Israel: East Med ‘much safer’ with cooperation

Israel’s president on Tuesday hailed his country’s flourishing ties with Cyprus, saying that cooperation between the two neighbors on intelligence, security and terror prevention has made the Eastern Mediterranean “much, much safer.”

“Security ties between our two countries have never been better,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades during a visit to the island nation.

“Our navies and commando units share space, knowledge and experience,” he added, without elaborating.

Rivlin said the prime focus of the strategic partnership that includes Greece is developing the East Med gas pipeline that “could be one of the greatest underwater projects in the world.”

The envisioned pipeline would carry natural gas from deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe via Greece and Italy.

Anastasiades said Cyprus and Israel share a joint commitment to the East Med project that would diversify Europe’s hydrocarbons supply and bolster its energy security.

“Our synergies are beacons of hope,” Anastasiades said.

Source: ekathimerini.com