Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Emirates hold strategic meeting
Top foreign affairs officials of Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates meet in Cyprus.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met April 16 in Paphos, Cyprus with Cypriot, Greek and Emirati officials in the first such meeting of its kind.
Ashkenazi met in person with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias and the Emirati minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash — with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed joining them virtually.
The ministers held bilateral meetings before holding a four-way meeting; there are plans for the officials from the four countries to convene regularly, both at the ministerial and professional working levels.
At a joint press conference, Ashkenazi emphasized that Israel will do whatever is needed to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. “We also took time to discuss challenges that Iran and Hezbollah and other extremists pose to the stability of the Middle East and to the regional peace.” He said Israel will do whatever it takes to block malevolent actions and “prevent this regime from having nuclear weapons.”
