D'Estaing

Greece must honor the people who stood and continue to stand by it in difficult times. From the country's War of Independence to the present day, there have been friends of Greece, or philhellenes, who have played a key role in the nation's course. Driven by the cynicism of our times, skeptics are inclined to debunk such figures.

The passing of former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing is an opportunity to look back on his important contribution to the restoration of Greek democracy and the country's participation in the European Union project.

Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who died on Wednesday, is tied to Greek history by his providing his presidential plane to bring Greek statesman Konstantinos Karamanlis back to Greece from France as the seven-year dictatorship was collapsing in July 1974.

Greece's President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister hailed the role of former French leader Valery Giscard d'Estaing in championing European integration and his support for Greece's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) on the announcement of his death on Wednesday at the age of 94.

Greek-French relations were forged in critical and transitional periods in our country's history.

In 1974 following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the national disaster that led to the fall of the Greek junta, PM Constantine Karamanlis approached France and even adjusted Greece's defence policy to the French model.

On the eve of European elections, Kathimerini spoke with a "wise" European who may have the answers to some of the most fundamental questions challenging the Continent right now: How worrying is the rise of euroskeptic parties? What steps need to be taken in order to restore citizens' faith in the European project? Is Greece out of the woods yet?

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Greece on the eve of the prime minister's customary speech at the opening of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is a move tied to our internal politics because the opposition will criticize the agreement made by the SYRIZA-Independent Greeks (ANEL) coalition with the institutions, as our high-level visitor will praise the country's prospects.

Greece has always been a fortunate country because at times of major crises its leaders were capable of shining on the international stage.