Thursday, January 13, 2011

Israel's Lieberman meets Greek defence minister

Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman, currently in Athens on a two-day visit, met National Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Thursday. The two ministers confirmed the desire of the Israeli and Greek governments to promote bilateral relations on all levels. 
 
 The meeting focused on bilateral relations, the situation in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and the fluid state of affairs in international issues, Venizelos said. 
 
 The Greek minister said that an extensive programme of military cooperation between the two countries will continue, taking into account the priorities of each side. 
 
 He also noted that Greece's priority was to avoid tension and ensure security in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, while Israel had security concerns "that we understand and fully respect". 
 
 Venizelos said that Greece had traditionally good ties with the Arab world and a genuine strategic relationship with Israel and could thus play a positive and constructive role in the solution of long-lasting and historic problems. 
 
 Lieberman expressed his country's appreciation of Greece's assistance in fighting the forest fire in Haifa and other sensitive issues. He noted that bilateral cooperation would contribute to stability in the region and pointed to a number of shared challenges relating to the environment, migration and green energy. 
 
 He also repeated an invitation that he had sent to the defence minister to visit Israel in a month's time.





ANA