Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met this morning at Maximos Mansion with the Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa.
During their meeting, they discussed issues of European and regional interest, with a focus on the latest developments in Ukraine and the Middle East.
They also exchanged views on common national and European challenges, such as the economic consequences of a prolonged crisis in the Middle East, the strengthening of common European defense, and migration.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister and his Latvian counterpart had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Welcome to Athens and thank you for bringing us some rain. It is most welcomed. Αs you know, the European south has been suffering from a persistent drought. But, thank God, this winter was very good, so we managed to replenish all our water reservoirs. You don’t have these types of problems in Northern Europe, but what we certainly share is a general concern about the overall geopolitical developments from Ukraine to the Middle East. So it’s a great opportunity to discuss these issues and to foster stronger ties between our two countries.
It’s been quite some time since a leader from your country has visited Greece. So it’s a great pleasure to welcome you here to Athens to discuss also the topics that we will be addressing at the upcoming European Council. So again, welcome.
Evika Siliņa: Thank you for your warm welcome here. And yes, we actually brought some rain. We know how desperately you need it.
We, as well, are very grateful for actually good coordination and good friendship we have with you, Kyriakos, as we are in one family of EPP. And I know how much you care about what’s happening in Greece as well as in Europe, and you always are very active on all the matters which can bring Europe stronger together.
So I really appreciate your personal leadership, as well as your support to what’s happening in Ukraine, because I believe without that, it would be very hard for all of our European friends to stay together. As well as we understand how difficult the situation with Hormuz is right now here. Therefore, as well, I’m here today, because we understand the situation here in this part of the world, and we as well care of that.
So therefore, I’m here, from the side of Latvia, from Eastern Europe and I know we share the same situation with migration. Our people, our border guards are here working hard as well, helping you.
So, one more time, thank you for your very warm welcome.
