German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on Wednesday morning in Athens as part of the former’s official 3-day visit to Greece, which started yesterday, following an invitation by the Greek President to the German head of state.
Among the issues raised during the two leaders’ meeting at the Presidential Palace was that of the German reparations from World War II during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
While the German President acknowledged the importance of addressing historical grievances, he reiterated Germany’s longstanding position that, both legally and politically, the matter is considered closed.
Earlier in the day, Steinmeier had visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square, where he laid a wreath in honor of Greece’s fallen.
Following his meeting with President Sakellaropoulou, President Steinmeier walked to the Maximos Mansion, where he was received by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
German media are covering the visit of President Steinmeier to Greece extensively and the agenda of talks, with the trip centering on Nazi-era crimes and the refugee crisis. Speaking from Thessaloniki yesterday, Steinmeier called for commemoration efforts to include even the smaller communities that were devastated by the Nazis during World War II.
