Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas participated in an EU-CELAC Summit held in Santiago, Chile, on January 26-27. On January 25, Kourkoulas met with Chilean Foreign Minister Alfonso Silva, on the sidelines of the Summit, with whom he discussed potential cooperation in the fields of cultural tourism and shipping, while the Chilean FM expressed interest in Greek know-how on renewable energy sources and imports of food products. The dispatch of a business delegation from Greece to Santiago was also agreed on.

On January 24, the Deputy FM attended a roundtable discussion hosted by Fondación Chile 21, where he expressed optimism that by 2014, Greece will see positive growth rates, having achieved the most impressive deficit reduction of all OECD countries in recent decades. Kourkoulas concluded his visit to Chile on January 27, when he met with representatives of the local Greek community and businesspeople. On a separate note, during the EU-CELAC Summit, Kourkoulas conveyed Greece’s condolences to Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota concerning the tragic loss of life in the fire at a nightclub in Sao Paolo.

Meanwhile, interviewed for the France 24’s English-language news programme, Kourkoulas stressed the importance of French-German relations in consolidating peace in the region and leading the Eurozone out of the crisis.

Greek News Agenda: Diplomatic Corner