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- Русский
The sea unites people. I want to congratulate all those who took the initiative three years ago to launch this festival.
It is important to recognize the role of those who start such important initiatives.
I want to thank very much the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs for further developing this initiative, having been informed of the massive presence that exists today.
What I would like to keep from today's event is both a goal and a priority of our own governance. And I am glad to see young people here, I think it is an area where we can clearly do more, to bring our young people closer to the professions that arise from working with the sea.
The sea is not only recreation, it is of course recreation, it is something that relaxes us all, but especially when we are talking about an island like our country, we have to do more to bring young people closer to the professional opportunities, and there are so many that arise from working with the sea and, I repeat, it is a priority of our Government.
I conclude by letting you know that we believe as an EU Member State that the EU does not give due importance to the geostrategic role and geostrategic importance of shipping. And recently I also had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister of Malta in Iceland. I have discussed the issue with the Greek Prime Minister and we have launched an initiative, which immediately after the elections in Greece will be translated into a specific letter-demand to the European Commission, I know very well that it is a request of the private sector that deals with shipping issues in Cyprus and Greece, so that within the framework of the new European Commission that will be appointed in 2024 there will be a Commissioner who will deal with shipping issues.
