In his address at yesterday’s web presentation of the book “International Community and Fragile States,” by Eirini Cheila, Professor of International Policy at the University of Piraeus, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, pointed to Greece’s stabilising role and strong institutional standing in the wider Mediterranean region. Mr. Varvitsiotis noted that “at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we monitor developments in the field very closely,” as the so-called “fragile states are a major issue in our own neighbourhood.” Commenting on the wider security architecture, the Alternate Minister highlighted that “exporting knowledge from Greece would be one way in which we, too, can contribute to the reduction of fragile states, which, as the author rightly points out, have increased by 30% over the past decade.” At the same time, he said, it would give Greek diplomacy access to countries in the wider region, based on the values of Democracy and not on the agenda some other countries use. As a country with a stable democracy and as a member of the European Union, Mr. Varvitsiotis added, Greece “can use its experience to export Democracy and stability.” Moreover, he noted, “when we negotiate with partners and friends, a major weapon we have is exactly the fact that we are a country of the European Union, with a strong institutional arsenal, and we can show ways through which the improvement of our neighbours’ democratic institutions can bolster security in the wider region.”
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