On Friday, 7 June, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos participated as the guest of honour in a luncheon hosted, at Zappion’s Aigli, by Irish Ambassador Charles Sheehan for all the EU member-state ambassadors to Athens, marking the completion of the Irish EU Presidency.
Mr. Avramopoulos briefed the ambassadors on the whole range of Greek foreign policy issues, as well as on the recent diplomatic initiatives of the Greek government.
Having pointed up data indicating the prospects for the Greek economy’s recovery, Mr. Avramopoulos referred to the Cyprus issue, the FYROM name issue, and regional and energy security issues. He also briefed the ambassadors on the results of his recent visits to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, as well as on Greece’s positions on the Middle East problem and the crisis in Syria.
He also talked about the Kosovo issue and the escalation of nationalism in the wider region, stressing the importance of the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
Finally, he congratulated Mr. Sheehan on the work done by the Irish Presidency and presented the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency in the first half of 2014.
June 7, 2013