The Minister of National Defence Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos met today with his counterpart of Israel, Mr. Ehud Barak, who is paying an official visit to our country.

After his reception at the Ministry of National Defence, the two Ministers and their delegations held discussions. Subsequently, the two Ministers had a private meeting, at the end of which they made the following statements.

D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It is a great pleasure to welcome in Greece the Minister of Defence and Vice President of the Government of Israel, Mr. Ehud Barak.

This visit is important for both countries.

It crowns an environment of understanding, cooperation and friendship between Greece and Israel, which expands to the field of Defence.

It is our choice and commitment, and I would like to underline this, to deepen our alliance and cooperation with Israel, in the framework of a new policy for the South-Eastern Mediterranean, in the name of friendship, peace and stability, for all the peoples in the area.

It is known that there was a delay to the establishment of de jure diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel.

We are now trying to win over the lost time. And I believe that we will be successful, in the best possible way; because both peoples, the Greek and the Israeli, are united by many things, history prevailing among them.

Our cooperation with Israel is honest and sincere. It does not turn against anyone.

On the contrary, it can create new sources for wealth, for both peoples and for all the peoples in the region.

Greece is a peaceful country. And we seek after cooperation and understanding with all our neighbours, without exceptions, as well as with all the nations in the broader region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

We want our country to continue playing the historic, cultural and stabilizing role in the broader area. And I believe that through this cooperation we are achieving our mission.

I welcome to Greece once more my good friend and Minister of Defence of Israel Mr. Barak, and I would like to wish a pleasant stay to him and a positive outcome to our collective effort.

Ε. BARAK: Athens and Jerusalem are the names of two cities that have been the inspiration for generations of artists, poets, philosophers, writers and even political leaders. We both stood at the birthplace of Western Civilization. And even today we can contribute to Western Civilization through cooperation. We are looking forward in 2012, to further strengthening the relations, at the best level the two peoples have ever been.

I would like to convey through you to the whole Greek people our thanks for the support sent to us in such an urgent short notice to fight the big fire on the Carmel Mountains just a year ago, and for your support in many other issues. You have friends back in Israel.

Today with Minister Mr. Avramopoulos we discussed various issues and opportunities, stemming out of the unique situation around the Mediterranean and the Middle East. We are committed to work together so as to deepen our relationship in the areas of defence and security.

This cooperation has never been so close and we will continue, as well as looking forward to opportunities to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous Middle East. We have to be prepared for multileveled development. We are mainly interested in – and this interest is common –stabilising, reducing tension and solving any kind of differences through eye-contact and exchange among leaders who understand the responsibility and the importance of thinking ahead of time and working together to improve things.

Thank you very much and I thank the Minister for the hospitality and for the opportunity to visit the Ministry, and to see some of your soldiers in action for me tomorrow.