Greek President Sakellaropoulou meets with diaspora in Santiago, Chile

On an official visit to Latin America, Sakellaropoulou said that Chile held a special place in Greek hearts for its struggles for democracy and freedom, and a particularly special place in her own heart. "In the first official visit of a Greek president to Latin America, it was very clear to me from the start that the country of Neruda and Allende would be included, the country of which you are proud citizens and prosper, as worthy ambassadors of Hellenism," Sakellaropoulou said.

The first Greeks to migrate to Chile, from 1880 to 1924, created communities in Antofagasta, Santiago, and Valparaiso and elsewhere, leaving their mark behind, she added, while also recalling Greek sailors who fought valiantly in the Battle of Iquique next to Arturo Prat and in the Pacific War, contributing to the glory of the state of Chile.

Earlier, the Greek president met with representatives of the Greece-based Mytilineos Energy & Metals company and was briefed on its activities, including its initiatives to support local communities.

In addition, she had been given a tour of the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile, dedicated to the victims of the dictatorship (1973-1990), by its director María Fernanda García Iribarren.