Israeli-Greek relations strategic, value-based: Israeli FM
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Following a December summit during which the Israeli occupation, Greece, and Cyprus stressed the development of their relations, "Tel Aviv" highlights the importance of Israeli-Greek relations.
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Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in occupied Al-Quds on December 7, 2021 (AFP)
Greek-Israeli bilateral relations are a strategic partnership built on shared values, Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told Tuesday Greek Ekathimerini newspaper in an exclusive interview.
"The bilateral relationship between Israel and Greece is not only a multifaceted strategic partnership, as demonstrated by our ties in security and energy," Lapid said.
When asked about the possibility of a rapprochement between Turkey and the Israeli occupation, Lapid claimed that "Tel Aviv" hopes to engage with states who "show a desire to play a positive role in promoting prosperity and stability." He also said the Israeli occupation government was considering reconciling with Turkey.
"An improvement of relations between Israel and any country is never at the expense of our relations with other countries, and we see our ties with Greece as strategic," Lapid reiterated.
Lapid also highlighted that the existing partnership was on the agenda of a trilateral summit between the occupation, Athens, and Nicosia in December.
Earlier today, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias called on Turkey to "immediately" recognize the invalidity of its agreement with the former Libyan government of national accord on natural gas. Reportedly, this is due to the Israeli-Greek pipeline contradicting with the accord.
"Israel", Greek and Cyprus had a meeting on December 7
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades had met in occupied Al-Quds on December 7. The three discussed enhancing relations on common regional "threats," which they said included the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and "terrorism."
After the meeting, the Greek prime minister voiced concerns over what he called "Turkey's destabilizing actions."
Greece and Turkey have been head to head for decades due to several issues between the two states, which include territorial disputes in the eastern Mediterranean, the Greek-Turkish divide in Cyprus, and illegal migration.
Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt had in October condemned Ankara's drilling for gas in other nations' exclusive economic zones. The three states also condemned what they described as Turkish "provocations" along the Greek continental shelf, including violations of the Cypriot airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean Sea.
Athens, Nicosia, and Cairo urged Ankara to respect international law following their statement.
Relations between Greece and Turkey took a turn to the worst last month when the former sentenced two of its nations to prison over espionage charges for the benefit of Turkey.
The Turkish foreign ministry then criticized the judgment, saying the court had "acted with prejudice."
