The Greek government issued a statement on Thursday aimed to deflect a growing chorus of local press reports and political speculation downgrading next week’s visit to Athens by outgoing US President Barack Obama, all in the wake of Donald Trump’s surprise victory on Tuesday.
The press ministry referred to an “event of huge importance for the country and Europe”.
Among others, Obama is set to make a televised address with the Acropolis in the background.
He will be in Athens on Nov 15 and Nov 16.
Thursday’s unexpected announcement by the leftist Tsipras government also reminds of the current US administration’s support for Greece on a number of issues and during crucial junctures, and especially over the debt relief issue.
“As much as some may desire to try and diminish the significance of the US President’s visit, the reality is that this visit offers genuine support to Greece, and at the same time ranks as a global event in scale", the statement read, and continued with an attack against the main opposition New Democracy party.
