Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis on Wednesday attended a dinner in her honour hosted by her French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in Paris.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Kouchner expressed particular pleasure over the meeting "with my good friend, Dora", adding that this expression was not a "diplomatic courtesy" but "reality".

Kouchner said they discussed Greek-French frienship during the dinner, as well as other issues, such as that of FYROM.

"We support our Greek friends," he said, and expressed that the latest Greek initiative on the FYROM issue "is one step forward, and an additional reason for backing the Greek position.

Other issues discussed included Kosovo, Iran and Lebanon, from where Kouchner had just returned.

Bakoyannis, in turn, said that it had been a particularly interesting dinner and discussion on a number of issues.

She said that Greece and France had very close views on many issues, and a very close cooperation.

Bakoyannis further expressed gratitude to France for the assistance it provided in the difficult moments this past summer during the devastating wildfires that ravaged several parts of the country.

Earlier, Bakoyannis was the official guest of French Farm and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier at an event he organised on Wednesday on the theme of "Europe and its borders." A group of deputies of the ruling UMP party participated in the event.

Source: Athens News Agency

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