Invitation to the USA to participate in the next ministerial meeting of Figure 3+1 (Greece, Israel, Cyprus + USA) The Foreign Ministers of the Three Countries, seeking further deepening and upgrading regional cooperation in the East Mediterranean. As the Kathimerini reports, the letter is addressed to the US Secretary of State Mark Rubio.
“The importance of this trilateral cooperation has already been recognized by the United States when, during your Senate term, you personally, Minister, have played a decisive role in promoting legislation that has enhanced the interconnection between our three democracies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the United States.”
The three ministers underline their will for closer cooperation with Washington in critical areas such as energy securitythe combating terrorismthe innovationthe digital technologythe civil protection and the cyber security. As they point out, “the Eastern Mediterranean is gaining increasing strategic importance as a hub of energy and infrastructure connecting Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tasos Hatzivasiliou Speaking to RES-EIA on the sidelines of the 6th Economist Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, he mentioned the importance of the figure 3+1 (Greece-Cyprus-Israel-USA) and emphasized that Greece sees this collaboration as a strategy and multidimensional.
“We discussed with the Economist about Figure 3+1 (Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US) and the prospects of cooperation with the countries involved in it and emphasized the strategic relationship that Greece has with the United States, but also the very close-brother relationship it has with Cyprus and the partnership that our country also has with our country.”
The debate, he said, expanded beyond energy, touching areas such as security, innovation, technology and artificial intelligence.
“We also talked about energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and how it is important not only for the countries of the region but also for the US. Also in the context of the conference we discussed how to cooperate with Figure 3+1 and how we can expand the potential. That is to say, we are in the way of energy 3+1 ”noted Mr. Hatzivasiliou.
Mr Hadjivasiliou reiterated his view that Figure 3+1 can act as a tool for promoting the Economic Corridor IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor).
“I personally mentioned that Greece believes that 3+1 as a platform can also be used as a tool for promoting the idea of the economic corridor. Particular emphasis on interconnection plans.
In closing, he stressed that these projects serve multiple geostrategic goals.
“I emphasized that Greece supports these projects and that they have to go ahead because they not only benefit our countries, but on the one hand in Europe and on the other hand the interests and priorities of the Americans,” he said. On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Hadjivasiliou also held a meeting with former White House officer Rones Pribus, with whom they exchanged views on current foreign policy issues regarding Greek -American and Euro -American relations, as well as with the US -based Greek -American. First ”.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs participated during his stay in New York, spoke at an event at the Hellenic American Bankers and visited the New York Stock Exchange for meetings and contacts focusing on investment opportunities in Greece and the extroversion of Greek entrepreneurship.