ATHENS: Britain’s Prince Charles embarked Wednesday on an official visit to Greece, the birthplace of his father and kingdom of his paternal great-grandfather.
The heir to the British throne met Greece’s left-wing prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, who told Charles that the three-day visit was a landmark in the relations between their two countries.
Charles was accompanied by his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Greek public opinion is staunchly anti-royalist. The country has been a republic since 1973.
The prince is due to meet the head of Greece’s Orthodox Church on Thursday, and visit a 108-year-old warship that now serves as a floating museum berthed in Athens.
A Greek armored cruiser was used in 1946 to carry the body of Charles’ paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, from southern France where he died to Athens, for burial in a royal estate outside the city.
On Friday, the royal couple will visit the southern island of Crete.
The Prince of Wales has visited the country several times in a private capacity. The Greek Orthodox monastic community of Mount Athos — a wooded peninsula forbidden to women for the past 1,000 years — particularly has captured his interest.
His father, Prince Philip, was born on the northwestern Greek island of Corfu, but left while very young after his own father was banished. Charles’ great-grandfather was King George I of Greece, the country’s longest-reigning monarch.
Britain’s Prince Charles in Greece for 3-day official visit
Britain’s Prince Charles in Greece for 3-day official visit
- The heir to the British throne met Greece’s left-wing prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, who told Charles that the three-day visit was a landmark in the relations between their two countries.
- Greek public opinion is staunchly anti-royalist. The country has been a republic since 1973.
Kremlin says Putin is mediating in Iran to normalize situation
- Putin had then been briefed by Pezeshkian in a separate call on what the Kremlin called Tehran’s “sustained efforts” to normalize the situation inside Iran
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin is mediating in the Iran situation to quickly de-escalate tensions, the Kremlin said on Friday, after the Russian leader spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Moscow has condemned US threats of new military strikes after Iran acted against protests that broke out late last month.
Putin in his call with Netanyahu expressed Russia’s willingness to “continue its mediation efforts and to promote constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states,” the Kremlin said, adding he had set out his ideas for boosting stability in the Middle East.
No further details were given on Putin’s mediation attempt.
Putin had then been briefed by Pezeshkian in a separate call on what the Kremlin called Tehran’s “sustained efforts” to normalize the situation inside Iran.
“It was noted that Russia and Iran unanimously and consistently support de-escalating
the tensions — both surrounding Iran and in the region as a whole — as soon as possible
and resolving any emerging issues through exclusively political and diplomatic means,” the Kremlin said.
Putin and Pezeshkian had confirmed their commitment to their countries’ strategic partnership and to implementing joint economic projects, the Kremlin added.
Separately, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, China, India, and Iran, among others, said it opposed external interference in Iran and blamed Western sanctions for creating conditions for unrest.
“Unilateral sanctions have had a significant negative impact on the economic stability of the state, led to a deterioration in people’s living conditions, and objectively limited the ability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement measures to ensure the country’s socio-economic development,” the SCO said in a statement.
Protests erupted on Dec. 28 over soaring inflation in Iran, whose economy has been crippled by sanctions.
Asked what support Russia could provide to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia is already providing assistance not only to Iran but also to the entire region, and to the cause of regional stability and peace. This is partly thanks to the president’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions.”
The US Treasury on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security.
