PM Tsipras to visit Israel, Cyprus next week for top level meetings

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will participate on January 27 in an intergovernmental meeting between Greece and Israel in Jerusalem, during which delegations from the two countries will discuss bilateral issues and cooperation, while the next day (Jan. 28) he will attend the trilateral meeting with the leaders of Cyprus and Israel in Nicosia.

In the first meeting, Tsipras will hold private talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while a separate meeting of Greek ministers with their Israeli counterparts will take place. These will be followed by an enlarged meeting of both sides. During the visit, the two countries will sign agreements and memorandums of understanding, and upon completion of the work they will issue a joint statement and a separate statement on cooperation in innovation, which shows the importance attached by both sides in promoting cooperation in this sector.

Israeli Ambassador to Greece, Irit Ben-Abba said “it is very important that the high-level bilateral meeting is held in Israel,” as it is the second visit of the Greek premier to the country within two months.

The trilateral summit in Nicosia will include the ministers of tourism and energy, while leaders will also discuss migration, security, innovation, the environment, water resource management, security and terrorism. A steering committee will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the trilateral cooperation on individual matters. After the meeting, a joint statement will be issued.

On Greece’s side the ministers of State, Nikos Pappas, Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias, Energy Panos Skourletis, Shipping Thodoris Dritsas, Infrastructure Christos Spirtzis, and Alternate Ministers for Tourism Elena Kountoura, Civil Protection Nikos Toskas, Research and Innovation Costas Fotakis will participate, as well as government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili. Israeli counterparts with equivalent portfolios will attend the meeting.

Earlier, on January 26, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon will pay his first visit to Greece and will meet Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos to discuss the planning of the military cooperation between the two countries.