Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed, at Maximos Mansion, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is paying his first official visit to Greece.
At the beginning of their meeting, the two leaders had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: It’s a real pleasure to welcome you to Αthens. I would just like to make a point of how much we value the partnership between our two countries. I think this visit is really an opportunity to look at how we can further strengthen our relationship, especially on the economic front. Greece is now making significant progress in terms of its economic growth. And, of course, to discuss regional developments. So it’s a real pleasure to welcome you here to Athens, and to reciprocate your lovely hospitality when I had an opportunity to visit Doha.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani: First of all, my dear friend, Kyriakos, thank you very much for this invitation. I’m very happy to be here for my first official visit. As you mentioned, we have a great historic relationship, but I think it’s an opportunity for us to strengthen those bilateral relationships, especially when it comes to the economy and investments. I’m really looking forward to this meeting. Of course, we’re going to be speaking about regional issues as well, especially what’s going on in Gaza. So I’m really looking forward to this meeting.Thank you very much.
During the meeting and the extended talks, which were attended by the delegations of both sides, the mutual will to strengthen Greek-Qatar relations was confirmed, which was sealed with the signing of two agreements: the Military Cooperation Agreement between the Greek Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Defence of Qatar and the Memorandum of Cooperation for the conduct of political consultations on issues of common interest between the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.
They also discussed the strengthening of cooperation in a number of areas, with emphasis on the economy and investments, as well as energy and culture.
The Prime Minister outlined the wide range of investment opportunities offered by Greece, due to its geostrategic position, its connection to the markets of the Balkans, Southeast Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, as well as the initiatives it has undertaken in infrastructure development, such as the Alexandroupolis FSRU.
Moreover, they exchanged views on international and regional developments, with emphasis on the situation in Gaza. The Prime Minister reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, and underlined his growing concern about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his appreciation for Qatar’s role in the Gulf region, particularly with regard to the Gaza crisis, and stressed that good relations between Greece and Qatar contribute to stability in the region.
The expanded talks were attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis, Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis, the Director of the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office, Ambassador Anna-Maria-Eleni Bura, the Greek Ambassador to Qatar Ioannis Ioannidis, the Head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Office Alexis Patelis and the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Global Affairs and Strategic Communications, Aristotelia Peloni.
