Hollande arrives in Athens for official visit
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
French President Francois Hollande, arriving in Athens on a two-day official visit, touched down in Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos international airport on a stormy Thursday afternoon.
He was met informally at the airport by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who joined him in the motorcade that made its way to Syntagma Square, where he was met by Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos for a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament.
The French President then headed to the presidential mansion, where Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos received the former for an official reception ceremony, followed by talks between the two men.
In a ceremony immediately afterwards, Hollande was presented with the Greece’s highest decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer medal, followed by an official dinner hosted by Pavlopoulos.
The French president is accompanied by French Finance Minister Michel Sapin, French National Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin, as well as Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir, the 1st Secretary of the Socialist Party, and members of the French Parliament.
The French delegation accompanying Hollande also includes a large number of business people that intend to explore potential opportunities for investment in Greece.
Hollande will address the Greek Parliament on Friday at noon. He will refer to the road map that the country will have to follow, the banks recapitalisation, and he will reiterate his own proposals for democratisation in the EU and the eurozone.
In his first statements to the press, Hollande said his visit shows his country’s support and friendship towards Greece.
“My visit is a visit of support and friendship,” after he had laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in central Athens. “Greece and France have a common history going back many years and France fought to get Greece into the European Union and is fighting today to keep it in,” he added.
Hollande also commented on the refugee crisis, saying the EU must support Greece because its borders are Europe’s borders. Asked by journalists whether the country’s debt will be discussed, he responded: “Of course France intends to bring the issue on the negotiating table and relieve Greece from this burden and Greece must move on with the necessary reforms.”
ANA-MPA, ATHENS