Alternate FM Nikos Xydakis visits Austria, Hungary and Slovakia
Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis will visit Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, three countries that are on the route of refugees towards north European countries.
Mr. Xydakis today will arrive in Vienna, where he will meet with Austrian Foreign Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner and the Secretary General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Dr. Michael Linhart.
On Tuesday, Mr. Xydakis will travel on to Bratislava, where he will meet with the Foreign Minister of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák, and the Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ivan Korčok.
Mr. Xydakis will complete his tour on Wednesday, in Budapest, where he will meet with Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Sándor Pintér, Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs, Takács Szabolcs Ferenc and Economic Diplomacy Minister, Levente Magyar.
The purpose of Mr. Xydakis’ trip is to brief his colleagues on Greece’s positions: The fact that Greece is guarding its borders, which are also Europe’s borders, together with the European organization Frontex.
Mr. Xydakis will highlight Greece’s contribution on the refugee issue (the rescuing, in collaboration with Frontex, of over 105,000 persons) and will ask for the implementation of the European Council’s recent decisions in handling this historic crisis. He will also ask for further material and moral assistance from the European partners; assistance that contrasts with any thought of suspending the Schengen Area and closing borders, which would greatly jeopardize the historic endeavor of the European Union.
SOURCE: Greek MFA
