Transcript - Press Conference: Donald Trump and Alexis Tsipras of Greece - October 17, 2017 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:21 (22 sec)

Thank you very much. I just want to make an initial comment that the stock market just hit an all-time record high. It broke, for the first time ever, 23,000. So we're very happy about that. I hope that Greece is going to be doing the same thing very soon. [Laughter] I think they will.

Donald Trump

00:00:21 - 00:00:38 (17 sec)

But I'm honored to welcome Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece, and he's a special man who's done a very special job. We're grateful to the Prime Minister and to his entire delegation for visiting us today at the White House.

Donald Trump

00:00:38 - 00:00:56 (18 sec)

Greece is a cradle of Western civilization -- so true -- of democracy, literature, philosophy, science, and so much else. America looks on that glorious heritage with wonder and with awe. You do indeed have a tremendous heritage, Mr. Prime Minister.

Donald Trump

00:00:56 - 00:01:19 (23 sec)

Perhaps for this reason, America's friendship with the Greek people has been long and enduring. Thomas Jefferson wrote at the dawn of the modern Greek state that "no people sympathize more"" with Greek patriots and ""none offer more sincere and ardent prayers to heaven for their success"" than the American people."

Donald Trump

00:01:19 - 00:01:32 (14 sec)

Jefferson's words are true to this day. Mr. Prime Minister, I'm proud to report that this past March, we celebrated Greek Independence Day right here at the White House. And that was great.

Donald Trump

00:01:32 - 00:01:52 (20 sec)

America and Greece draw on this common history and heritage and on our peoples' abiding commitment to freedom and sovereignty in working together on great challenges and opportunities now before us. There are tremendous opportunities before us in so many different ways.

Donald Trump

00:01:52 - 00:02:04 (11 sec)

The Prime Minister and I have just concluded a very productive discussion on the cooperation between our two countries, including on matters of defense, energy, commerce, and trade.

Donald Trump

00:02:04 - 00:02:21 (18 sec)

I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Greek people for serving as gracious hosts to our U.S. naval forces at Souda Bay. I also commend Greece for being one of the few NATO countries currently spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defense.

Donald Trump

00:02:21 - 00:02:39 (18 sec)

My administration has also informed Congress of a potential sale to Greece to upgrade its F-16 aircraft. This agreement to strengthen the Hellenic Air Force is worth up to $2.4 billion and would generate thousands of American jobs.

Donald Trump

00:02:39 - 00:03:05 (26 sec)

We also are making great strides in our economic cooperation. The American people stand with the Greek people as they recover from the economic crisis that recently afflicted their nation. I have encouraged the Prime Minister in his continued implementation of reform and reform programs, and I have totally reaffirmed our support for a responsible debt-relief plan.

Donald Trump

00:03:05 - 00:03:22 (17 sec)

A strong and flourishing Greece provides immense opportunity for American trade, investment, and job creation. I thank the Prime Minister, his predecessors, and the Greek people for their efforts to return stability and prosperity to Greece.

Donald Trump

00:03:22 - 00:03:54 (32 sec)

On energy, we appreciate Greek contributions to European energy security through its support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector, and liquefied natural gas facilities that are capable of transporting diverse sources of energy to Europe, including potential liquefied natural gas exports from the United States, of which that particular route -- and business is getting bigger and bigger and bigger, as you know.

Donald Trump

00:03:54 - 00:03:59 (5 sec)

These initiatives make both our people safer and create good jobs for our hardworking citizens.

Donald Trump

00:03:59 - 00:04:14 (14 sec)

Finally, I am also very proud that the United States will be the "Honored Country"" at next year's International Fair in Greece. This historic business and trade exhibition will showcase American technology

Donald Trump

00:04:14 - 00:04:43 (29 sec)

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you again for being here today and for your partnership in addressing critical issues facing our countries. I look forward to having many productive discussions with you, and to having a very close and warm cooperation on a wide range of shared objectives.

