Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias spoke on the phone with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Friday.
Diplomatic sources said that Dendias expressed Greece's full solidarity and support for friend and neighbour Italy during its ordeal due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dendias reassured Di Maio of Greece's readiness to provide assistance in any way is considered most effective.
Additionally, it was agreed that both sides will work to assist in the repatriation of each other's citizens that have become trapped in the two countries, chartering a ship to facilitate the return of Greeks via the port of Ancona to Greece and an Alitalia charter flight for the repatriation of Italians from Athens.
Dendias also spoke with his North Macedonia counterpart Nikola Dimitrov, with whom they agreed to stay in contact to facilitate the repatriation of citizens if this is considered necessary.