At the end of his official visit to Serbia, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was received by Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.
The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere with the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church expressing his gratitude that Greece does not “forget the fellow Serbian believers” and supports them in every difficulty.
Patriarch Porfirije also praised the fact that Greek politicians always visit the Patriarchate on every visit to Serbia. He pointed out the fact that Dendias is the first foreign politician he has met since his enthronement on February 19.
In the meeting of the Serbian Patriarch with the Greek foreign minister, it is noted there was no interpreter since the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church speaks Greek fluently.
I was received by His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in #Belgrade – first meeting with a member of the Greek Government since his election. pic.twitter.com/P31hhghosK
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) April 5, 2021
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821, the Greek minister laid a wreath at the statue of Rigas Feraios in the center of Belgrade in honor of the pioneer of the uprising against the Ottoman rule.
At the end of my visit I laid wreath at statue of Rigas Feraios in #Belgrade. pic.twitter.com/M0l3RBhAuJ
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) April 5, 2021
The foreign minister also visited the newly built St. Sava Church in Belgrade, the largest Orthodox church in the world, and said he was impressed by its iconography.
Earlier yesterday afternoon, the Greek foreign minister met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the presidential palace.
Nikos Dendias assured him that Greece would continue to strongly support Serbia’s European integration, noting that “the fastest possible integration of all the Western Balkan countries into the EU is a guarantee for consolidating stability in the region.”
Aleksandar Vucic pointed out that he highly appreciated Greece’s principled stand on its support for Serbia’s European integration. He stressed that in the Balkan region, a prerequisite for stability and security is a commitment to good neighborly relations.
The pandemic was also discussed at the meeting, and Dendias congratulated Serbia on the progress of its vaccination campaign, noting that the creation of immunity conditions will allow Serbian tourists, in compliance with all epidemiological protocols, to spend their holidays in Greece this year.
Source: ANA-MPA
I was received by #Serbia President @avucic. Strengthening bilateral cooperation in the framework of the Joint Declaration signed during the 3rd ???? High-Level Cooperation Council & exchange of views on #WesternBalkans in focus. pic.twitter.com/7qCDD9nZlK
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) April 5, 2021