Donald Trump

00:04:43 - 00:04:57 (15 sec)

We will build upon our foundation of shared history and shared values to pursue a future of security, prosperity, and peace for both your nation and ours. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much.

Alexis Tsipras

00:04:57 - 00:05:28 (31 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I would like to warmly thank the President of the United States for his hospitality and for these very productive discussions we had today. The friendship between our two countries is very strong, and it's based on our common democratic principles, on the values that we jointly share as peoples.

Alexis Tsipras

00:05:28 - 00:06:03 (34 sec)

[Via Interpreter] It is correct that the founders of the United States were inspired by Ancient Greece, and the Greek revolution was inspired by the American revolution for independence. At the same time, our relationship is based -- is also based on a very dynamic diaspora of Greek people here in the U.S., which offers many -- has many to offer for both countries.

Alexis Tsipras

00:06:03 - 00:06:22 (19 sec)

[Via Interpreter] As we underlined earlier, the Greek-U.S. relationships may be at their best compared to the past since the Second World War when our peoples worked together and fought together shoulder-to-shoulder against fascism. And I do believe that there are many reasons for this.

Alexis Tsipras

00:06:22 - 00:07:00 (38 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Today, our strategy is based on mutual respect, and it is fed by the significant support provided by the U.S. to Greece and to the Greek people during the hard times of the economic crisis, support for the exit of Greece from the crisis. And at this point, I would like to just focus a bit. Greece today fulfills three basic objectives which do not only relate to Greece, but I would say that are of special significance at an international level.

Alexis Tsipras

00:07:00 - 00:07:30 (30 sec)

[Via Interpreter] First, it's dynamic coming out of a crisis, noting wonderful growth rates, and it's beginning to attract investments and increase its exports, as we see as well from the Greek-U.S. balance of trade. And it's leaving behind not only a crisis, but it's leaving behind the economic model that led to the crisis.

Alexis Tsipras

00:07:30 - 00:08:01 (31 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Second, Greece today is the most significant pillar of security cooperation in one of the most important but, at the same time, unstable, sensitive areas of the planet: a country with a dynamic, multi-dimensional foreign policy; a country which is a reliable partner and ally of the United States, which fulfills its NATO obligations.

Alexis Tsipras

00:08:01 - 00:08:34 (33 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And it is in close cooperation in the defense sector with the United States. It's a country which maintains the dialogue with Turkey despite the difficulties that we face and the challenges, but knowing the very important European course of Turkey. It's a country, also, that promotes cooperation with the Middle East and the Balkans, which contribute to the security and the growth of the area.

Alexis Tsipras

00:08:34 - 00:09:18 (44 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And third, Greece, being already pretty strong in maritime and tourism, is gradually becoming a significant crossroads for transportation and energy. I would like to mention the completion of the TAP pipeline and the EastMed pipeline; the agreement for a floating -- for an LNG station in Alexandroupolis, which is northeast Greece, and the prospect that Alexandroupolis will be an area where we can receive exports -- imports from the United States of fracking.

Alexis Tsipras

00:09:18 - 00:09:35 (18 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And I would like to mention our ports from Athens and Thessaloniki, and the promotion of strong and fast rail connections with the rest of the Balkans. And in this context, it's very clear that our strategic cooperation with the United States is becoming more important than ever.

Alexis Tsipras

00:09:35 - 00:10:10 (35 sec)

[Via Interpreter] First of all, we look forward -- because we look forward -- and this is a significant message of my visit here and my meeting with economic representatives -- we look forward to attracting U.S. investments and the more substantial support of the U.S. in our effort to exit this horrible crisis. The fact that the United States will be the honored country in 2018 in the International Fair of Thessaloniki will play a significant role in this effort.

Alexis Tsipras

00:10:10 - 00:10:31 (21 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Second, because Greece can develop dynamically in creating a pillar of stability and security only if it is freed from the fundamental national concerns in the areas of security and defense.

