PM Tsipras meets US VP Biden; discuss critical issues
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with US Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Discussion focused on the Greek economic programme, the refugee issue, the Greek American cooperation, especially in energy investments, the Cyprus issue as well as the FYROM name issue.
The American Vice-President highlighted the importance of stability in Greece for the wider stability in Europe. In this context, he underlined that the first evaluation should be completed in time to reveal the dynamics of the Greek economy. The Prime Minister welcomed the initiatives of the US Vice-President to enhance in Greek-US economic relations and further promote US investment in Greece.
Refugee issue: Tsipras and Viden welcomed the significant efforts of Greece for humane and effective management of the refugees and stressed the need for further action by the international community on the matter.
Energy: They both hailed the completion of the procedures for pipelines TAP and IGB and assessed the prospects for exploiting LNG plants in Greece. In this direction, the emergence of Greece into an energy hub for new gas transport routes to Europe was particularly stressed.
Cyprus: Tsipras and Biden identified a positive momentum in the intercommunal talks. They stressed the need for a just and lasting solution of the question on the basis of UN resolutions and the status of Cyprus as a member state of the EU. PM Tispras stressed that the sense of security to the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, is not fortified by anachronistic schemes such as guarantees.
FYROM: the two sides, Greece and the US, stressed the importance of the continuation of the talks, under the UN Special Envoy, Matthew Nimetz. At the same time, they stressed the need elections in FYROM to contribute positively ensuring stability in the country and creating a climate for mutually acceptable solution to the name issue of FYROM, to the benefit of the accession perspective of the neighboring country.
