A sign of solidarity

FFO, 9/1/14
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrives in Greece today to continue his series of official visits to European partners. At the start of Greece’s EU Council Presidency, the Foreign Minister will meet a range of high-ranking representatives from the fields of politics, business and civil society for discussions in order to see the situation in the country for himself and to show solidarity with the people in Greece.


The Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson, Martin Schäfer, stated that Foreign Minister Steinmeier considered aims of his trip to be “to see the situation in Greece for himself, be informed about this year’s programme of reforms by the Greek Government and other representatives of the Greek state and society, whilst at the same time expressing the Federal Government’s support for Greece’s EU Council Presidency.” 
Steinmeier’s visit was also “a sign of solidarity with the people in Greece (...), who have been through a great deal over the course of the current reform efforts”.

“We will stand by you”

Before his trip, Foreign Minister Steinmeier commented on Greece’s efforts to reform: “The Greeks deserve great respect for their willingness to reform and the courage needed to do so”. 
In an interview with the Greek daily Ta Nea (9 January), the German Foreign Minister also stated: 

Zusatzinformationen

Our message to Europe and our partners in Greece is: we believe you will succeed! We will stand by you! (...) In these difficult times, our European partners can count on Germany’s support – that is the leitmotif of the new Federal Government in Germany.

With regard to the process of European integration, Steinmeier made it clear that “we want a European Union that is politically and economically strong whilst also socially just. These go hand in hand. (...) We must not lose sight of internal cohesion both within our societies and between the countries of Europe”.

See the situation for himself

On Thursday evening Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will first of all meet his Greek counterpart, Evangelos Venizelos, for a discussion. Then, on Friday, further political talks with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and President Karolos Papoulias will take place. In addition to this, the German Foreign Minister will meet members of the Greek Parliament as well as representatives of the business community. A discussion with pupils from the German-Greek school is also on the agenda for the visit.
auswaertiges-amt.de
9/1/14
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Related:

• Außenminister Steinmeier sagte am Tag vor seiner Reise nach Athen zu Spiegel Online (08.01.2014)