I do not think I overstep diplomatic neutrality when I say there is strong reason to wish the new Greek government success. Many of the early initiatives of the Papandreou Government point in a very positive direction. For the first time in Greece, environment, too long broadly neglected, may get the attention it deserves. Or the attention that its citizens deserve. In a new ministry, environment will be closely integrated with energy and climate change. Together with efforts for a "greening of the economy", this gives hope for sound and urgently needed policy changes. It could also open up for more bilateral cooperation between Greece and more "environmentally experienced countries", like Norway, both politically, technologically and commercially.
As always, the government has to be judged on its achievements, not on its promises and intentions. But already there is some reason to be at least hopeful.
Also non-governmental organisations, NGOs, are of vital importance for successful environmental policies. They are key to public awareness-raising, they take important initiatives and make good policy recommendations. One such NGO is Bellona, founded in Norway more than twenty years ago. Bellona has recently started activities also in Greece and has opened an office in Athens. It has already organised seminars on climate change issues, including the important topic of catching and storing the greenhouse gas CO2 (CCS). CCS is a priority area also for the Norwegian government in the fight against climate change. We welcome the "Greek Bellona-branch" and wish it success.
Norwegian Business Forum in Athens was (re-)established in November. Ten Norwegian companies with various kinds of presence in Greece joined embassy staff and representatives from MFA Oslo and Innovation Norway to discuss Corporate Social Responsibility. The Forum is meant to be an informal network for Norwegian firms that do business in Greece. Hopefully it can also help stimulate more business contacts and relationships between the two countries.
In this context I want to congratulate the oldest Norwegian firm in Greece, Det norske Veritas. DnV was recently named the best classification society globally by the world's leading maritime newspaper Lloyd's List. DnV is one of the sponsors of the embassy's cultural activities.
The Scandinavian Church in Piraeus has again held its annual Christmas bazaar. A fine and valuable tradition, that once again was a success. Not long ago it was announced that the Church will move early next year to Plaka. I wish the church a successful move, one that will hopefully be appreciated by many Nordic citizens and families in Greater Athens. But many will also miss the church in Piraeus.
As ambassador to Greece I think it is important to get to know the country as best as I can by visiting various sites also outside of Athens. In the past couple of months my wife and I have been to Rhodes and the small island of Symi in the south-east and to the Zagori-region in the north-west. We walked the Vikos Canyon, something we can recommend every hiker to do. Zagori has breathtaking sceneries (see photo), charming villages and pictoresque old stone bridges. We are constantly reminded of what a beautiful country Greece is. As is Norway, of course. We were proud last spring when we could show some of our Greek honorary consuls the spectacular islands of Lofoten.
There is no reason to compare the two countries. But most of us can probably agree that Greece and Norway are the two most beautiful countries in Europe.
Sverre Stub