D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I would like to welcome my very good friend the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, with whom I have been in ongoing contact since yesterday afternoon, following up on everything decided on by our two Presidents during the Lebanese President’s state visit here, and on everything the Lebanese President and the Greek Prime Minister talked about in their meeting.
The message we want to broadcast from this meeting is that the relations between the two countries are being strengthened even further on all levels and across a broad range of sectors, including the sectors of investment, culture, and tourism. What I would like to stress is that the two countries have a shared perception of all the major issues. There is real will for cooperation, which will open new paths on which our two peoples can meet. The Lebanese and Greek peoples have known each other for thousands of years. History has created strong bonds of friendship and solidarity.
Today, our two countries are moving forward, each one meeting its challenges separately. At the same time, however, we are joining forces and, as I have already said, opening a new chapter in our relations; a chapter that will benefit both Lebanon and Greece. I will soon have the pleasure of welcoming my good friend and colleague on his own visit to Athens, and I in turn have accepted his invitation to visit Beirut. So, in this spirit of friendship, warm-heartedness and solidarity, we met today, sealing our mutual desire to collaborate and opening up a truly new, very important chapter in Greek-Lebanese relations.
I thank him very much for his visit, and I want him to feel truly at home. Moreover, we mustn’t forget that thirty years ago he lived in Greece for three years, and that, from what I understand, he loves Greece and considers it a second homeland. I thank and welcome him.
Α. ΜANSOUR: I thank the Greek Foreign Minister. We had talks on further cooperation between our two countries. Our two countries have an old relationship that started 3,000 years ago – in economy, trade, philosophy, literature – and continued through the ages.
Greece has always been a true friend to Lebanon, just as Lebanon has been to Greece. The two countries have supported one another on their various issues, and we hope in the future to promote these relations is various sectors: science, economy, trade, tourism. We expressed our will to follow up on all the matters we discussed. For me, Greece is a very special and friendly country. I return 30 years after I spent 3 years in Greece – 3 years that marked my life – and I feel a special sensitivity and honor for this friendly country.
We hope in the coming years to have even more cooperation, to the benefit of both friendly peoples. Thank you.
December 7, 2012