The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, received the Letters of Credence of His Excellency Mr. George Psiachas, Ambassador-Designate of the Hellenic Republic of Greece to Seychelles an official statement issued in Victoria,Teusday,has disclosed.
The accreditation ceremony the statement said,was held in the morning at State House. During their discussions,it added, President Herminie congratulated the new Ambassador of Greece and highlighted that Seychelles and Greece have enjoyed warm and longstanding f relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in July 1980.
The President further expressed Seychelles’ appreciation for Greece’s advocacy on climate change and its implications for national security, as well as for convening the high-level debate on maritime security during its tenure as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, which concludes in December 2026.
With regard to climate change and the shared challenges faced by both countries, the President emphasised the importance of Greece’s continued support in advocating for reforms within international financial institutions, including the implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), to ensure fairer access to financing for vulnerable nations.
Other matters discussed included military cooperation, the Blue Economy, education, and tourism. The President noted that Seychelles and Greece share several common characteristics and emphasised the importance of preserving cultural authenticity as part of strengthening destination appeal.
He proposed collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism of Seychelles and the Ministry of Tourism of Greece to facilitate the exchange of expertise and skills for the mutual benefit.
On health cooperation, the President highlighted the desire of the Ministry of Health’s interest in reviving the bilateral protocol signed in 1988 and to explore new avenues of collaboration. He also noted that there are currently three Seychellois students pursuing their master’s degree in psychology in Greece.
For his part, the newly accredited Ambassador noted that both countries depend heavily on tourism, and similar characteristics, describing them as nations of “the sun and the sea”, with tourism sectors that remains highly vulnerable to external disruptions, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly affected both nations.
On maritime security, Ambassador Psiachas explained that Greece maintains one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, underscoring the country’s strong focus on maritime security and mentioned that tomorrow he will pay a visit to the Regional Coordination of Operation Centre at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Civil Affairs to debrief on matters around Somali Piracy phenomenon in the Indian Ocean.
Ambassador Psiachas also highlighted the shared challenges facing both countries today, particularly climate change, organized crime, and evolving geopolitical uncertainties around the world.
In this regard, President Herminie noted that Seychelles continued to experience economic pressures arising from global geopolitical tensions, contributing to inflationary pressures and impacts on tourism. He emphasised the importance of drawing lessons from these challenges and developing innovative approaches and new sources of economic resilience.
Present at the meeting were the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ian Madeleine; Director General for Bilateral Affairs Ms Lindy Ernesta; and Desk Officer Ms Elaine Naiken.
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STATE HOUSE NEWS