FM meets with Egyptian ambassador, talks with counterparts over Egypt and Syria

Venizelos said “stability in Egypt is a global issue and because Greece and Egypt are linked with close historic bonds – we have the Alexandria Patriarchate there, the Greek communities, and Greek businesses – there is an additional interest in the situation developing

Asked about the situation in Syria, Venizelos said “we want the use of chemical weapons to be condemned unequivocally; that is a heinous crime, it offends every humanitarian ideal, it offends international law. The reaction must be clear and absolute”.

Venizelos asserted that we “are preparing ourselves from every point of view and we are in contact with all the European and other countries, because we also have very close cooperation with the countries of the Arab world”.

The Foreign Minister also held telephone conversations with counterparts of his on Syria and Egypt. According to an announcement by the Foreign Ministry, Venizelos held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with European Union High Commissioner Catherine Ashton. He also held telephone conversations on issues related to both Syria and Egypt with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and his Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders.

Venizelos communicated with Antioch Patriarch Ioannis as well, with whom he discussed the situation in Syria and the need for the protection of Christian populations in particular.

Lastly, the Foreign Minister will be meeting Mt. Sinai Archbishop Damianos at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, due to the crucial situation prevailing in the Sinai peninsula and particularly in the region close to the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine.

Source: AMNA