PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON VISITS GREECE

Athens, Thursday, 7th September 2017.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, chose Greece as his first official, state visit, after his inauguration to the Presidency, last May.

Mr. Macron and his wife Bridgitte arrived at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, where the Minister of State and Government Spokesman, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos was there to meet them and the French delegation.

Mr. Macron laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Syndagma Square, before visiting the Presidential Palace, where the French Presidential couple were welcomed by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos and his wife Vlassia.   After the national anthems of France and Greece were struck up, and the inspection of the honourary guard completed, the two Presidents and their wives walked through the flowered gardens and entered the Palace.

There, Mr. Pavlopoulos, in perfect French, offered the sincere condolences of the Presidency and of the people of Greece, for the victims of hurricane Irma, that had struck the French Antilles.  Then he stressed the importance of this visit to our country, severely struck by the credit crunch and thanked Mr. Macron for France's  support. during these recent years.  The French President was, then, decorated, by Mr. Pavlopoulos, with the country's highest award, the Grand Cross of the Saviour.  They, later, gave a joint press conference, giving emphasis on passing laws that would minimise climate change and strengthen the European Union.

About 4 pm, Mr. Macron visited the Greek Prime Minister at Maximou Hall.  There, the two men had a private meeting, which was followed by a meeting of the two delegations.  Then, the Prime Minister and the  French President held a press conference, where Mr. Macron insisted on a European common budget and European common policy, which, naturally includes a common defensive policy.

At 7 pm, at the Pnyx, a symbolic meeting place of ancient Athenians, where matters of state were discussed, and laws were passed, with a lit Parthenon in the background, Mr. Macron delivered an emotional speech in Greek, "delighting his audience".   He talked about the virtues of democracy, which was born in Athens, and how Europe, including Greece, are fortunately showing signs of economic recovery and confirmed that France will continue to help Greece, whenever necessary.   He also mentioned his dream of a greater Europe, a great united power, that could face the USA and China.

An official dinner was held at the Presidential Palace, in honour of the President of France, where all the political, economic, scientific, cultural and diplomatic elite were present.

On Friday, there was a "round table work meeting"  between Greek and French businessmen in the presence of Mr. Tsipras and President Macron.  The French President urged his compatriots to invest in Greece otherwise, non-Europeans would.

At 11.30 am,  Mr. and Mrs. Macron visited the  French Institute and the French Archaeological School.

Mrs. Bridgitte  Macron En Rouge at the Presidential Palace Dinner

A few words about Mrs, Bridgitte Macron, who is charming, communicative and elegant and according to the press, was "dazzling in red", at the Presidential Palace dinner.   We liked her for her graciousness, intelligence and style, as much as we admired her husband for his impassioned beliefs and visions.





Here is a recipe for a French Champagne  cocktail, to toast the French Presidential couple, which my friend Michele Nemtzoglou gave me, who, incidentally, is French :



                                                           KIR ROYAL

Pour into each iced Champagne flute:

1 tbsp Creme de Cassis and
Top with  French Champagne or a good quality sparkling wine, et

                        A VOTRE SANTE PRESIDENT ET MADAME MACRON!!