PM Tsipras: Strengthening Relations Is A Strategic Choice; Sanctions Are Not A Solution
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Athens on Friday is the culmination of a series of high-level meetings held recently and marks the restart of the relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tsipras spoke about the agreements signed on bilateral cooperation in the sectors of energy, transport, tourism, shipbuilding, mining and pharmaceuticals. They also discussed promoting partnerships in the agri-food sector. “Energy constitutes a key area of economic development for Greece and the region and our strategic aim is for Greece to become an energy hub,” the Greek premier said.
He also noted that this cooperation is a strategic choice for Greece, not just because of historical ties, but because it constitutes an integral part of an active foreign policy for Greece. He said the country has stable alliances with the West “but doesn’t hesitate to extend its branches north, towards the Balkans, the wider Black Sea neighborhood, the south, in North Africa, the Middle and Far East.”
ANA-MPA