The Russian attack on Ukraine is a serious violation
of the international order. Israel condemns the attack,
and is ready and prepared to provide humanitarian
assistance to the citizens of Ukraine.
Israel is a country that has experienced wars, and war
is not the way to resolve conflicts. The first hours and days of any war
are also the last time you can still stop and return to the negotiating
table, mediated by world powers, to settle disputes peacefully.
Israel has deep, long-lasting, and good relations with Russia
and with Ukraine. There are tens of thousands
of Israelis in both countries, and there are hundreds of
thousands of Jews in both countries.
Maintaining their security and safety is at the top of our considerations.
Earlier this week, I ordered the evacuation of our Embassy in Kiev,
and moving it to offices in the city of Lviv, near the Polish border.
I call on every Israeli citizen to leave Ukraine to go there as long
as the roads are open. Currently, Ukraine's airspace is
closed and there is no train traffic. Consular representatives from
the Foreign Ministry have already been stationed at all border
crossings near Lviv in order to help Israelis leave.
This is undoubtedly a very complex historic moment and I too, as you are,
feel deep sadness this morning for fear of a humanitarian tragedy
and God forbid the harm of innocent civilians and I pray,
as many do worldwide, that peace will return in this
conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Israel, as was conveyed
by our government, supports the complete territorial sovereignty
of Ukraine and I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the call
on Israeli citizens who are in Ukraine to return immediately to Israel.
At this stage, via the land crossings. We are of course also monitoring
amid concerns for the future of the Jewish community in Ukraine,
and we will offer any humanitarian assistance possible to the Ukrainian
government, together with additional partners.
This visit was planned as an expression of the friendship
and bold partnership between our countries, a strategic partnership,
certainly in this region of the Mediterranean Sea.
This partnership is rooted chiefly in our shared values, our shared
interests, our friendship, and our great proximity.
Madam President, I invite you to Israel, where you will see
how strong, admired, and beloved Greek culture is
and to what degree Greece is beloved among Israelis.
I believe, and I have from the first moment I entered office,
that all nations in this region of the Mediterranean must work together,
certainly in the face of common challenges, such as the climate crisis,
and I am sure that our conversations on this matter will be very important.
My visit is taking place to produce additional results for the excellent
relations between our states, in terms of culture, history,
values, and especially on the human level.
Turkey maintains an Army at full strength, the Aegean Army,
and the largest landing fleet in Europe facing the Greek islands.
Turkey has also issued a casus belli, a threat of war.
It is the only country on the planet that has issued a threat of war
against another country, namely Greece, In the event that Greece
exercises the rights provided for by the Law of the Sea; In particular,
UNCLOS, the International Convention of the Law of the Sea,
signed by 168 parties, including Russia, which is, by the way
our host country here today.
We believe that our today’s meeting as a testimony to
the usefulness of this cooperation. We have, and we are willing to take
further practical steps in order to achieve progress with regard to
the Syrian settlement and we’re not going to diminish in any way
the attention that we paid to this crisis ― even though,
as you’re well aware right now, there are attempts to fuel
the confrontation around everything, almost everything,
that the Russian Federation is doing around the world.