President Sakellaropoulou on official visit to Slovakia

President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou confirmed the excellent relations between Greece and Slovakia in a meeting with her Slovakian counterpart Zuzana Čaputová on Thursday, during an official visit to Bratislava.

After a reception ceremony, the two presidents had a meeting at the presidential palace, following by talks between the delegations of the two sides.

In a joint press conference, Sakellaropoulou expressed her satisfaction that her visit coincides with the 20th anniversary since Slovakia joined the European family, following the signature of the relevant treaty in Athens in 2003.

She also noted that her meeting with Čaputová established the excellent level of bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest, such as defence cooperation, civil protection, energy and tourism. She said there was a constructive exchange of views on current regional and international developments.

The Greek president referred to geopolitical issues, such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and the need to get humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population, as well as Greece's participation in the EU operation "Aspides" in the Red Sea.

She briefed her Slovakian counterpart on the course of Greek-Turkish relations and reiterated the need to resume talks on a solution to the Cyprus issue, while noting her discussion with Čaputová regarding the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union.

The two sides also agreed that there was no time to waste, or for compromises for political and economic reasons, as regards the climate crisis.

Sakellaropoulou was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Kotsiras.