Alexis Tsipras

00:10:31 - 00:10:59 (28 sec)

[Via Interpreter] The United States have a significant role to play in this matter, not only in the diplomatic but also in the defense sector. And we look forward, in this context, in the fair and viable solution in this separate issue based on the decisions of the U.N. Security Council, a solution for the benefit of all Cypriots without guarantors or occupying military forces that will give a new perspective to the area.

Alexis Tsipras

00:10:59 - 00:11:21 (22 sec)

[Via Interpreter] But at the same time, we are underlining that the dangerous intervention-type presence of Turkey in the Aegean must end. It undermines on a daily basis the relationship between two NATO allies in a broader unstable and sensitive area.

Alexis Tsipras

00:11:21 - 00:11:35 (14 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Greece is a country that's always open to dialogue, but I want to be very clear: It will always protect decisively its sovereignty rights against illicit claims and disputes.

Alexis Tsipras

00:11:35 - 00:11:53 (18 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And with these thoughts, I would like to warmly thank President Trump for his -- for the wonderful discussions we held, which I believe will give a very substantial push to the existing dynamic cooperation.

Alexis Tsipras

00:11:53 - 00:12:18 (25 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And I believed and I said we created a work group between the ministers of economy, the secretaries for the economy so we can monitor the ability to have a substantial cooperation in investment, in economy, and in all sectors. Thank you very much, sir.

Donald Trump

00:12:18 - 00:12:23 (5 sec)

We'll take a few questions. John, go ahead, please.

Question

00:12:23 - 00:12:29 (5 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President. Good to see you out in the Rose Garden again. We seem to be...

Donald Trump

00:12:29 - 00:12:30 (1 sec)

Question

00:12:30 - 00:12:32 (2 sec)

You seem to do this on occasion.

Donald Trump

00:12:32 - 00:12:33 (1 sec)

It's a nice place.

Question

00:12:33 - 00:13:00 (27 sec)

I have a question for the Prime Minister in a moment, if I could. But first, sir, you said just a short time ago that Obamacare is virtually dead. Your plans for Graham-Cassidy have not been able to get off the ground in the Senate. There is no idea whether or not it will in early 2018. You've been picking around the edges, to some degree, with the executive orders, some of which critics say are helping to destroy Obamacare. So I'm wondering at this point, what is your healthcare plan, sir?

Donald Trump

00:13:00 - 00:13:19 (19 sec)

Well, if you look at insurance companies and you take a good, strong look at the numbers, you'll see, since the formation of Obamacare, they're up 400 percent, 450 percent, 250 percent, 300 percent. They've made a fortune, the insurance companies.

Donald Trump

00:13:19 - 00:13:44 (25 sec)

So when I knocked out the hundreds of millions of dollars a month being paid back to the insurance companies by politicians, I must tell you, that wanted me to continue to pay this, I said I'm not going to do it. This is money that goes to the insurance companies to line their pockets, to raise up their stock prices. And they've had a record run. They've had an incredible run, and it's not appropriate.

Donald Trump

00:13:44 - 00:13:54 (10 sec)

Obamacare is a disaster. It's virtually dead. As far as I'm concerned, it really is dead and I predicted that a long time ago. It's a concept that doesn't work. And we are very close.

Donald Trump

00:13:54 - 00:14:16 (21 sec)

We feel we have the votes, and as soon as we're finished with taxes, John -- we really feel we have the votes to get block grants into the states, where the states can much better manage this money and much better take care of the people, rather than the federal government. The state block grants -- we'll do massive block grants into the various states so that the states can run the program.

Donald Trump

00:14:16 - 00:14:35 (20 sec)

So we feel we have the votes. We're going to be doing that after the taxes. In the meantime, we're involved with a budget and then after the budget -- hopefully that gets approved -- and after the budget, assuming we have the support of all the Republicans -- because we'll have no support from the Democrats or almost no support, because they've really become just obstructionists.

