Prime Minister George Papandreou and President Karolos Papoulias on Tuesday discussed European affairs, the premier's trip to Turkey and social policy issues in a meeting at the Presidential Mansion that lasted an hour and 15 minutes.
Afterwards, the Prime Minister stated that he briefed the president on the initiative undertaken on European level and on Greece's important contribution to decision-making that will lead the EU to stability and growth through strong economic governance. A special reference was made to the Eurobond.
As regards his visit to Erzurum, Prime Minister Papandreou briefed President Papoulias on the adoption of a new course in Greek-Turkish relations aimed at solving long-lasting problems and on Greece's contribution to the neighbouring country's European course.
Social policy was also discussed, with the prime minister stressing that the government-sponsored reforms support a common goal in 2011 namely, a lawful society, social justice and a sense of security, while setting the economy on a course toward development.
"Together we'll get through this," the prime minister stressed.
Earlier, welcoming the premier to the Presidential Mansion, President Papoulias referred to the frank language that he (Prime Minister Papandreou) had used in his recent visit to Erzurum in Turkey, the course of the Eurobond campaign and the need to support the most vulnerable social strata.
"We are making an effort for a greater rapprochement facing the known difficulties, challenges and the long-lasting issues but, at the same time, we are sharing a common will," Prime Minister Papandreou pointed out, referring to his recent visit to the neighbouring country.
"However, you have made yourself very clear by being very precise," the president commented, with the prime minister responding that "this is the best way in order to have relations based on mutual confidence and be able to solve the problems we are faced with".
On the effort to win the necessary consensus for the issuance of a Eurobond, the Prime Minister linked the discussion on the European economic governance directly with the Greek interests.
"Substantive governance in Europe will contribute greatly to stability and will help Greece in its effort to make changes aimed at a state ruled by law because this is what the Greek people want," Papandreou said.
The prime minister added that a priority for the government is to boost the welfare state which he described as "unorganized, chaotic, clientelist".
ANA
