(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Intelligence Israel Katz participated in the fifth annual high-level initiative MED – MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUES which is currently being held in Rome.
Within the framework of the conference, FM Katz met with several foreign ministers and senior officials, including Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Italian FM Luigi Di Maio and Indian FM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
In his meeting with Russian FM Lavrov, the second since their previous meeting last September at the United Nations General Assembly, FM Katz emphasized the need to remove the Iranian forces and their proxies from Syria.
Regarding Naama Issachar, FM Katz expressed the hope that President Putin would accept the pardon requests submitted to him and in addition permit an increase in the frequency of meetings between Naama and her mother.
FM Katz also presented his “Artificial Island off the Coast of Gaza” initiative which he suggests to be built.
FM Katz met with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio. During their discussion, FM Katz raised the issue of Iranian subversion in the region and presented his “Tracks for Regional Peace” initiative. FM Katz invited FM Di Maio to visit Israel, and FM Di Maio expressed his wish to visit Israel this coming January.
FM Katz held an additional meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. At their meeting, FM Katz raised the issue of the need to increase the trade between the two countries and the measures required to encourage it.
FM Katz presented his “Tracks for Regional Peace” initiative to his Indian counterpart. The two leaders also discussed the need to intensify bilateral cooperation on the issues of water, agriculture and technology.
FM Katz invited Minister Jaishankar to visit Israel, and the minister expressed interest in visiting Israel next year. He, in turn, invited FM Katz to visit India.