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Roundup: French PM voices support for Greece, signs roadmap for bilateral ties during Athens visit

Xinhua, June 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls ended a two-day visit to Athens on Friday by voicing France's support for Greece in the handling of both the ongoing economic and refugee crises.

"I came to Greece bringing a message: France is on Greece's side," Valls said during a televised joint press conference with Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras after the end of their meeting and the signing of a roadmap for the future of bilateral strategic relations.

The French leader expressed confidence that a comprehensive final solution to the Greek debt load will be reached and that Greece will exit the six-year crisis by continuing on the reform path with the further aid of other European partners.

Regarding bilateral ties, he called on French investors to invest in Greece.

For his part, Tsipras repeated Greece's gratitude to France for the consistent support last year as Greece was teetering on the brink of default and Grexit while negotiating the terms of further aid with its international creditors.

Both leaders appeared optimistic that the period of uncertainty was over and Greece was on the course of economic growth and recovery.

Referring to the recent Eurogroup decision which paved the way for the release of the next bailout tranche to Athens in coming weeks, Tsipras said that it "marks a new start for the Greek economy."

As for the decision for the launch of talks on debt relief, the Greek premier stressed that it "constitutes a significant step towards the restoration of the markets and investors' trust."

On bilateral cooperation, he pointed to the roadmap signed, explaining that it sets the priorities in sectors regarding investments in infrastructure, energy, tourism, research, public administration, know-how and culture.

Valls' visit to Greece, following the visit of the French president at the end of last year, "confirms the very close working relationship and mutual understanding between our countries," the Greek leader had said earlier while welcoming Valls at his office.

Regarding the refugee and migrant crisis, Valls said that France will continue to stand by the side of Greece which is at the forefront, while Tsipras reminded that France holds the first place in the refugee relocations from Greece. Endit