Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cited the oft-repeated maxims of “bridges” and “crossroads” between continents to describe the east Mediterranean country’s potential and geopolitical standing, in opening the third Euro-Arab summit taking place in Athens this week.
“Greece has always been a crossroads of civilizations and a bridge between Europe and the Arab world,” he said.
The leftist Greek premier ticked off the scope of the ongoing refugee crisis, security challenges from the continuing destabilization of Libya, a worsening condition in West Africa, as he opined, and war in Syria as demonstrating how critical the Euro-Arab dialogue remains.
In terms of his coalition government’s actions, he pointed to efforts, in cooperation with Cyprus, to develop multi-lateral cooperation with countries in the eastern Mediterranean as well as in the Balkans, such as boosting the European prospect of western Balkans states.
Finally, he said the Greek economy is now in a crucial juncture towards recovery and is “turning the page”.
Tsipras pointed to the promising, by Greek standards, forecasts for economic growth in 2018 and 2019, 2.1 and 2.5 percent, respectively, as well as higher foreign investments, exports and tourism arrivals.
