“Whoever believes they can restore their empire and their sovereignty in our countries, we tell them this will never happen,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday in Jerusalem after the conclusion of the 10th trilateral summit comprised of the leaders of Greece, Israel and Cyprus.

The trio of leaders also signed a lengthy joint declaration immediately after the conclusion of the meeting.

He added that “…we are determined to defend ourselves”, while stressing that all three achieved national independence through their peoples’ sacrifices and today are a trio of democracies in the wider region that promote freedom, prosperity and security.
“Together we shall restore stability and prosperity through strength, and even more important, peace through strength.”
On his part, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who represented the island republic and was joined by Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis, cited the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) initiative, where all three countries are involved in a project to create a stable and efficient transport gateway connecting Asia to Europe through land and sea lanes. provide a gateway to Asia and a connection to Europe, boosting regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, Mitsotakis, accompanied by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, paid a visit to the family of Ionas Karussis, a dual Greek-Israeli citizen who was gunned down last year in a terrorist attack in the Tel Aviv district of Jaffa.
Mitsotakis has previously met with Ionas’ parents in Athens and Jerusalem, as he again expressed his condolences to the young man’s parents and sister and his admiration for the way they have dealt with the tragedy. He also briefed them on preparations to establish a scholarship in Ionas’ memory.
“You are truly a bridge of friendship between two countries, between two peoples, two wonderful scientists, you raised a wonderful child and lost it through such tragic circumstances. You have found, however, the strength to continue to honor his memory in the best way possible and we will accompany you, to the degree we can, on this difficult journey,” he said.
On his part, Herzog reiterated the close ties between Greece and Israel, and expressed the belief that the three countries could transform the eastern Mediterranean to the benefit of all countries in the region, including Israel’s neighbors, as well as the Palestinians, and Arab countries.