Greek PM inaugurates exhibition celebrating the sea at UN HQ in New York

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the opening ceremony of an art exhibition paying homage to Greece’s rich maritime tradition at UN headquarters in New York this week.

“All these seascapes tell an interesting story about the multidimensional role of the sea, as both a natural element, and inspiration, but also as part of our cultural heritage and as an enabler of economic activity,” said Mitsotakis, commenting on the show.

The exhibition, titled “Thalatta” after the classical Greek word for the sea, coincides with the month that Greece holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.  Greece is also an elected member of the UNSC for 2025-2026.  

“Earlier today I had the unique opportunity to chair the high-level open debate on a topic we should all deeply care about: that is maritime security, which is one of the six priorities of our tenure in the UN Security Council. After all, Greece is a seafaring nation, with strong maritime interests. The sea is an integral part of our geography, of our history, of our culture, of our identity,” Mitsotakis said at the May 20 opening ceremony.

The exhibition comprises 11 original pieces by top contemporary Greek artists from the National Gallery in Athens.

“Above all, the message of this ‘Thalatta’ exhibition is about the timeless significance of the sea to facilitate not just trade but also communication and exchanges between peoples; in other words to connect us. All the world’s continents are connected by oceans. We rely on the seas and the oceans and on the freedom of navigation for the proper functioning of our economies but also for ensuring that we don’t do irreparable damage to our natural environment,” Mitsotakis said.

Source: ekathimerini.com