It is with a great pleasure that we are handing over today a shipment of COVID-19 related gear. It includes respirators, protective gear, syringes and other utensils.

This shipment symbolizes the friendship and partnership that exists between Israel and Cyprus.

This is what partnership is all about. When an opportunity to help each other arises, we should seize it.

We want our friend, our partner to be strong and successful, so that the cooperation between us becomes even stronger and more beneficial.

Our partnership is built on strong foundations of shared values and shared interests.

Being close neighbors and strategic partners, we believe that mutual assistance in such periods of global crisis reflects the true meaning and value of our cooperation.

We hope that the equipment will further strengthen Cyprus response to Covid-19, especially now that the country is combatting the spread of the omicron variant.

It is only a portion of a much larger picture. We cooperate in combatting the pandemic; we cooperate in other aspects of health issues and medical treatment; we cooperate in many fields above and beyond health and medical issues. We are “better together”.

I would like to thank my good friend, the Minister of Health, Mr Michalis Hajdipandela, for the leadership he shows in leading the combat against COVID-19 in Cyprus.

It is a protracted and tiring fight against a sneaky enemy. He has an excellent team lead by the Permanent Secretary Christina Yiannaki.

Working with the MoH team was an uplifting experience. Gifted, hard-working and highly motivated people who are doing their country a great service.

I would also like to thank MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation in the MFA for initiating the idea and supplying the shipment, and my team at the embassy, headed by the Consul, Yossi Wurmbrand, for their hard and dedicated work.

Mr. Minister, please accept this shipment from the people of Israel to the people of Cyprus as an expression of deep friendship and mutual support between our countries.