Deputy Foreign Minister Constantinos Tsiaras and Alternate Development Minister Notis Mitarachi, paid an official visit to Egypt, on January 12-13.

During their visit, they had a series of meetings with Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and All Africa, members of the Greek community, as well as representatives of the business community, with the aim to activate the trade chambers of the two countries.

While in Egypt, Tsiaras also met with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who was also in Cairo reciprocating President Mohammed Morsi's visit to Brussels, in the context of the EU-Egypt deliberations regarding economic support to the Middle Eastern country. Van Rompuy praised Greece's efforts, describing what the country has achieved in recent months as 'a miracle.'

He added that not only Greece but also the entire eurozone must continue on the same path, and estimated that 2013 will be the last difficult year.