Ambassador says Jordan, Greece have much in common

AMMAN — Greece and Jordan see eye to eye on regional issues and share common stances in pushing for peaceful solutions to regional crisis, according to Greek Ambassador Maria Louisa Marinakis, who highlighted the opportunity to increase bilateral cooperation.

Jordan and Greece, which started diplomatic ties in 1947, are two moderate countries in the southeastern Mediterranean region that have been enjoying excellent relations over the years, Marinakis said in an interview on the occasion of her country’s independence day, which the embassy is celebrating on Wednesday.

Greece’s independence day is marked on March 25.

“Jordan is a moderate country that promotes moderate Islam, and [it] should be supported in various areas. We are always your voice in the EU,” Marinakis told The Jordan Times.

The ambassador said trade exchange between the two countries is expected to witness a substantial boost, after the EU recently agreed to simplify the rules of origin for industries in Jordan.

“Greece supported Jordan strongly in this regard and we believe this will greatly benefit your economy.”

Highlighting the high level of exchanges of visits by officials between the two countries to boost ties, she said an official Greek delegation is scheduled to visit Jordan from May 9 to 10 along with representatives of various Greek companies working in renewable energy and construction to explore partnerships and potential cooperation.

Marinakis added that a trilateral meeting of the secretaries general of the foreign ministries of Greece, Cyprus and Jordan focusing on cooperation in energy, culture, trade and regional issues will be held in April in Cyprus.

Referring to the Syrian refugee crisis, which has affected several countries including Jordan and Greece, she said: “Jordan and Greece followed similar stances. In spite of the economic difficulties both countries face, they kept their borders open for the refugees fleeing the war. They dealt with them on the basis of fundamental principles of human rights.”

She said more than 800,000 refugees have crossed into the EU through her country and there are some 50,000 currently in Greece.

On tourism, the ambassador said the number of Jordanians visiting Greece rose by around 27 per cent after Aegean Airlines started operating flights to Jordan in June 2014.

“The price per ticket went down to around JD300 from JD700 previously. This was good news for tourism and for business exchange between the two countries.” 

The Greek diplomat stressed the importance of strategic military and security cooperation, noting that more coordination at a global level is needed to combat terrorism.

Marinakis, who will be concluding her tenure in Amman soon, added: “I am actually home here. The warmth and hospitality I received is something to remember for life.”

“I would like to say that there is an invisible line between [the] Temple of Hercules in Amman and Sounion in Athens, and this every time reminds me of the deep ties between the two countries,” she added.

Cape Sounion is home to the ruins of an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon.