Skourletis meets Palestinian ambassador

Environment and Energy Minister Panos Skourletis on Tuesday had a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador in Athens Marwan Toubassi, discussing the Palestinian problem and the possibility of a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart.

Skourletis outlined the Greek government’s positions on a fair and viable solution to the Palestinian problem that will ensure the peaceful coexistence and prosperity of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. He also commented on the Israeli settlements, noting that this practice weakened the prospects of finding a solution and multiplied the problems.

Toubassi briefed Skourletis on the escalating tension with Israeli authorities and expansion of settlements and their repercussions on the Palestinian population, as well as the obstacles to efforts to find a solution based on two state entities in the region. He also relayed the Palestinian government’s desire for a meeting between Skourletis and his Palestinian counterpart.

The minister said he would be happy to receive his Palestinian counterpart in order to examine possible areas of specific cooperation between the two sides, including cooperation on environmental protection issues, and referred to Greece’s extensive experience in the areas of renewable energy and energy conservation.