ATHENS – US Embassy in Athens Charge d’ Affaires Maria Olson and US State Department Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs Josh Huck paid a visit to Alexandroupolis on Tuesday, and met with local government officials.

The two American officials met with Alexandroupolis Mayor Yiannis Zamboukis, Deputy Regional Director of Evros Dimitris Petrovits, and Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis, Traianopolis, and Samothrace. They also paid a visit to the Port Authority of Alexandroupolis and were briefed by its chairman, Konstantinos Chatzimichail, on the region’s energy prospects and development.

The city is a critical link in European energy security, stability, and economic development, they said. They also referred to US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis, who has called Alexandroupolis the basic passage to the Western Balkans and the Black Sea, while it also plays a critical role in NATO’s security on its southern flank.

Olson and Huckconcluded their visit to the northeastern Greek city at the Ethnological Museum of Thrace.