Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer who is visiting Athens met with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras yesterday (22.10) and discussed economic issues, the progress of reforms, as well as the very good bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Austrian President also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelo Venizelos, who noted that President Fischer "is a profound and true friend of Greece." He added that "very important is the fact that we share a common outlook on the Western Balkans, on the developments in the wider region, within the framework of international legality and the common European position."

During his stay in Athens, President of Austria along with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias inaugurated (October 22) the exhibition Hellenic Renaissance: The architecture of Theophil Hansen, running at the Theocharakis Foundation, until January 18, 2015.

Theophil Hansen (1813-1891) was born in Copenhagen. During his nine-year stay in Athens (1837-1846), he composed the architectural narrative of Athenian Neoclassicism. In 1859, based on the University building created by his brother Christian, he conceived the so-called Athenian Trilogy - the complex of the Athens University, Academy and Library. He further designed the Observatory and Zappeion. At the same time, he excelled in Vienna where he designed a series of buildings, including the Parliament, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Greek Church, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Concert Hall and more.

AMNA: Austrian president interviewed by ANA-MPA ahead of Athens visit