​(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)

President Reuven Rivlin this morning (Monday, 9 May 2016) met at his residence with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, who was visiting the region.
 
President Rivlin welcomed the Foreign Minister and noted that as Europe Day was being marked today, "This day reminds everyone about the need for freedom and for all humanity to stand together against racism and fascism. I reiterate my condolences to the people of Belgium following the attacks there. We know very well the terrible pain of terror, because terror is terror whether it happens in Brussels, Antwerp, Tel Aviv, or Jerusalem."
 
He added, "What we are witnessing in our region today, the spirit of fundamentalism, is a phenomenon which is of concern to the whole world. I know that many of the leaders in Europe, are eager to keep Europe free, open, and united – I would like to see the same thing in the Middle East, but first we must build understanding and create confidence measures between us and the Palestinians."
 
He concluded by thanking the Foreign Minister for the growing cooperation and bilateral trade between Israel and Belgium.
 
Foreign Minister Reynders thanked the President and said, "Thank you for your words after the terrorist attack in Brussels in March, it was not just against us, it was against the international community and against our values. Thank you also for our collaboration in the fight against terror; we have exchanged information, and we have much cooperation."
 
He added, "We are keen to build the good relations between the EU and Israel, like between Belgium and Israel. I know there is much business activity between our two peoples and there have been many trade delegations."