Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos today met with the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Riyad Al-Malki, at Zappeion, on the margins of the EU-Arab League Ministerial Meeting.
Following their meeting, Messrs. Venizelos and Al-Malki made the following statements.
E. VENIZELOS: I and my dear friend, Dr. Al-Malki, the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, had the opportunity to discuss the situation currently prevailing in the Middle East and the peace process, starting with the congratulations I expressed to him on the formation of the new Palestinian Government of National Unity, which is determined to move within the framework of the principles of the Quartet. Because it is only through these principles that we can reach a viable, mutually acceptable two-state solution in the Middle East.
The Middle East issue is always the central problem, even though many new problems, many new pending crises, have arisen in the region. All of these are interlinked, and that is why it is of very great importance that we have a comprehensive strategic approach, and, naturally, the new Palestinian government’s role is, from this point of view, as always, extremely critical.
On a bilateral level, we agreed to convene the Joint Interministerial Committee in early October, and this will put fresh emphasis on all the issues, but mainly on issues of trade and economic cooperation between the two sides.
R. AL-MALKI: I am happy to have had the opportunity to meet with my dear friend, the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr. Venizelos, so that we could talk in a friendly environment about the various issues that concern Greece and Palestine. We had a common outlook on many issues that require urgent solutions, like the Palestinian issue.
In all of the meetings with my dear friend the Foreign Minister, I always feel his support and the friendship that links us – Palestine and Greece. Mr. Venizelos always expresses his interest in the Palestinian question, as well as his desire for justice to prevail in the region, and for there to be a peaceful, independent Palestinian state, next to the state of Israel. We appreciate the interest of Greece – a country that has undertaken the Presidency of the European Union. And we very much appreciate the interest and efforts of the Foreign Minister. I am certain that we can work together, Greeks and Palestinians, to resolve these issues and accelerate the negotiations, giving the opportunity for the founding of the independent Palestinian state and for our contributing, all together, to stability in the Middle East and throughout the world.
We are very satisfied at the progress that has been made in Greek-Palestinian relations, and we look forward to the Interministerial Committee, which will convene early in October. We of course look forward to the various other meetings with my friend the Foreign Minister, whether here, in our own region, or elsewhere, during international conferences.
I would like to thank my dear friend and Greece for the excellent hospitality we have enjoyed from the moment we arrived in Greece. It is a sweet feeling, and we feel that we are in our own country. This shows Greece’s love for and interest in Palestine, as well as the friendship that links the two peoples. Thank you very much.
June 11, 2014