E. VENIZELOS: The President of Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, and I had a very substantial, interesting conversation about national issues in a climate of national understanding. On these issues, there has to be a solid domestic front, because we are going through a period of multiple crises, and Greece must always be a point of stability. We have the list of pending national issues. We must ensure de-escalation of tension and the defence of national interests. To achieve this, through ongoing negotiations, all Greeks need to have a shared perception of these issues, and I believe that my meeting with Mr. Tsipras helped in that direction.
JOURNALIST: Was this shared perception extended to domestic political issues, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister?
E. VENIZELOS: Let’s stick to the foreign policy issues, which should hold a prominent position in public opinion. We are very well aware of the anxiety of every household and every business with regard to the economy, but without national security and without a foreign policy that keeps the country secure and stable, we do not achieve our goal.
December 1, 2014