Friday, March 31st: Trilateral Ministerial Meeting of Israel-Cyprus-Greece Ministers of Foreign Affairs
On Friday, March 31st, a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting of Israel-Cyprus-Greece took place in Nicosia between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Mr Eli Cohen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Dr Constantinos Kombos and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr Nikos Dendias.
𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗿 𝗘𝗹𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵:
My dear friends, Foreign Ministers Dr. Constantinos Kombos and Nikos Dendias, Shalom and KALIMERA!
It is a great pleasure to conclude a very fruitful meeting with you in the context of our trilateral format. The warm relations between our three countries are solid and ever growing.
Our three countries share the values of liberty, equality and democracy, and the frequency of high-ranking visits is an expression of it. Israel has a strong interest in preserving and strengthening our trilateral forum.
We emphasize the importance of this regional cooperation – in the form of the Hellenic Triangle, as well as the 3+1 mechanism with the United States.
This trilateral cooperation is important for us and we are determined to promote it in various strategic and economic fields. The ability to hold joint consultations and share insights, as well as promoting beneficial trilateral agendas - serve the interests of all of us, strengthens all of us and helps in stabilizing the region.
We are continuing to develop and to deepen our relations with other countries in the region, which could serve as another factor in promoting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and good relations between sovereign states.
This development will not come in any form at the expense of the warm relations with Greece and Cyprus.
Israel’s principled position on the Cyprus problem restated in past summits remains the same. We support the negotiation process for a just, comprehensive and viable settlement, in line with the agreed framework. We hope that President Christodoulides’ recent initiative to resume the negotiations will be successful in regenerating momentum to the process.
Israel stresses the importance of energy collaboration between our countries. There also is a special importance for cooperation in the fields of renewable energy.
Israel also welcomes the deep defense cooperation between our countries, and supports further strengthening of this field, by joint military exercises and procurement.
Dear Friends, Since March 2022, Israel has witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks in the Judea and Samaria. The recent deadly wave of terrorism has cost the lives of 15 Israelis and injured 67 this year alone.
It is Israel's responsibility to protect its own citizens - and the international community should recognize Israel's right for self-defense.
Due to the growing tensions around Ramadan, Israel has taken measures in order to de-escalate the situation on the ground. We ask our friends in Greece and Cyprus and all of Europe to send a clear message to the Palestinians, calling them to prevent further escalation.
I urge you, my friends, to use your influence to encourage the Palestinian leaders to take action. Specifically, I ask you call upon them to cease payments to terrorists, Pay for Slay, and put an end to incitement.
This week we got another reminder of the terrorist ways of Iran in Athens. Israel is relieved and grateful to the Greek intelligence and security services that succeeded in preventing the terrorist attack against Jewish and Israeli targets.
The fight does not end there; Terrorism is a common enemy, and the fight against it is our top priority. The government of the Ayatollahs in Tehran exports terrorism to the Middle East and the entire world, and only with affirm and joint stand will we be able to stop the terrorist activities of the Iranian regime.
The Iranian regime is no longer just a regional problem but a European and a global one, we saw it in Greece this week. The only way to put a stop to the Iranian nuclear race is through diplomatic and economic pressure and reliable military threat!
My friends, our people to people relations are at their peak. The Israeli tourist admires the sights and histories of Cyprus and Greece and we encourage even more the promotion of mutual tourism.
Our wonderful relations with Greece and Cyprus led me to offer once again to our close partners to take a more dominant part in the implementation and deepening of the Abraham Accords, which contribute to the stability and prosperity of our whole region.
Dear Constantinos and Nikos, I appreciate your hospitality and the fruitful meetings that we had during these two days. The relations between our countries will always remain close and strong, based on shared values and strategic partnerships for many more years to come.
We look forward to the Heads of Governments trilateral summit.
EFCHARISTO POLi