Governments of Israel and Greece conclude inter-governmental consultations
Israeli Missions Around The World European-Union News Governments of Israel and Greece conclude inter-governmental consultations

Israel and Greece hold G2G meetings

  •   Governments of Israel and Greece conclude inter-governmental consultations
  • 6/15/2017
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    Governments of Israel and Greece conclude inter-governmental consultations Governments of Israel and Greece conclude inter-governmental consultations Copyright: Amos Ben-Gershom-GPO
     
     
    ​(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
     
    The governments of Israel and Greece have, today (Thursday, 15 June 2017), in Thessaloniki, concluded a G2G meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
     
    The governments signed a joint declaration regarding the following areas: foreign affairs; infrastructure, energy and water (natural gas; renewable energies, energy efficiency and alternative fuels; strengthening economic cooperation in the field of energy; water); environmental protection; research and innovation; telecommunication technologies; industry and small- and medium-sized enterprises; and Diaspora.
     
    From the joint declaration:
     
    The bonds between the Hellenic Republic and the State of Israel are based on their ancient history, rich heritage and resilience to adversity.
     
    Both governments wish to underline their strong commitment to shared values, democratic principles, and international law.
     
    Their determination to work together and share their experience, knowledge and know- how has resulted in a flourishing partnership that benefits not only their peoples, but the entire region.
     
    Both governments reaffirm their aspiration to further their cooperation, work on joint projects of mutual interest, find solutions to common concerns and promote interconnectivity and complementarity in their actions.
     
    PM Netanyahu's remarks prior to leaving for Thessaloniki
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this afternoon (14 June 2017), prior to leaving for the trilateral Israel-Greece-Cyprus meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, made the following remarks:
     
    "As part of our efforts, which are bearing diplomatic fruit, to enhance relations between Israel and many countries in the world, I am now leaving for the annual summit that we founded between Israel, Greece and Cyprus. This year the summit will focus on innovation and it always deals with energy, security and strategic cooperation, economic matters and tourism.
     
    This year the summit will be in Thessaloniki and there is a reason for this. Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras and I, together with a representative of the German government, will unveil a plaque to mark the start of construction of a museum dedicated to the memory of the Jews of Greece and Thessaloniki. The German government has made a considerable contribution to this project.
     
    I asked Moshe Ha-Elion, one of this year's Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day torchlighters, who was born in Thessaloniki, to join us. He was very moved, and so was I. He simply felt unwell and therefore, I asked his daughter Rachel and his son Eliyahu to join us and represent him. My wife and I send him our best wishes for a complete recovery. He is a dear Jew. I am certain that the dedication event in Thessaloniki will warm his heart.
     
    Today, we can also announce two pieces of good news, one from Switzerland and the other from the Netherlands. I welcome the Swiss parliament's decision to require the Swiss government not to finance NGOs that foster hate, racism, anti-Semitism and incitement. Second, I commend the Dutch government and my friend, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, for their decision to stop financing the Palestinian terrorist NGO that extols the memory of the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi and to reconsider the financing that the Netherlands provides to other NGOs. I think that here as well we are seeing that our effort is bearing fruit, and we have what to aspire to – the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway, and I am certain that additional countries will join.
     
    Lastly, we are now going to meet with the first ultra-orthodox woman pilot. You are invited to join. She is the first, but not the last."