In Panama, November is the "Month of the Fatherland" (Mes de la Patria). On November 3rd, the country celebrates its liberation from Colombia in 1903, while on the 28th, it celebrates its independence from Spain in 1821. In other words, we are two people of the same age in freedom...
On this occasion, but also driven by the fact that a Greek woman is serving her term as the Ambassador of Panama to Greece, we wanted to know more about the unique, friendly country that shares many common interests with Greece.
The Ambassador and Consul General of Panama in Greece, Julie Lymberopulos, comes from Messinia. She was born in Panama, but she honours the place where both her parents were born and raised and finds the shipping industry a bright field for both countries.
She was interviewed by Marie Claire Greece.
What do you remember from the first time your father brought you to the port of Piraeus?
It was in the 70s when he, too, was operating in Greek shipping. I was a small child, and I remember staring blankly at sea, the ships moored in the harbour, those that came and went. I fell in love.
My enthusiasm was so great, and my father's love for the sea was such that I couldn't remain unaffected. This is one of my most characteristic memories that shows me that there has always been an inner desire to be actively involved in shipping.
Through my studies and experience in our shipping business in Panama, I learned about the sea and loved it even more. The fact that today I have the honour of representing the country where I was born and raised, Panama, in the country where my parents were born and raised, Greece, has a special meaning for me, as this particular diplomatic mission has a strong maritime character.
You have been in Greece as Ambassador and Consul General since December 2019. Could you tell me what your duties are?
On the one hand, the diplomatic representation of the country, but also the representation of the Panamanian registry in Greek shipping, with parallel accreditation in Cyprus, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria.
The flag of Panama, the first choice worldwide for shipping, has always had close and unbreakable ties with Greek shipowners, providing fast, efficient and high-level services, facilitating every step of the shipowner in terms of the technical issues of the ships, crews, companies and all legal proceedings undertaken by the registry.
My personal mission is to bring the Greeks even closer to the registry of Panama, reviving a relationship that has deep, solid and unshakable foundations in the past and can evolve dynamically and effectively integrate the changes brought about by the present and the great future of global shipping.
How does a day go at the Embassy and Consulate General of Panama in Greece?
Our offices are located in Piraeus, the heart of Greek shipping. The Embassy and Consulate General is the only diplomatic mission authorised to issue official documents on behalf of the Panamanian government and the Panamanian Merchant Shipping Administration.
Regarding maritime services, the Consulate is a one-stop office that covers all sectors of shipping: technical services and what concerns crews, as well as the corporate sector.
Our highly experienced staff provide personalised and flexible services that operate in accordance with the global legal framework, offering 24/7 emergency services.
Panama and Greece are two nations that star on the global shipping map. Does that make them partners or competitors?
Panama and Greece could work together in various ways to move forward together. In the context of the strategies, we value extroversion, adaptability, data collection and evaluation and supporting sustainable actions as priorities.
The two countries could share ideas, views and concerns so that we can respond to the crisis together, find ways to support each other and liaise in advance or directly on the topics of IMO meetings. Another common point between the two countries is the importance they give to the development of tourism.
Panama, while considered the jewel of Central American tourism, is also seeking recognition as a world-class sustainable tourism destination, thanks to the exceptional richness and diversity of its natural and cultural heritage, as well as the quality of its services. There are excellent idyllic beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, as well as beautiful nature reserves with the greatest diversity of flora and fauna on the planet.
In the capital, Panama City, visitors will see the Panama Canal, the Historic District in the San Felipe neighbourhood, the ruins of the Old City, and the Bio-Museum, the first building in Latin America designed by the internationally acclaimed architect Frank Gehry. The next goal for the country is sustainable tourism promoted by the Tourism Cabinet and the Tourism Promotion Fund, two innovative organisations of the country's tourism authority.
In the summer of 2023, the Embassy organised a fashion show on the occasion of the visit to Greece of the Panamanian designer Jaime Luna. Is it the fashion that suggests, the fashion that listens to the tradition of a place?
Indigenous Panamanian textiles, parumas with vibrant tones and saburettes with ethnic and geometric patterns inspired Jaime Luna's designs.
Luna utilised the signature stitches, embroidery, and art and craft techniques of Panamanian culture in each of his designs, while the garments were paired with handcrafted jewellery by indigenous Panamanian female entrepreneurship artists, which brings sustainable value to each of the designer's collections.
It was very important for the Embassy to show these clothes using, instead of professional models, amateurs and everyday people, to promote diversity and bring out the beauty of each individual.
One of the most expensive coffees in the world is produced in Panama. What can you tell us about it?
The summit of Volcán Barú in western Panama is one of the few places in the world where you can see the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the same time. There, regular rainfall, cloud cover and nutrient-rich volcanic soil produce the geisha variety of coffee, hand-harvested by the indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé communities.
It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world (a kilo of coffee beans costs more than $1,000).
As Diwigdi Valiente, climate and indigenous activist, previously stated, “The Ngäbe and Buglé have been more in touch with coffee in the last 100 years. Coffee is so expensive because these farmers listen to nature, they listen to science, and they also listen to people."
Today, the ever-expanding Coffee Circuit connects 15 farms that offer tastings and tours of the fields and production facilities of the coffee that continues to win fanatical fans around the world.
Photos: Kelly Filou
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