Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the visiting Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Wednesday, October 30. The leaders engaged in discussions focused on international developments, the future of Greek-German relations and the enhancement of cooperation within the European Union.
Mitsotakis expressed his gratitude to Steinmeier for his upcoming visit to Kandanos, Crete, highlighting the significance of acknowledging the Nazi atrocities that occurred on the island during World War II. “I think it’s a very important gesture,” he stated, underscoring the emotional weight of the visit.
The Prime Minister addressed the enduring issue of German war reparations, specifically mentioning the forced occupation loan. He remarked, “For Greece, the matter of reparations and especially the forced occupation loan are issues that are still very much alive, and we hope that at some point we will resolve them.”
During the meeting, Mitsotakis also highlighted Greece’s positive economic trajectory, noting, “Greece is doing very well, much better in the field of the economy.” He stressed the importance of cooperation on significant challenges such as competitiveness and migration, emphasising, “We must cooperate to resolve them.”
Συναντήθηκα με τον Πρόεδρο της Ομοσπονδιακής Δημοκρατίας της Γερμανίας, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Συζητήσαμε για τις διεθνείς εξελίξεις, τις προοπτικές των ελληνογερμανικών σχέσεων και την ενίσχυση της ελληνογερμανικής συνεργασίας και στο πλαίσιο της ΕΕ. https://t.co/zZwbl738HZ pic.twitter.com/tiPmqusoCg
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 30, 2024
Steinmeier reciprocated the sentiments, saying, “I am happy to be back in Greece and to say that I remember both the easy periods in our bilateral relations, but also the difficult ones.”
“I am very happy that Greece has returned to the course of economic growth, fuelling our bilateral economic transactions,” he added.
Looking ahead, Steinmeier expressed hope for the continued development of Greek-German relations, both economically and culturally. He stated, “I therefore hope that our bilateral relations, not only economic but also exchanges in the cultural field and between the two peoples, will develop in the coming years, in the context of a democratic Europe, which represents freedom worldwide and will be a place where it is worthwhile for one to live.”
The meeting underscored a commitment to strengthening ties between Greece and Germany, as both leaders emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges while acknowledging the historical context that shapes their relationship.
