-
The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos
paid an official visit to Israel. This visit concluded the
Greek-Israeli ministerial meeting which took place on October 8, 2013
and was not attended by the Defence Ministers of the two countries,
since the Israeli Minister was in a scheduled visit abroad. Moreover,
the visit that Ehud Barak as Israel’s Defence Minister paid to Greece two years ago was reciprocated.
During his 24-hour visit to Israel, the Minister of National Defence was received by the President of Israel Shimon Peres and met the Israeli Defence Minister Mose Ya’alon. Mr. Avramopoulos paid also a visit to the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and praised the role of the Patriarchate as a factor of understanding and a bridge of communication among peoples and religions, as well as a permanent ambassador of the Ecumenical Hellenism.
During his 24-hour visit to Israel, the Minister of National Defence was received by the President of Israel Shimon Peres and met the Israeli Defence Minister Mose Ya’alon. Mr. Avramopoulos paid also a visit to the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and praised the role of the Patriarchate as a factor of understanding and a bridge of communication among peoples and religions, as well as a permanent ambassador of the Ecumenical Hellenism.
During the meetings of the Minister of
National Defence, Israel and Greece confirmed their willingness to
cooperate for stability, peace and development in the region. They
stressed the significance of Research and Technology and of the
procedures of employing personnel and training in the Armed Forces. In
this context, they agreed upon the procedures of a permanent exchange of
views. The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of
HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos.
Before the beginning of the talks between the delegations of the two countries, Mr. Avramopoulos and Mr. Ya’alon addressed the following statements to representatives of the media:
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I am more than happy to be back in Israel. As you know I visited the country as Minister of Foreign Affairs. But this feeling of return is very profound and sincere.
Before the beginning of the talks between the delegations of the two countries, Mr. Avramopoulos and Mr. Ya’alon addressed the following statements to representatives of the media:
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I am more than happy to be back in Israel. As you know I visited the country as Minister of Foreign Affairs. But this feeling of return is very profound and sincere.
In the meantime we had the G2G
meeting which was crowned by great success and it has inaugurated a new
period in our bilateral relations at all levels: in the field of
economy, investments, energy and of course, in the field of defence.
Israel and Greece are two countries that can be considered as stable factors in this very sensitive neighbourhood of eastern Mediterranean. During the last years we have established excellent relations, we have upgraded them and we march together this course of peace, friendship, good neighbourly relations and solidarity.
We are nations with a very long history. Our paths met each other many thousand years ago. Given the new reality we must deal with, we are determined to move forward.
In the field of defence, as I had said during my previous mandate during Ehud Barak’s visit to Athens two years ago, this strategic operation does not constitute any threat to anyone. We are bringing the two defence systems closer to each other in order to assume a new role in the name of what we are looking for in our region: for peace, cooperation and stability.
As you know, Greece beyond and above the economic crisis, maintains one of the most reliable and efficient defence systems in Europe. The top priority of our defence system is to defend and protect our national security and independence. But, on the other hand, we have put our defence system to the service of our noble causes to the name of international law.
So, this is what brings us closer to each other. We both want to work together, by exchanging information, expertise and, of course, in the field of training with common exercises, in order to send the message that we want to work together in the name of these noble causes. So, this is actually the spirit that prevails in our bilateral relations.
I am more than happy to meet my counterpart Mr. Ya’alon and I believe that, beyond what we are going to decide today, we are going to establish also a very good personal friendly relation. I want to express my gratitude my thanks to Mr. Ya’alon for this warm reception and to all his colleagues in the government.
Israel and Greece are two countries that can be considered as stable factors in this very sensitive neighbourhood of eastern Mediterranean. During the last years we have established excellent relations, we have upgraded them and we march together this course of peace, friendship, good neighbourly relations and solidarity.
We are nations with a very long history. Our paths met each other many thousand years ago. Given the new reality we must deal with, we are determined to move forward.
In the field of defence, as I had said during my previous mandate during Ehud Barak’s visit to Athens two years ago, this strategic operation does not constitute any threat to anyone. We are bringing the two defence systems closer to each other in order to assume a new role in the name of what we are looking for in our region: for peace, cooperation and stability.
As you know, Greece beyond and above the economic crisis, maintains one of the most reliable and efficient defence systems in Europe. The top priority of our defence system is to defend and protect our national security and independence. But, on the other hand, we have put our defence system to the service of our noble causes to the name of international law.
So, this is what brings us closer to each other. We both want to work together, by exchanging information, expertise and, of course, in the field of training with common exercises, in order to send the message that we want to work together in the name of these noble causes. So, this is actually the spirit that prevails in our bilateral relations.
I am more than happy to meet my counterpart Mr. Ya’alon and I believe that, beyond what we are going to decide today, we are going to establish also a very good personal friendly relation. I want to express my gratitude my thanks to Mr. Ya’alon for this warm reception and to all his colleagues in the government.
I look forward to welcoming Mr.
Ya’alon as soon as possible in Athens where we shall have also the
opportunity to offer him our hospitality and give a follow-up of what we
are going to discuss here today.
Thank you very much for this meeting today and I look forward to see you again.
M. YA’ALON: Welcome to our country. Our two nations, as you mentioned, have common history. Both of them are old nations. We consider very much the strategic relationship which has been established between our two countries is not against anyone, it is for the stability of the region, of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
And I believe that by being here,
discussing common interests, as two democracies looking for stability in
the Middle East, we are going to enhance our relationship. Today we
will discuss our defensive relationship and other areas of the economy,
where there is a lot to be done. I believe that we can do more. We can
do better for peace and stability in the Middle East Thank you very much for this meeting today and I look forward to see you again.
M. YA’ALON: Welcome to our country. Our two nations, as you mentioned, have common history. Both of them are old nations. We consider very much the strategic relationship which has been established between our two countries is not against anyone, it is for the stability of the region, of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
mod.mil.gr
16/12/13
--
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
No comments:
Post a Comment
Only News