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Israeli President Isaac Herzog to make state visits to Greece and Cyprus

The focus of the visits will be expanding cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin, with an emphasis on climate change, according to the Israeli president.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaks at a memorial ceremony for past Israeli premiers and presidents, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on July 21, 2021. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaks at a memorial ceremony for past Israeli premiers and presidents, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on July 21, 2021. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will be making official visits to Greece in Cyprus over the next two weeks, beginning with a trip to Greece on Thursday, according to an official statement.

In Greece, Herzog is scheduled to meet with his Greek counterpart Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other members of the Greek government, as well as with representatives of Greece’s Jewish community.

The following Wednesday, the Israeli president will visit Cyprus, where he will meet the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, followed by an “expanded bilateral meeting” with the participation of both delegations.

“I thank my friends President Katerina Sakellaropoulou of Greece and President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus for the warm invitations,” said Herzog in a statement on Sunday.

“In my meetings in both countries, I shall discuss with the leadership and senior government officials steps to broaden and deepen the rich collaboration between our nations. In particular, we will discuss possibilities for regional collaboration in the Mediterranean Basin in the fight against the climate crisis.”

The three countries, he said, were partners in an “alliance of stability” in the Mediterranean region. As such, he continued, the upcoming visits represented not just the warm relations among the three countries, but also the relationships’ strategic dimension.

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