LJUBLJANA — "The principles of freedom, democracy, solidarity and the protection of human rights remain forever relevant, are fundamental values of the European edifice and are the compass for our common future," President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said late on Thursday at the official dinner hosted in her honour by the President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, in Ljubljana.

Sakellaropoulou, who is on a two-day official visit to Slovenia, underlined that "as members of the large European family, we look forward to a continuous and constructive cooperation that will ensure a better common future" and added that "Greece and Slovenia attach the same self-evident commitment to fundamental values, such as law, peace and cooperation."

"And on the basis of international and European law, we are fulfilling our common European debt, which is becoming more urgent as Europe's role transcends its regional dimension and becomes global."

She also expressed confidence that "both Slovenia and Greece will continue to contribute jointly and with all their might, consistently and continuously."

At the same time, she congratulated Slovenia on its forthcoming presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year.