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Karamanlis says
Greece keen
to enhance ties with
India
 Greek Prime
Minister Kostas Karamanlis.
had a four-day visit to India
and hold
talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh after the ceremonial
reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday 11/1/2008. The Greek premier
noted the existing very good cooperation between Greece and India
within international organisations, and assured Athens' support for
further expanding the United Nations Security Council. "Well, I attach
great importance to our co-operation with India, a country with a very
important economic and cultural calibre and of course with a very
distinctive role in international scene," Karamanlis said and pointed
out
that his visit would
provide a new momentum to further promote relations between India and
Greece, which would benefit the two nations.
The two premiers
discussed regional affairs in southern Asia, such as the current
situation in Afghanistan and recent developments in Pakistan, while
Karamanlis briefed Manmohan Singh in detail on the Cyprus problem and
thanked him for India's steadfast stance on this issue in recent
years. Karamanlis additionally discussed the outstanding dispute
between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
over FYROM's use of the name 'Macedonia', the situation in Kosovo and
its repercussion on the stability and security of the Balkans and
developments in Greek-Turkish relations.
Karamanlis said his
presence in India's capital demonstrated the desire of the two sides
to develop bilateral economic and cultural ties even further. "My
visit here testifies the steady progress in our bilateral relations
and our willingness to further enhance them. We have excellent
co-operation in all international organisations. We can work together
to enhance further the European Union-India relations," he added.
The bilateral economic
relations had been developing rapidly in recent years and there are
many potential areas of cooperation in business, trade, shipping and
tourism between the two countries. He also underlined Greece's role as
an economic centre for southeastern Europe and examined possible
cooperation in culture and education.
In a similar manner,
India's Foreign Ministry mentioned in a statement. "There is close
identity of views between our two sides on issues facing the world.
Today there is a desire on both sides to engage more deeply with each
other," and added "Prime Minister Karamanlis' visit will help further
strengthen the bonds of traditional friendship and goodwill and focus
attention en enhancing bilateral cooperation in a cross-sectoral
manner."
 Karamanlis arrived in
New Delhi on Thursday for a three-day official visit accompanied by
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Minister of State and
government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos and the head of his press
office Yiannis Andrianos. The Greek leaders were received at Delhi
airport by India's junior Foreign Minister Anand Sharma on Thursday
and hold discussions on Friday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice President Mohammad
Hamid Ansari, Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and other Indian
leaders but they could not meet with ruling United Progressive
Alliance chairwoman Sonia Gandhi as she was admitted to hospital.
Karamanlis and his
team visited Agra and Jaipur on Saturday before leaving for Athens
on Sunday.
Prime Minister Karamanlis offering flowers on
Gandhi Monument.
The program of the Prime
Minister has as follows:
Thursday 10
January
09:00
Departure from Athens.
18:30(l.t.)
Arrival in New Delhi.
Welcome ceremony.
Friday 11
January
10:00 Arrival
at the Presidential Palace ‘’ Rashtrapati Bhawan ’’
Reception by the Indian Prime
Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh
10:35
Arrival at Rajghat
(Gandhi Monument )
Ceremony filing garland
11:30 Meeting with Foreign
Minister of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee (Hotel ITC Maurya )
12:30 Meeting with President
of India Mrs. Pratibha Patil (Presidential Palace)
13:30 Lunch in honour of the
Prime Minister which is being organised by the Indian Chambers CII /
FICCI / ASSOCHAM (Hotel
ITC Maurya )
15:30 Visit of the Head of
Opposition Mr. L.K . Advani to the Prime
Minister (Hotel
ITC Maurya )
16:15 Meeting with the Vice
President of India Mr. Hamid Ansari in his
residence.
16:55 Meeting with President
of UPA Mrs Sonia Gandhi in her residence.
18:30
Arrival at Hyderabad
House
Meeting between the Prime
Minister with the Prime Minister of India Mr. Manmohan Singh.
20:00 Official dinner in honor
of Prime Minister by the Indian counterpart.
Saturday
12 January
11:35 Departure for Agra
14:20
Visit to Taj Mahal
15:50 Departure for Jaipur
19:45 Meeting between the
Prime Minister with the Governor of Rajastan Shri S . K .
Singh
Sunday 13
January
Departure of Prime Minister
for Athens
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