State visit to Greece

Topic: Report

10 October 2018

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Hellenic Republic from 10 to 12 October. The Federal President first visited the memorial site of the Chaidari National Socialist concentration camp. In Athens he was welcomed with military honours by President Pavlopoulos. Thereafter he had political talks inter alia with Prime Minister Tsipras and gave a speech at a ceremony where he is to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is welcomed with military honours by President Prokopios Pavlopoulos at the Presidential Palace in Athens on the occasion of his state visit to Greece

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Hellenic Republic from 10 to 12 October.

The Federal President first visited the memorial site of the Chaidari National Socialist concentration camp near the Greek capital. He then layed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens before being welcomed with military honours by President Prokopios Pavlopoulos. Thereafter he had political talks inter alia with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and met with young people including some who are active in the cultural sphere. The Federal President gave a speech at a ceremony where he received an honorary doctorate from the Law Faculty of the University of Athens.

On the second day of the state visit, the Federal President traveled with President Prokopios Pavlopoulos to his hometown Kalamata. There he visited the excavation site of Ancient Messini and met young start-up entrepreneurs for talks.

Overview of the programme:

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

  • Afternoon
    Flight to Athens, Greece

Thursday, 11 October 2018

  • Wreath-laying ceremony at the Chaidari former concentration camp
  • Wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  • Presidential Palace
    Welcome with military honours by Prokopios Pavlopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, followed by talks
    thereafter signing of the statutes of the German-Greek Youth Office (tbc)
  • Official seat of the Prime Minister
    Talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
  • Culture Centre of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
    Discussion with German-Greek young people
  • Delegation hotel
    Talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the Opposition
  • Talks with Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias
  • Athens University

    Speech at the presentation of an honorary doctorate by Athens University

  • Presidential Palace
    State banquet

Friday, 12 October 2018

  • Messini
    Visit Ancient Messini
  • Kalamata
    Walk through Kalamata, presentation of the Golden Key by the Mayor
  • Lunch with Greek start-up entrepreneurs
  • Afternoon
    Flight to Berlin