By Itzhak RabihiyaPresident Rivlin held a working meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias New Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived to Jerusalem Sunday just two weeks after being sworn in, on his second official visit abroad -- his first was to the US -- and one that underlines the significance that Athens attaches to its ties with Jerusalem.
The visit comes against a backdrop of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean due to Turkey sending gunboats accompanying Turkish drilling and exploration vessels searching for natural gas in Cyprus’ economic exclusion zone. The Turks claim the right to explore there, saying it belongs to Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, whose administration is only recognized by Ankara. Dendias told the Greek Parliament last week that, “For us, it is self-evident that there should be a stop to the drilling.” – publish the Jerusalem post. According to Greek media, the Greek Foreign Ministry said Dendias’ talks in Jerusalem will focus on deepening cooperation between Greece and Israel, tripartite projects with Cyprus, current developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, energy security, and Turkey’s activities in the region.
Dendias is scheduled to meet separately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. He is also slated to tour Yad Vashem and meet with Greek Holocaust survivors. Dendias is scheduled to follow his trip to Israel in the coming days with a trip to Cyprus, accompanying the newly-elected Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Nicosia.
President Reuven Rivlin held today, Sunday 28 July, a working meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The president congratulated the foreign minister on his appointment and thanked him for visiting Jerusalem, stressing that this is further proof of the importance both countries place on the relations between the two countries. The President also noted the broad cooperation between Israel and Greece in the areas of security, trade, energy, innovation and disaster management, as seen in the recent fires in Israel where Greece assisted and stood alongside Israel. The men discussed regional threats, including the Iranian regime's attempts to destabilize the region. The two also shared their concern regarding growing anti-Semitism around the world. "I hope that your President can join us in Jerusalem in January 2020 for a conference to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and to work together to confront this modern evil," said the President, adding, "We also view rising anti-Semitism with concern. Holocaust denial and the rewriting of history are dangers to us all. " The foreign minister thanked the president for welcoming him and stressed how important this meeting is to him on his short visit to Israel, just ten days after taking office. The minister stressed his concern over rising expressions of anti-Semitism in Greece and added that the Greek government appreciates the president's unequivocal statements against anti-Semitic attacks in his country. The minister stressed that the Greek government intends to continue promoting relations between the two countries and that Greece has many areas of interaction with the State of Israel, which it intends to continue to deepen. Attached photo credit: Mark Neiman (GPO) | 
