Expo 2020 Dubai announced Saturday that Greece has confirmed its official participation in Expo 2020 through a letter from the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, addressed to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The letter was delivered to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Expo 2020 Committee and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines, by Greek Alternate Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura. Minister Kountoura met with Sheikh Ahmed as part of a series of meetings with UAE ministers, including Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy. Welcoming Greece's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed said: "Dubai's role as a global hub is widely recognized and it is firmly in the mind of many nations that are looking to make valuable connections, in line with the mega-event's theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'. We are delighted that Greece has become that latest nation to sign up to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai, which will further deepen the relations between our countries." Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: "The UAE warmly welcomes Greece's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. Greece's participation is testament to Expo serving as a valuable and innovative platform for all nations, across the three sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability." Minister Elena Kountoura said: "Expo 2020 Dubai represents an enviable platform for many nations to come together. Greece can particularly relate to the creation of possibilities for the youth of the world to engage and operate in an international collaborative way, in line with the Expo 2020's subthemes of ‘Opportunity', ‘Mobility' and ‘Sustainability'. At their meeting, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed and Minister Kountoura, discussed the positive results of steps taken already to strengthen the tourism relations between Greece and the United Arab Emirates. They also explored the possible development of additional direct air links between the two countries in light of increased tourist flows. — SG
