Sarkozy calls for new 'Greece-France alliance'

Πηγή: Express.gr 06/06/08-23:34

French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived on an official visit to Athens on Friday, where he referred to a "new Greece-France alliance" in a head-of-state address to the Greek Parliament, as well as to a series of issues of heightened importance for Greek leadership.
A beaming Sarkozy, among others, first referred to his Thessaloniki-born maternal grandfather, telling a packed Parliament chamber that his late grandfather would have been very proud today to see his grandson return to Greece as a president of France.
In hinting at the main cornerstones of the soon-to-begin French EU presidency, the high-profile French leader cited the problem of illegal immigration in the Union, as well as Paris' proposal for the establishment of a Mediterranean Union.
Additionally, he reiterated his views on Europe-Turkey relations, repeating that France favors a "special relationship" with Ankara that is short of full EU accession.
Ahead of his visit to Beirut, Sarkozy expressed his government's full support for Lebanon's stability, while again calling for a viable two-state solution in the Mideast.
Turning to a sensitive issue for Greece, the president of France said the wall separating Nicosia "must fall", in reference to a fair and viable solution for Cyprus.
Sarkozy also didn't mince his words in supporting Athens' position vis-à-vis the nagging "name dispute" with the landlocked Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), saying France supports ally Greece and won't change its position.
The French leader arrived in Athens for talks with the state and political leadership of Greece, including President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
Sarkozy was greeted by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport of Athens, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier shortly after his arrival, before delivering an address in Parliament.
In the afternoon, Sarkozy will have talks with Karamanlis at the Maximos Mansion (government headquarters), after which two texts will be signed: a joint declaration by Sarkozy and Karamanlis on defence and security, and a joint declaration by the Greek and French defence ministers in the area of flight training.
Karamanlis and Sarkozy are due to make statements after their meeting.
Bakoyannis is also scheduled to meet in the afternoon with her French counterpart Bernard Kuchner, during which they will sign an additional protocol to the Greek-French agreement on cultural relations.
President Sarkozy and the French delegation are due to depart from Athens early on Saturday morning.