Abdullah bin Zayed, Greek counterpart discuss bilateral ties

Athens: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, yesterday met the Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelo, in the capital, Athens, and discussed with him ways of enhancing bilateral ties in various spheres, particularly in the investment, trade and energy fields. The two ministers reviewed current developments in the Middle East and exchanged views on a broad range of regional and international topics of common concern. In a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart at the end of the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah expressed his pleasure at the pace of progress being achieved in the development of UAE-Greece ties, and his confidence that his talks with senior Greek officials would contribute to the advancing of good bilateral ties. He said, ''Diplomatic ties between the UAE and Greece have been rapidly evolving since the early 1970s, and took a new turn when the UAE opened its embassy in Athens in 2008, and Greece opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1989.'' Sheikh Abdullah noted that the current second meeting of the UAE-Greece Joint Ministerial Committee in Athens underlines the vibrancy of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, which began in 1975. With 14 flights by Emirates and Etihad Airways per week to Greece, the UAE minister said tourism was showing a marked increase. More than 6,900 Greek tourists visited the UAE in 2013. Over 3,354 Greek citizens are living and working in the UAE while Greece is a favourite destination for UAE tourists. ''The two countries agreed during the committee meetings to conclude a series of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, including agreements on protection of investment, and on defence cooperation protocol and memos on mutual protection of classified information, cultural exchange and sports,'' Sheikh Abdullah said, adding that he was looking forward to broader cooperation in all domains and sustainable stronger ties to serve mutual interests. For his part, Evangelos Venizelo welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation, noting that Greece is maintaining distinguished, developing ties with the UAE, especially in the economic, trade and investment sectors. The Greek minister expressed his satisfaction at Greece's ties with the UAE, being strategic partners, and thanked the UAE for its support for Greece during its recent economic crisis. He said that his country is particularly interested in bolstering economic cooperation with the UAE in energy fields. He also praised the UAE's prominent stature at regional and international levels and the achievements it has made in all walks of life. – Emirates News Agency, WAM