PM Tsipras accompanied by ministers to visit Israel

Greek Prime Minister accompanied by nine ministers will visit Israel on Wednesday to participate in a broad bilateral meeting between Greece and Israel where important issues will be discussed aiming at the promotion of the two countries’ cooperation.

Tsipras’ visit to Israel and to Cyprus on Thursday for the trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting is part of a wider Greek diplomatic initiative to upgrade the cooperation with countries of the eastern Mediterrenean, said government sources. Additionally, both meetings will give the opportunity for dialogue on safety issues.

According to sources, PM Tsipras and Benjamin Netanahu will sign 10 agreements on the cooperation of the two countries in a series of sectors such as innovation and education.

The two prime ministers will meet privately in Jerusalem and the High Cooperation Council Greece-Israel meeting is expected to start at 16:30. The signing ceremony will be held at 18:00. Tsipras and Netanahu’s statements will follow. The proceedings of the meeting will close with a working dinner and afterwards the Greek prime minister will leave for Cyprus to participate in a broad Greece-Cyprus meeting followed by a trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting.

Tsipras will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Alternate Minister of Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, Shipping Minister Thodoris Dritsas , Alternate Minister for Research Costas Fotakis, State Minister Nikos Pappas, government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili, Infrastructure, Trasport and Networks Minister Christos Spirtzis, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas who will also visit the Palestinian territory and hold talks with members of the Palestinian authority.