In a New Year message to all Greeks on Thursday, President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos called for national unity, especially among democratic political forces, in order for Greece to achieve its major national goals.

Because, as he stressed, history had repeatedly proved that division at times of crisis brought only irreparable harm to both the country and its people.

Mr. Pavlopoulos underlined that Greece must leave behind it the nightmare of social and economic crisis and return to the path of hope, optimism, growth and progress while remaining in the Eurozone.

Regarding the refugee issue, he noted that Greece despite its economic and social problems, deals with this issue in ways that befitted its culture and history and with full respect for human values and its obligations under international and European law, while he stressed that EU partners’ support is necessary.