P. MOLYVIATIS: Welcome, my dear friend and colleague.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I am also honored by the second, but the first is more important. You know of the deep love and respect I have for you. I believe that it is no coincidence that the homeland comes to you whenever it needs your services. I thank you very much for the very good cooperation we have on confronting the so very important issue of migration – as well as other issues – and I also thank Alternate Foreign Minister Flogaitis.
Throughout this time, a major effort has been under way. You know that this issue also has geopolitical dimensions – it is something that links internal and foreign policy – and I just finished a round of meetings with many, many countries, neighbours and others, to look at how we can confront this issue.
Greece has found its stride again, is better organized, because at first things weren’t like this, and throughout this time everyone has really contributed to the reception system’s starting to function. Of course, the system is still under a great deal of pressure.
This problem will continue as long as instability prevails and our wider neighbourhood is in a state of war. These people want to escape from war and persecution.
Europe must defend its principles and values, and Greece, in my opinion, should be on the front line, because these values started here and must be preserved so that we, as Europe and as Greece, can find our pace again, our organization and our effectiveness. This is my view.
P. MOLYVIATIS: Mr. Commissioner, my dear friend. I am very pleased at this visit and I thank you for the briefing you gave me. I want to express my gratitude and my deep appreciation for the work you are doing. You are in a very responsible position in a very important sector, and the work you are doing is not just important, but also very beneficial for both Europe and Greece. I thank you very much for the work you are carrying out with so much success, the way you know how to do it.
September 18, 2015