On the second day of his official visit to Greece, the Prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, the Minister of the Economy, Andrej Vizjak, and a delegation of over 70 business representatives met the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Anna Psarouda-Benaki, and the Mayor of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and President of Greece Karolos Papoulias (Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

At the reception with Mr Papoulias, the host and Mr Janša discussed European issues, focusing on solving the EU institutional crisis and the Western Balkans, where both countries have major political and economic interests. "We would like to contribute as much as possible to stabilising the region, for it to become a region of progress, whose people are focused on the future and not the past," said the PM. "From the economic point of view, the interest of both Slovenia and Greece is direct, which reflects in a large number of companies established there," he added. Slovenes have founded over 1,000 companies in the region, and the Greeks over 3,500, altogether creating more than 200,000 jobs. "These are the key things the people of the region need to focus on the future and to bear the fruit of economic progress," said the PM, adding that this cannot be done without foreign investment and the assistance of the economies, particularly those bordering the region, which know the situation best. "In the area between Slovenia and Greece there lies a challenge for our cooperation," said the PM.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis (Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

At the meeting of Mr Janša with the Mayor of Athens, both expressed interest in strengthening cooperation between Ljubljana and Athens. The host bestowed on Mr Janša the title of Honorary Citizen of Athens, which according to the PM, is a particular honour, as the Greek capital is the cradle of Western civilisation.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and President of Parliament Anna Pasrouda-Benaki (Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

The meeting in the Hellenic Parliament largely focused on efforts to establish the Mediterranean University. The President of the Parliament, Anna Psarouda-Benaki, currently presiding over the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly, supported the initiative for one of the seats of this institution to be in Slovenia. The PM expressed satisfaction over the fact that the initiative had gathered rather wide support, which is particularly important in the light of the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, which coincides with the Slovenian presidency of the EU next year.

Prime Minister Janez Janša during laying of a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier (Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

During his official visit to Greece, the PM also placed a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.