Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd met with his Greek counterpart, Dimitris Droutsas, on Wednesday in Athens where they discussed matters of bilateral, regional, international and economic relations.
Following the recent developments in Egypt, both Mr Droutsas and Mr Rudd stressed their allegiance to the nation and made clear their political positions.
“I think the speech President Mubarak made can be either a new point of divergence or the springboard for democratic dialogue. I firmly believe that Egypt needs the latter,” said Mr. Droutsas.
Mr. Rudd added, “I share the sentiments reflected by the Greek Foreign Minister…We support fundamental political reform and support this process being undertaken peacefully”.
On Greece’s initiatives in relation to Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Cyprus, Rudd commended the Greek government for its diplomacy,
“We believe there are great opportunities for new agreements to be reached…we would encourage both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to seize the opportunities which now present themselves to them.”
After saying that there was “much to be done” in terms of bilateral relations, Droutsas added, “It would be of interest to know that we have become an attractive destination for investments in a number of sectors given the substantial changes that are being made now in Greece.
“In response to Greece’s current economic situation Rudd stated, “We are fully supportive of the economic reform program being implemented by Prime Minister Papandreou”.
Mr Rudd also met with the Greek Finance Minister, George Papacostantinos where amongst other things they discussed increasing bilateral ties between Greece and Australia. Mr Papacostantinos briefed the Australian Foreign Minister on plans to issue Diaspora Bonds which it is anticipated will raise $AUD409 million.
The Greek Foreign Minister, Mr. Droutsas made time to acknowledge the special historical bonds linking the two countries and thanked Australia for it’s constructive role in promoting Greek language as one of the three official languages taught in schools,
“This is a very important indication of how significant the Greeks are in Australia” says Droutsas.
He also thanked Mr Rudd “most warmly” for the inclusion of Modern Greek as one of the “three official languages taught in Australian schools.”
Mr. Rudd returned his gratitude to Greeks in Greece and Australia for their solidarity and support surrounding its spate of natural disasters and reaffirmed Australia’s longstanding comradery with Greece.
“The relationship between Australia and Greece has always been close and it will be close into the future.”
The two men also highlighted their support for the commemoration of the 70 years of the WWII Battle of Crete, where Greek partisans, Austalian Diggers and the people of Crete resisted the Nazi invaders.
Rudd said that the Battle of Crete was were the tide of the War said that the Batttle of Crete and and other battles on the mainland of Greece, “where many Australian troops fought and died, and that is one of the ties that bind our two great democracies.”
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd visited Turkey prior to Greece and while in Istanbul he met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Theological School in Halki. During the course of his visit Mr Rudd lit two candles, one of the Greek community of flood ravaged Brisbane and the other to assist him in his endeavours.
