PM on Mt. Athos for events commemorating Patriarch’s enthronement

Prime Minister George Papandreou travelled to the monastic community of Mount Athos on Sunday for ecclesiastical celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Papandreou, along with Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis, will attend a Patriarchal service at the cathedral in the monastic capital of Karyes.

In statements on Saturday, Lambrinidis reiterated the Greek state’s support and appreciation for the presence of the semi-autonomous region on Greek territory, while noting that Athens is aware of the problems facing the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos.