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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-12-12
CONTENTS
[01] Pavlopoulos to Hollande: We must fight for a strong and prosperous
Europe
[01] Pavlopoulos to Hollande: We must fight for a strong and prosperous
Europe
Greeks are ready to fight for a strong and prosperous Europe based on
its core values, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Monday evening
at the formal dinner held in his honour by French President Francois
Hollande in Paris, following a joint press conference.
"I bring in my luggage from Athens the fundamental principles of the
European Union and based on these principles, I came to join forces
together with the other partners with whom we share a common European
consciousness and a corresponding anxiety, to defend the EU's future
at a critical juncture, when clouds are gathering ominously over the
European sky (…) We Greeks are ready not to compromise for a Europe
without prospects and social cohesion, but for a Europe which is strong
and prosperous, based on its core values," he said.
According to the Greek President, the main problem in Europe is migration
and finding a solution – a problem which first requires an end to the
war in Syria. "And for Syria, we need cooperation between Europe, the
United States and Russia," he said and added: "We have to (…) resolve
the refugee issue of 'epic proportions', as [U.S.] President Barack
Obama said. But in a way that fit European humanism and European culture."
Speaking to Hollande, Pavlopoulos noted that Greeks are trying to resolve
their problems while maintaining a European path, believing that their
problems are also Europe's problems, citing the recent questioning of
the Lausanne Treaty as an example.
"Whoever questions the Treaty of Lausanne, which is an integral part
of international law, harms international law and jeopardizes his
own status as a democratic member of the international community,"
he said. "We Greeks see this threat not only for the Greek borders,
but for the borders of Europe, therefore we feel that we are defending
international legality as well as Europe."
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