On Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou expressed Athens’ support for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and called for the creation of a "free, viable, democratic Palestinian state", according to AFP.
"President Arafat is experiencing very difficult times and I want to note that Greece is on his side," Papandreou told a Greco-Arab conference in the Greek capital.
"We will do all we can to aid a return to the peace process," he said, adding that Athens was pushing for dialogue in the Middle East with its EU partners.
Papandreou's statements came on the eve of an official visit to Greece by Israeli parliamentary speaker Avraham Burg.
"The problem of Israel's security is linked to a resolution of the Palestinian question," Papandreou said, emphasizing the need to implement UN resolutions and condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.
The assembling of Arab ambassadors and business leaders at which Papandreou was speaking was marred by the sudden death of a heart attack of the Greco-Arab chamber of commerce head Ioannis Cassimatis.
Burg is scheduled to visit Greece on Thursday and Friday and is due to meet with Papandreou, as well as Greek parliamentary speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, the Israeli embassy said. (Albawaba.com)
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