Sakellaropoulou meets Dutch royals; excellent relations between Greece and Netherlands confirmed

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The excellent level of the relations between Greece and the Netherlands was confirmed during a meeting between President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and the King and Queen of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander and Maxima, who are carrying out a three-day official visit to Athens and Thessaloniki.

Welcoming the Dutch royal couple at the Presidential Mansion, Sakellaropoulou underlined that “Greece attaches great importance to strengthening relations with the Netherlands in all possible fields” and added that the two countries are connected by long ties of friendship, as well as being partners in the European Union and allies in NATO.

“We hoped that your visit would take place under better conditions after the pandemic. At this moment, Europe is facing a war that threatens the security architecture created after World War II,” Sakellaropoulou said and underlined:

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine made it clear that questioning the sovereignty of a state and the use of force against its territorial integrity constitute one of the major challenges facing Europe, as well as the world.”

The President also stated that “in this geopolitical situation it is particularly important to condemn revisionism, wherever it comes from,” and added: “The joint condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine by all [EU] member-states and, of course, beyond Europe – but I am referring to Europe at this moment – has shown the strength and unity that Europe needs to defend its common values and the most fundamental principles of international law.”

On his part, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, after warmly thanking President Sakellaropoulou for her invitation, underlined that their visit to Greece “provides another opportunity to strengthen our already close ties” and added that “for us, every visit to Greece and Athens is like returning to our home.”

He also pointed out that “Greece and the Netherlands are linked by long ties, they have an important history – 70 years together we are allies in NATO, 40 years members of the EU – but obviously now the geopolitical conditions are also different.”

King Willem-Alexander made a special reference to the migration issue, underlining that “it is an issue that concerns all of Europe and therefore we should solve it together. When we talk about Europe’s borders, your borders are our borders. Hence it is imperative that we find a solution together.”

Source: ANA – MPA

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