Avramopoulos meets with Erdogan

November 2 2014

Meeting with Erdogan characterized "friendly" had Avramopoulos in Istanbul.

Who can believe of course that these days with Turkey has made incredible challenges in Cyprus and ... herald crisis in the Aegean can be "friendly discussion"? Avramopoulos and Erdogan are known old friends from when they were mayors of Athens and Istanbul. They had contacts.

According to information from the staff of the Commissioner:

  Informal and friendly conversation with the President of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the afternoon Saturday, November 1, had the new Commissioner of Immigration and Home Affairs of EU Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos on the sidelines of the visit made ​​by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Mr. Avramopoulos traveled to Istanbul to visit the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his way to take on the new tasks of the European Commission in Brussels. Patriarch Bartholomew wished Mr. Avramopoulos every success to the new mission and noted the interest with which the "politician always issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate."

After lunch hosted by the Patriarch at the Phanar, the Greek Commissioner telephoned Turkish President, whom he is connected by old friendship from the time both were mayors in Athens and Istanbul, respectively.

Mr. Avramopoulos accepted the invitation of Mr. Erdogan to meet in private and informal presidential residence in Istanbul.