Donald Trump

00:14:35 - 00:14:44 (9 sec)

They have no good policies, and frankly, they're not good politicians but they're very good obstructionists. And that's what they do well -- obstruct.

Donald Trump

00:14:44 - 00:15:00 (16 sec)

The number of nominees that I have approved by the Democrats are about half of what President Obama had. And when you look at that -- and you can look at judicial appointments, look how slow that's going. I'll have 145 ultimately, which is a tremendous number.

Donald Trump

00:15:00 - 00:15:23 (22 sec)

We'll have 17 court of appeals appointments. But they're not getting approved. They're being slow-walked by Schumer and the group of Democrats that really -- it's really disgraceful. Even people that they know they're going to approve, they take it right out to the end. They use every single minute, and I think it's a very disgraceful situation.

Donald Trump

00:15:23 - 00:15:37 (15 sec)

But Obamacare is everything but dead. The people aren't going to take it. They're not going to take it. Alaska, they had over 200 percent increase. In Arizona, they were 116 percent -- and I hear going up even higher. And the people aren't going to take that any longer.

Donald Trump

00:15:37 - 00:15:49 (12 sec)

So I think we're in great shape. I think we have the votes. And we'll be doing that right after the largest tax cuts in the history of our country are approved, hopefully sometime in the very near future.

Question

00:15:49 - 00:15:51 (2 sec)

So is Graham-Cassidy still the plan, sir?

Donald Trump

00:15:51 - 00:15:53 (2 sec)

Yeah, essentially that would be the plan. Yes, block grants.

Question

00:15:53 - 00:16:06 (12 sec)

And, Mr. Prime Minister, with respect to the President, in March of 2016 you said, at the potential for a Donald Trump presidency, "I hope we will not face this evil."" And I'm wondering if

Donald Trump

00:16:06 - 00:16:08 (3 sec)

I wish I knew that before my speech. [Laughter]

Alexis Tsipras

00:16:08 - 00:16:33 (24 sec)

[Via Interpreter] The meeting I had with the President -- his approach and the way he addresses most publics -- the U.S. is a very strong power and their ability to intervene for good are very, very important.

Alexis Tsipras

00:16:33 - 00:17:19 (46 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I want to confirm that the meeting that we had was very productive. Not a moment did I feel threatened at any time. I saw that there is a very fertile outlook here. In order to set aside any differences that we may have to find the common ground, the common ground which is really important for the relationship between our two peoples that are traditional and historical, and for our common objectives.

Alexis Tsipras

00:17:19 - 00:17:37 (18 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We need common values -- we have common values, excuse me. Don't forget that the value of democracy and freedom was born in Greece, and it's one of the basic values that traverses the American culture and American tradition.

Alexis Tsipras

00:17:37 - 00:17:52 (15 sec)

[Via Interpreter] The President today, of the U.S., continues this tradition. And I think our collaboration will be very substantial, and I'm very optimistic after our meeting that we had today.

Donald Trump

00:17:52 - 00:18:13 (22 sec)

Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. I might just add that a number of countries were a little bit nervous at the beginning. And I have very good relationships with the leaders of virtually every country I've dealt with. But the reason they were concerned was because I will not allow our country, the United States of America, to be taken advantage of by so many other countries all over the world.

Donald Trump

00:18:13 - 00:18:32 (18 sec)

If you look at our trade deficits -- massive trade deficits with virtually every country. If you look at our jobs moving out to certain countries, and the companies are leaving and they're firing the people, and the product is made elsewhere, and then it's sold back into the United States. I'm not going to be allowing that.

Donald Trump

00:18:32 - 00:18:46 (14 sec)

So I can understand how certain countries and the leaders of certain countries may feel. But we're just not going to allow the United States to be taken advantage of by other countries anymore. And there's nothing we can do about that. Thank you. Okay, you have a question.

