Giscard d'Estaing

September 17-21, 1975. Official visit of French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to Greece (Athens and Thessaloniki). Substantial talks with Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, in a warm atmosphere. Dinner at the Presidential Palace. Greek civilization and French enlightenment.

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.