On visit to Israel, Kotzias focuses on energy, security
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday underlined their commitment to boosting bilateral ties, with Kotzias emphasizing the importance of bolstering cooperation to safeguard security and stability in a volatile region.
Referring to the strengthening of ties in recent years in terms of security, energy, tourism and the economy, Kotzias said he spoke with Israeli energy officials, adding that he looked forward to “very good projects to do together, not only for our generation, but for the next generations, too.”
Kotzias spoke of an “ongoing and in-depth bilateral political dialogue on all bilateral regional security issues,” noting that “we are living inside a triangle of destabilization.”
Strengthening relations between Israel, Cyprus and Greece is important to boost stability in the region, he said, ahead of trilateral talks expected in the fall. “We have a common interest in stability and security,” he said.
Netanyahu, for his part, pointed to “the real commitment we have to strengthen the friendship between our two countries.”
On Tuesday Kotzias is to visit Palestine, where he will meet with his counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki before scheduled talks with President Mahmoud Abbas.