Question

00:18:46 - 00:19:10 (25 sec)

[Inaudible] with the Greek Public TV. Mr. Prime Minister, how do you plan to attract long-term foreign direct investments in Greece? And if you can elaborate, please, on the steps that Greece is making to tackle bureaucracy and over-taxation in order to ensure investors around that world the Greece is ready for business.

Question

00:19:10 - 00:19:27 (17 sec)

And, Mr. President, if I may: Why would you encourage the U.S. companies to invest in Greece? And how can the U.S. support the Greek efforts to fully turn the page, attract investments, and manage its debt? Thank you.

Alexis Tsipras

00:19:27 - 00:19:51 (24 sec)

[Via Interpreter] First of all, one thing is to intervene legislatively to attract investment. And it's different to work on a daily basis to implement these intentions in a stable environment.

Alexis Tsipras

00:19:51 - 00:20:23 (32 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We opted to conflict with the basic illnesses of Greek public administration and to create a friendly environment for foreign investment, because this is our priority today. Investment means jobs. Jobs means less unemployment. And it means return of young people that have left Greece -- educated Greeks that have left Greece to go to other countries -- to come back to Greece.

Alexis Tsipras

00:20:23 - 00:20:45 (22 sec)

[Via Interpreter] So what did we do? We passed a law in parliament that provides a stable tax environment -- a fixed tax rate for 12 years for investments of high value. We simplified the procedures to provide licenses to investments.

Alexis Tsipras

00:20:45 - 00:21:16 (31 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We introduced the fast-track process for strategic investments. And we also made significant changes to hit and combat bureaucracy through digitization of administrative procedures in public administration. And our vision is to have a digital public administration, but that we really want to make it practice.

Alexis Tsipras

00:21:16 - 00:21:33 (17 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I, personally, have created a taskforce in the Prime Minister's office for investments so we can see whether laws are being implemented, whether there is effectiveness. And we are sending out a strong signal of political will to promote these projects.

Alexis Tsipras

00:21:33 - 00:22:06 (33 sec)

[Via Interpreter] The President asked me earlier what is happening with the Ellinikon, with the old airport, where years ago, he, himself as a businessman in the past was interested in it. And he saw, himself, the weaknesses and the illnesses of Greek public administration. I informed him it's moving along, and very soon we will see this area being formed to a very, very large real estate project in Greece, which we're hoping it will be an attraction for other investments from abroad.

Alexis Tsipras

00:22:06 - 00:22:29 (23 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I'd like to also say that Greece, for the first time, from the last country, is the first country in absorbing European funds investment capital from European structural funds. So we find ourselves at a turning point -- a point where investments can provide the ability to exit, finally, the crisis.

Alexis Tsipras

00:22:29 - 00:22:44 (15 sec)

[Via Interpreter] And the message I want to pass on to U.S. investments is that Greece is not just a tourist attraction, the best maybe in the world, but it's also an investment attraction -- and investment destination as well.

Donald Trump

00:22:44 - 00:23:04 (20 sec)

I can say that we have a great confidence in Greece. I think it's a land of tremendous potential. I know many people are looking to invest in Greece. A lot of the problems are behind it. They've had some very good leadership. They've really made done a lot of -- they've made a lot of difficult decisions.

Donald Trump

00:23:04 - 00:23:13 (9 sec)

We are helping, as you know, with a massive renovation of their air force and also of airplanes, generally, going to Greece.

Donald Trump

00:23:13 - 00:23:41 (28 sec)

They're looking at buying additional planes from Boeing. And we are helping -- we're very much involved with Greece and with helping Greece get back on its feet. We have a tremendous Greek population in this country, people whose heritage is Greece. And we love that country, special country, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. So I think it's got great potential, and we are helping it along.

Donald Trump

00:23:41 - 00:23:45 (4 sec)

Okay. Jennifer, you want to go?

