LISBON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States needs Europe to guarantee peace and democracy in the world, Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos said during a two-day state visit to Portugal on Monday.
"No power can alone guarantee peace and democracy," Pavlopoulos said in Coimbra, around 210 km north of Lisbon at a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
"The United States alone cannot carry out its role in the world," he added.
"For the United States to carry out its role it needs Europe, all of Europe," he pointed out. "Europe is the birth place on Western civilisation and democracy. Without it, we cannot have world stability which is essential."
He said 2017 was a crucial year for Europe and it would have to reconsider the role it will carry out.
Pavlopoulos highlighted that there was solidarity in Greece in welcoming refugees but said there were states who were not as accepting.
"We have partners in the European Union who act on the basis of fear, and want to highlight fear," he said, while praising Portugal for its "exemplary" stance in taking in refugees.
In regards to Trump's policy to limit the entry of immigrants in the United States, Pavlopoulos said patience was needed, but pointed out that it was a country with "exemplary democracy" and that international rights would be respected.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Portugal would continue to welcome refugees.
"We are a country of emigration, that always received immigration with open arms," he said. "We are all over the world. Our position in terms of refugees does not vary according to different political regimes, presidents or governments."
Pavlopoulos will meet Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon on Tuesday.
