Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday welcomed visiting Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh to Athens, expressing optimism over recent developments in the region and setting the tone for high-level discussions.

Mitsotakis pointed to encouraging news regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the importance of keeping this vital maritime passage open and free of transit fees or disruptions, given its critical role in the global economy.

Positive momentum was also noted in the Middle East, including this week’s ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and the initiation of direct talks between the two sides.

The discussions focused on on regional stability, particularly the Palestinian issue.

“Certainly, all of this is highly relevant to what we will discuss. You know that my visit to Ramallah a few months ago was particularly constructive. You are aware that we remain committed to the Palestinian cause, and I am especially interested in hearing your views regarding the next steps, both in the West Bank and in Gaza. We want to see a long-term and sustainable solution, and we will continue to work in that direction,” Mitsotakis was quoted as saying.