Question

00:23:45 - 00:23:48 (3 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President.

Donald Trump

00:23:48 - 00:23:48 (0 sec)

Question

00:23:48 - 00:24:04 (15 sec)

I have a question for both of you, but let me start with you, Mr. President. Let me give you a quick question about the Federal Reserve. Do you have any other candidates that you're looking at other than Powell, Yellen, the five that have already been named? Are you looking at anyone besides those folks?

Donald Trump

00:24:04 - 00:24:10 (7 sec)

I would say within those five you'll probably get the answer. And I'll be making this decision over the next fairly short period of time.

Question

00:24:10 - 00:24:12 (2 sec)

Can you say who your favorite is at this point?

Donald Trump

00:24:12 - 00:24:15 (2 sec)

Honestly, I like them all.

Question

00:24:15 - 00:24:16 (1 sec)

[Laughter] Okay.

Donald Trump

00:24:16 - 00:24:21 (5 sec)

I do. I have a great respect for all of them. But I'll make a decision over the next very short period of time.

Question

00:24:21 - 00:24:25 (4 sec)

Can I ask you a quick Obamacare question as well, even though John Roberts asked as well?

Donald Trump

00:24:25 - 00:24:26 (0 sec)

Question

00:24:26 - 00:24:35 (10 sec)

Apparently, Lamar Alexander has said he's made a deal with Senator Patty Murray to stabilize Obamacare. Has the White House been involved in those negotiations? And will you support that deal?

Donald Trump

00:24:35 - 00:24:59 (24 sec)

Yes, we have been involved. And this is a short-term deal because we think, ultimately, block grants going to the states is going to be the answer. That's a very good solution. We think it's going to not only save money but give people much better healthcare with a very, very much smaller premium spike -- and you look at what has gone on with that -- also, much lower deductibles so they can use it.

Donald Trump

00:24:59 - 00:25:12 (13 sec)

Lamar has been working very, very hard with the Democratic -- his colleagues on the other side, and Patty Murray is one of them, in particular. And they're coming up and they're fairly close to a short-term solution.

Donald Trump

00:25:12 - 00:25:28 (16 sec)

The solution will be for about a year or two years, and it will get us over this intermediate hump because we have -- as you probably know, we have -- we either have the votes or we are very close to having the votes. And we will get the votes for having, really, the potential of having great healthcare in our country.

Donald Trump

00:25:28 - 00:25:55 (26 sec)

So they are indeed working, but it is a short-term solution so that we don't have this very dangerous little period -- including dangerous periods for insurance companies, by the way. For a period of one year, two years, we will have a very good solution. But we're going to have a great solution, ultimately, for healthcare. And they are working together and I know very much what they're doing.

Question

00:25:55 - 00:26:02 (8 sec)

Mr. Prime Minister, on Turkey, do you still regard Turkey as a democracy? And should Turkey remain a member of NATO?

Alexis Tsipras

00:26:02 - 00:27:03 (61 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I have to say that despite our concerns regarding Turkey, despite the concerns that are also based on the daily Turkish intervention in the region, nevertheless we continue to support the Turkish course towards Europe. We respect it as a regional power and we believe that it must stay oriented toward the European perspective, oriented to its collaboration with the West, and stably oriented towards NATO. We do believe that the European outlook -- perspective of Turkey can also be a lever of pressure so that we can have those reforms towards the democratization of the domestics of the country.

Alexis Tsipras

00:27:03 - 00:27:35 (32 sec)

[Via Interpreter] So my answer to your question is relatively easy. Yes, we do believe that Turkey must remain within NATO and its European course. But on the other side, we have to ensure -- and we must make it clear to this ally of ours and to its government that the road to Europe, and this day and the collaboration with the West, carries with it certain conditions and certain responsibilities.

