Abbas in Athens for talks with Tsipras, Pavlopoulos

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, is visiting Athens for talks with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Abbas will hold talks with Pavlopoulos at the Presidential Mansion at 12 p.m. before meeting with the Greek premier at the Maximos Mansion at 2.30 p.m.

On Tuesday, Abbas is scheduled to meet parliamentary speaker Nikos Voutsis and then address deputies in Parliament.

Voutsis is also due to read out a resolution calling on the government to recognize Palestine as a state. The non-binding resolution was unanimously approved by the House’s defense and foreign affairs committee last week.

The resolution is designed to be symbolic in nature rather than to pave the way for an official recognition of the Palestinian state. Voutsis will also hand Abbas a copy of the resolution.

Before leaving, the Palestinian leader will also meet the head of the Church of Greece, Archbishop Ieronymos.