Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos met at the Foreign Ministry today, Wednesday, 5 November, with the Chairman of the Consultative Assembly (Shura Council) of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh. Below is the text of their statements to the news media:
E. VENIZELOS: It is a great pleasure to welcome you here. Saudi Arabia is a country that plays a decisive role in all of the developments in the Middle East and the wider region. And for us, our bilateral relations at the highest possible level are a strategic choice. Your visit provides an excellent opportunity for us to exchange views and to send a message of deep appreciation to His Highness, the King of Saudi Arabia. At a time when we have a great number of crises throughout the region, Saudi Arabia’s stabilizing role is extremely important. So we have the opportunity today to talk not just about our bilateral issues, but also about the major regional issues, because we think we can undertake joint initiatives in the direction of stability, peace and prosperity.
CHAIRMAN OF THE SHURA COUNCIL: Mr. President, thank you very much. I am very happy to be meeting with you. We are very well aware of your role, your position: that of Deputy Prime Minister as well as Foreign Minister. As you so correctly put it, the two countries’ relations are historical. Greece’s political stance and strategy in recent years, as well as further in the past, has always been a factor for stability in the region. This is no coincidence, as Greece’s historical role is well known throughout the world. Because we in Saudi Arabia and in the countries of the Gulf believe that the economic problems that Greece is facing at the current time are temporary, not permanent. And so we hope, Your Excellency, that today’s meeting, like this trip, will be the foundation for a future economic and trade cooperation that is very effective.
E. VENIZELOS: We are ready for this cooperation. Thank you very much.
November 5, 2014