PM SAMARAS CONTINUES CABINET MEETINGS AHEAD OF VISIT TO CHINA

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is holding a series of consecutive meetings on Tuesday with Cabinet members ahead of his visit to China (May 15-19) at the Maximos mansion (government's headquarters).

On Monday evening, Samaras addressed the inauguration in Greece of Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation, saying that the significant spiritual centre’s influence expands far beyond Germany and its founding Christian Social Union (CSU).

Samaras took the opportunity to welcome in the audience CSU eurodeputy Makcus Ferber, “an old friend of mine, together with whom we have given several battles, especially in the Committee on Budgets of the European Union.”

The Greek premier said that that the presence of the Siedel institution in Greece had a dual meaning, a real and a symbolic meaning.

Referring to Greece, Samaras said that Greeks are starting to regain the idea of “who they are” and their European perspective. “All the ideals that have marked the best moments in our history are now being revived amidst the recent crisis and form the springboard to overcome the crisis. At the same time, they help Europe to overcome the crisis.”

Greece has managed to reverse its downward course through sacrifices, showing Europe that it can overcome its problems, the premier said.

“A year ago Greece was an example to be avoided. Today the perceived success of Greece, the so-called Greek success story, is becoming a symbol of renewed European dynamics,” Samaras noted.