ATHENS – Cooperation is a one path for security, stability and prosperity in the region, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in his message on Thursday to mark 30 years since Greece and Israel established diplomatic relations, which was published in the Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth".

As Dendias said, coooperation between the two countries is broadening and intensifying, noting that Greece considers that to keep alive the memory of the Holocaust is its duty.

Dendias pointed out that this first major step for strengthening bilateral relations was an initiative of the then prime minister, Constantinos Mitsotakis, on May 21, 1990 and that since then a "significant strategic partnership has been built in our region."

"Today this cooperation includes the fields of science, culture, trade and innovation, energy and tourism, security and defence and is steadily expanding to new areas," he added.

"Our intention is to further intensify our relations by strengthening and deepening the institutional frameworks, as well as the contacts on the level of civil society," said the minister, while noting that the Greek Jewish community and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem are strong bridges of friendship, as are the Diaspora organisations, especially in the USA.

"The increasing tourist flow between the two countries, as well as the strong interest of Israeli entrepreneurs wanting to invest in Greece is an indication of our friendship," Dendias underlined.