President attends a bilateral meeting with President of the Helenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos

Speech at a Bilateral Meeting with President of the Helenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos

At the start of his State Visit, President Higgins met with the President of the Hellenic Republic, H.E. Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

The two leaders met at the Presidential Mansion in central Athens, the official residence of the Greek President. The Mansion was built as a royal palace in 1897.

The State Visit by the President and Sabina Higgins comes almost sixteen years after the last such Visit at Head of State level, and at an important time for the European Union.

Diplomatic relations have existed between Ireland and Greece for just over 40 years, since 1977. Other State Visits have taken place in 2002 when former President McAleese visited the country, and in 2000, when the former President of Greece visited Ireland