Alexis Tsipras

00:27:35 - 00:28:10 (35 sec)

[Via Interpreter] One of the most necessary conditions is to respect international law, to collaborate, and not promote tension with allied countries such as Greece. This is our basic direction. And I do believe -- I had the opportunity to go in detail on this matter with President Trump to explain the need for the fulfillment of these conditions so that there are clear messages. Also, toward the Turkish administration.

Question

00:28:10 - 00:28:44 (34 sec)

Mr. Prime Minister, how do you, as Greeks, like to hear about the -- strategic importance of Greece and the region? What is your government planning to do to enhance this role for the benefit of the bilateral relationship? And for specifically in Souda Bay, are there any plans you have for it?

Question

00:28:44 - 00:29:08 (24 sec)

And, Mr. President, you praised Greece's role in NATO with the contribution and in Souda Bay amid the volatile region of the Eastern Mediterranean. What do you see as the potential of Greece being as a pillar of stability in the region? And what would the U.S. like to see happening in order for Greece to achieve its potential? Thank you.

Donald Trump

00:29:08 - 00:29:40 (32 sec)

Well, I'd just start by saying that I think it has a great role in stability in the area. We have a feeling that it will get stronger and stronger. Very stable people. It's got the potential to be -- once it gets over this tremendous financial hurdle that it's in the process of working out, we think that there will be great stability in Greece, and militarily and in every way we look at it as very important, and very important to the United States.

Donald Trump

00:29:40 - 00:29:58 (17 sec)

We have great confidence in Greece as a nation. We have great confidence in what they're doing relative to their military, because I know they have plans to do some terrific things. And we know they will be an ally for many, many years to come.

Donald Trump

00:29:58 - 00:30:21 (23 sec)

You know, they've always been a very reliable ally, and we've always been very reliable to them. So we look forward to that for many years. We're going to be friends for many, many years, and stability is very important. And we look upon that, with respect to Greece, as being a key. Thank you.

Alexis Tsipras

00:30:21 - 00:31:11 (49 sec)

[Via Interpreter] As regards the initiatives that we're going to be taking, but also regarding the initiatives that we have taken to broaden the strategic role of Greece as a reliable partner, both in the EU and NATO, I'd like to say that from the first moment we took over the administration, we moved -- we proceeded to a new dogma through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but as a basic aim to enhance the role of Greece as a country that is a pillar of security and stability in a very sensitive and unstable area -- region.

Alexis Tsipras

00:31:11 - 00:31:43 (32 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We enhanced our collaboration with two significant partners in the area -- Egypt and Israel, and Greece Cyprus with Israel and Greece Cyprus with Egypt, and with other countries in the area such as Jordan, Lebanon. Our goal is that, through these multilateral collaborations, to ensure the collaboration, stability, peace, and joint development, joint growth in this area.

Alexis Tsipras

00:31:43 - 00:32:14 (31 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Of course, Greece for a number of years has been playing, as underlined earlier -- it plays the role of a reliable ally of the U.S., but it also has a unique different feature. Greece may be talking with the Arab world, with other countries in the East. So it's not just a NATO member. It's a useful ally for the United States of America.

Alexis Tsipras

00:32:14 - 00:32:30 (16 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Now, as regards Crete and Souda Bay, we all know it is of special strategic importance, and we evaluated it -- jointly evaluated it, and I think that we're doing good work there. And it can, and it must, be upgraded and enhanced.

Donald Trump

00:32:30 - 00:32:58 (28 sec)

Well, I want to thank everybody. And the Prime Minister came out here and he said, this is so beautiful. I said, this is the Rose Garden. And I think even the media likes the Rose Garden. [Laughter] That's hard to believe, but even the media likes it. Mr. Prime Minister, it's been a great honor having you, and we look forward to many, many years of friendship, working together. And keep up the good work. Thank you very much.

Alexis Tsipras

00:32:58 - 00:33:02 (4 sec)

Thank you very much. Thank you. [Applause]