Katerina Sakellaropoulou – Frank Walter Steinmeyer: Their glasses were whipped, and Otto Rehagel was present.

The president of the Greek Republic presented an official dinner at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday night (30.10.2024). With references to Ulysses Elysses and emotion the speech of the German president. During the official dinner held by Katerina Sakellaropoulou to her German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeyer, who is making an official visit to our country, the president of the Greek Republic pointed out the common will to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations. He made reference to the invasion of Ukraine and to the ignition in the Middle East, noting that the current situation with the resulting geopolitical crises highlights the importance of the European Union’s energy and strategic autonomy, as well as its expansion. The president of Germany began his opposition, with Ulysses Elitis, recalling the words of the Greek poet at the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979, when he stated: “The only chapter in my hands a few Greek words. They are humble but alive, since they are on the lips of an entire people. They are three thousand years old but cool as if you just pulled them out of the sea (…) It’s the word sky, it’s the word sea, it’s the word sun and it’s freedom.” Frank Walter Steinmeyer argued that his country, Germany, is much closer to Greece than geographically. (CONTAINER/EUROKINISSI AGRICULTURAL) Evidently moved, in a personal speech he also mentioned yesterday’s (p.29.10.2024) visit to Thessaloniki, the city of the president of the Republic, and the visit they made to the Holocaust Museum under construction and noted that after a period of crises in Europe, some of which also burdened the relations of our two countries, we are firmly in favour of closer cooperation. He closed with four words which he connects emotionally and personally to Greece: Hospitality, warmth, trust and friendship. (CONTAINER/EUROKINISSI AGRICULTURAL) In detail the address of the President of the Hellenic Republic to Frank Walter Steinmeyer: “Your Excellency Mr. President, I am delighted to welcome you and your wife to Athens, in return for my visit to Berlin, two years ago, from which I maintain excellent memories. Your visit is a culmination of the close friendship ties that link the two peoples and our constructive cooperation in all areas. Greek and German culture have been speaking fertilely for centuries, with excellent results in the arts, letters, philosophy, science. Goethe, Hegel, Nietzsche, Mann and so many other German intellectuals were decisively influenced by the ancient Greek spirit, giving humanity timeless masterpieces. Even the Presidential Palace, in which we are located, is a model of neoclassical architecture, a typical example of Greek-German osmosis, inspired by the great German architect Ernesto Chiller. This year Germany’s presence, as an honorary country, at the Thessaloniki International Fair, reflects our common will to further strengthen bilateral economic and commercial relations, while our cooperation in the educational, cultural and archaeological fields strengthens contacts between our peoples. (CONTAINER/EUROKINISSI AGRICULTURAL) The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Middle East ignition, following Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, made it clear, in the most painful way, that peace should not be taken for granted. We recognise the right of countries to self-defence, but with absolute respect for International Humanitarian Law. At the same time, modern challenges such as the immigration and refugee issue, climate crisis and increasing accuracy shake citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions and reinforce worrying phenomena, such as the rise of populism and nationalism, even within Europe. The current situation with the emerging geopolitical crises highlights the importance of the European Union’s energy and strategic autonomy, as well as its expansion. Europe must be able to intervene actively, with a single voice, in international affairs and to defend its very standing by its own means. (CONTAINER/EUROKINISSI AGRICULTURAL) Greece is a guarantee of security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, shares the common values that Europe embodies and strives to promote and deepen them. Without hindering its national laws, it represents the value of good neighbourly relations and the peaceful resolution of international disputes, through dialogue, which presupposes inflexible respect by all the states of the region, the principles of the rule of law, human rights and international law. He will continue to do the same in his capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the two years 2025 – 2026. Your Excellency, Your Honor, I hope that your presence in Athens today will confirm the high level of our bilateral relations and contribute to the expansion of our cooperation in areas of common interest. With these wishes, I raise my glass and wish you and the friends of the people of Germany health, peace and prosperity.” (CONTAINER/EUROKINISSI AGRICULTURAL) It should be noted that at the official dinner in honor of the President of Germany Otto Rehagel, the “architect” of the epic of 2004 with our national football team, who won the top of Europe on the Portuguese courts.