Greece is prepared to send three army officers to the EU Training Mission in Mali, the Greek National Defence ministry announced on January 17, following a request by the European Union.

From Brussels, where he participated in an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council on the situation in Mali, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said that "Europe sent a strong message of support and solidarity to Mali, which is being threatened by extremism and religious fanaticism. We stood by the side of France, which has the leading role in this joint European-UN initiative, so that this conflict can be brought to an end as soon as possible."