In its annual report on human rights and religious freedom, the U.S. Department of State notes problems still faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its operation, including issues relating to the reopening of the Theological School at Halki.
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas says that during its 2014 EU Presidency, Greece plans to organize a gathering where European integration of the west Balkan countries will be strongly encouraged and a target date for completion of this process determined.
Greece calls for an EU-Turkey summit aimed at reviving accession talks with Turkey, saying such a summit–to be held after Turkish elections in June–could act as a road map for Turkey’s accession and give momentum to the process.
Bulgaria approves a joint venture between Bulgarian Energy Holding and IGI Poseidon to build and operate the Bulgarian-Greek link in the Poseidon natural gas pipeline project.
In a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the Pope urges Orthodox and Catholics to continue to work towards unity, as part of a campaign to heal a rift between the two feuding branches of Christianity.
Greece sends four Canadair fire fighting planes to help Israel bring a deadly forest fire under control near Haifa, responding to a telephone request to Prime Minister George Papandreou from his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.