Greek Text
2008 Speeches and Articles
Meeting with Minister of Culture Michalis Liapis
Statements by Ambassador Speckhard after courtesy meeting with
Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis
Wednesday March 5, 2008
Ambassador Speckhard: I told the minister that I have a special love and appreciation for the arts and culture, and I am particularly fascinated by the arts and culture in Greece. I believe that this area is as important as economics and politics in terms of building the relationship between our countries, and good understanding between the Greek and American people. I intend during my tenure here to work closely with him and his ministry to expand and promote our exchanges in culture and the arts and build a better understanding between the Greek and American people.
Question: Mr. Ambassador, what is your opinion about the Marbles of the Parthenon?
Amb. Speckhard: Well, the minister mentioned how important this is to the Greek people. I can sympathize with his point of view after seeing the beautiful museum you have created here for the Acropolis artifacts, so I told him I very much understood the issue.
Question: If Greece uses a veto to block FYROM’s entry to NATO, do you think there will be any consequences on Greek-American relations?
Ambassador Speckhard: Well, we didn’t really talk about that here today.
Culture Minister Liapis: It’s not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here…
Amb. Speckhard: We are still very hopeful that there will be an agreement. I think in talking to my Greek counterparts that they very much want to see the successful outcomes of those negotiations. And we have heard the same from the leaders in Skopje. So I think there is still time for this issue to be worked out.
Statement of Culture Minister Michalis Liapis after meeting with Ambassador Speckhard
March 5, 2008
We had a productive exchange of views. It was a very constructive discussion. We referred to issues of mutual interest between the two countries in the area of culture. We agreed that we must strengthen cultural exchanges, develop various cultural activities. We agreed that we will be in constant contact because the two countries can do very much in the cultural area on a basis of mutuality.
Minister Liapis also said:
Greece counters the intransigence of Skopje with realism, determination and unprecedented national unity. When we are together we have nothing to fear.