President Papoulias Hosts Arab Officials

Papoulias stated when receiving Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby, "I am glad because you come at an interesting time for the region and I would like to hear your views". Elaraby further commented, regarding Greece's union with the nations surrounding the Mediterranean. He stated of Greece's nearby Arab states, "...are all interested in maintaining relations of cooperation with Greece". 

The Arab League Secretary General claimed, "Throughout the Arab world it is known that of all the countries friendly to us in Europe, Greece is the foremost". A second meeting followed, between the Greek President and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The premiers focused on the strategic significance of today's ratified bilateral agreements.

The UAE Foreign Minister declared, "We are very happy that the UAE were given an oppotunity to invest in the old site at Elliniko. It is a major project that will cost about six billion euros and when ready it will give an opportunity for employment to 50,000 people. It will definitely give another image to the city and to the entire region".