​(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

The Political Directors, Andris Pelšs from Latvia, Paul Teesalu from Estonia, Rolandas Kačinskas from Lithuania, were hosted by the Head of the Foreign Ministry's Political Directorate Alon Ushpiz for the second round of Political Consultations between Israel and the three Baltic States on Wednesday 2 November 2016 in Jerusalem, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and each of the three States.

In their opening remarks, the Political Directors recognized with great appreciation, the deepening of bilateral relations between Israel and the Baltic States, based on the shared values and the wide spectrum of common interests. The Political Directors also referred to the rich yet also painful Jewish history and the different measures that are being taken in order to enshrine this important heritage. 

Noteworthy are the large communities of Israelis from the Baltic states, living today in Israel, who continue to maintain connections with their countries of origin. The Political Directors expressed their appreciation for the important role of the embassies in this respect.

In the course of the Political Consultations, Israel and the Baltic States discussed the developments in Europe and the Middle East, and continued their deliberations in the spheres of stability and prosperity, including in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as People to People activities.

All parties agreed that the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of bilateral relations should serve as a good opportunity to further develop the potential that is embodied in deepening relations and further enhancing cooperation between Israel and the Baltic States.