandemic to highlight our [America's] strong, continuing partnerships with northern Greece in the full range of sectors, from trade and investment to maritime and education."

During the media address, he noted that "this has been an extremely dynamic period of U.S.-Greece relations, which are stronger today than ever before.  I’m particularly proud of what we have accomplished here in Macedonia with the Thessaloniki International Fair in 2018, with the significant upgrade of our defence and security engagement in northern Greece, the rotations of our helicopters through Thessaloniki, our activities in Alexandroupoli, but especially important on the investment and economic side."

Pyatt also noted that there is "a very strong record of American companies that, even in the environment of the pandemic, are continuing with their new investments here."

"I have said in Athens that our Embassy’s top priority at this stage, with the health crisis hopefully behind us, is to focus on supporting Greece’s rapid return to economic growth. American companies, American investors, are going to play a critical role in that regard, and a big part of the story is happening here in northern Greece, not just because of what’s happening in Thessaloniki, but because of the way in which Greek Macedonia is serving as a gateway for a 30-million strong market in the western Balkans.  So we are committed to maintaining our momentum here," he added.

During his visit to Thessaloniki, he also visited the Jewish Museum. Pyatt was briefed on the plan to build a Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki by David Saltiel, the president of both the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece and the city's Jewish community, and the president of the Board of Directors of the Thessaloniki Holocaust Museum Foundation former mayor George Boutaris. The US Consul General in Thessaloniki Gregory Pfleger was also present at the meeting.

Speaking to ANA-MPA, Pyatt said he was pleased that Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos had taken a leading role in the project and expressed confidence for what he called a potentially very strong cooperation between the Holocaust Museum in Washington and the museum that will be built in Thessaloniki.