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Israeli President Peres underscores importance of high-tech cooperation between Israel and Romania
Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi on Monday was welcomed by Israeli President Shimon Peres and discussed cooperation between Romania and Israel. President Peres underscored the importance of cooperation between Israel and Romania in science and technology, saying partnerships in the field of high technology, agriculture, education and energy should be encouraged, the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) reports in a press release.
At the meeting, Baconschi and Peres reviewed the opportunities to diversify cooperation between the two countries and discussed the latest developments in the region and the peace prospects in the Middle East.Baconschi mentioned Peres' visit to Bucharest in August 2010 in response to a 2009 visit to Israel by Romanian President Traian Basescu. He voiced Romania's wish to continue the pace of high-level contacts this year, MAE reports.
Baconschi continued on Monday his working visit to Israel with a meeting with Chairman of Knesset's Committee on Foreign Affairs Shaul Mofaz and leader of the Israeli Opposition Tzipi Livni. He is also scheduled to meet officials of the community of Israeli people of Romanian extraction and leaders of the local business community, Agerpres informs.
Ministers Baconschi and Lieberman signed the Agreement between Romania and the State of Israel in the field of social security
Ways to maintain an intensive pace of the political-diplomatic dialogue and possibilities to enhance bilateral cooperation between Romania and Israel were the main topics discussed on Monday, in Jerusalem, by the head of Romanian diplomacy, Teodor Baconschi, during the meeting with Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman.
According to a press release remitted by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the two officials discussed the organization of a first round of the Romanian-Israeli Inter-governmental consultations later this year. This move envisages to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including the identification of new specific projects in areas with impact upon the economic development of the two countries: alternative energy sources, agriculture, tourism, IT, water resources management.
Minister Teodor Baconschi stressed that this form of cooperation reflects the advanced level achieved in the bilateral relationship, the cited source mentioned.
As well, Minister Avigdor Lieberman expressed appreciation for Romania's balanced position within the European Union (EU) and the international organizations in the files of major importance for the region and for the State of Israel.
In the context of discussions on developments in states in the vicinity of the two countries, the two ministers have analyzed how Romania and Israel may start joint projects together with the Republic of Moldova. Areas such as agriculture and water resources management are in view, and as a working tool the two sides will also explore the option of implementing public-private partnership projects, MAE also informed in its release.
As well, the two ministers have approached the recent evolutions in North Africa and the Middle East, including in terms of their impact upon the peace process in the Middle East and neighboring regions. At the same time, the head of Romanian diplomacy expressed Romania's willingness to continue to act as an 'encouraging factor' for the efforts aimed at achieving progress in the Middle East peace process.
The meeting of Minister Teodor Baconschi with the head of Israeli diplomacy was preceded by the signing of the Agreement between Romania and the State of Israel in the field of social security. Minister Teodor Baconschi highlighted that this document - which allows the recognition and aggregation of insurance periods completed in the territory of the two states, to be taken into account when pension is calculated - is important for numerous Romanian citizens working in the State of Israel, MAE release also emphasized. Romanian diplomacy head visit to Israel is followed on Tuesday by a trip to the Palestinian National Authority.