Press Advisories
17. 5. 2012 19:26
Prime Minister: Israel is our key partner in the Middle East
http://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/prime-minister-israel-is-our-key-partner-in-the-middle-east-95617/

Prime Minister Petr NeÄ?as today held talks with his Israeli counterpart,
Benjamin Netanyahu. Members of both countries’ governments then participated
in a joint meeting.

“We have assured the Israeli delegation of our support for Israel. We
support the development of relations between our two countries, as well as
relations between the EU and the State of Israel, which we believe are
highly beneficial to both parties,â€? remarked Prime Minister Petr NeÄ?as after
the meeting.

“We categorically reject the de-legitimization and any boycott of Israel. We
unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist
attacks. Together we share the global concern about Iran’s nuclear
programme,� said the Czech prime minister.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the Czech stance, noting
that few nations are able to understand that only a secure Israel can
achieve peace. “Israel has no better friend in Europe than the Czech
Republic. The friendship between the Czech people and the Jewish people goes
back a thousand years. We are both ancient nations, we value our past and
cherish our values, but we also want to seize the future,� said the Israeli
prime minister.

“Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we believe that lasting peace
can only be achieved if both parties negotiate directly. The Czech Republic
does not back unilateral actions, which have no contribution to make to the
peace process. A stable solution must be based on the principle of two
states that are borne of the right of the Jewish and Palestinian people to
self-determination and that will live side by side in peace,� said Prime
Minister NeÄ?as.

Czech Republic and Israel cooperate on science and research

The joint meeting of the Czech Republic and the State of Israel, the first
of its kind, was organized following an invitation extended by Czech Prime
Minister Petr NeÄ?as to the Israelis during his visit to Israel last
September. The main topics of discussion included mutual economic relations,
culture and mutual cooperation in education and research and development.
“We want to share with you our high technology, but also learn from you,
your vocational training, your industrial design and see how you are
progressing in these areas,� said Netanyahu.

A central theme of the talks was reciprocal trade and economic relations,
which have evolved and grown significantly from the perspective of both
exports and imports since the independence of the Czech Republic. Mutual
trade turnover has registered strong expansion in the past few years in
particular. Last year, for example, there was a 10% increase on 2010.

Israel has long been the Czech Republic’s most important partner in the
Middle East. By total volume of Czech exports, it is fifth among
non-European countries.

Another matter discussed today was research and development cooperation,
which has also been on the agenda of the two prime ministers’ previous
meetings. A subject of particular interest is the ministerial agreement on
the Gesher/Most Programme, signed by the education ministers on a previous
occasion. Under this programme, Czech and Israeli companies are able to
cooperate on research projects and experimental developments for commercial
use.

At today’s meeting, the two countries’ prime ministers signed a joint
statement confirming the friendship and historical partnership between the
Czech Republic and the State of Israel, their lasting reciprocal support,
mutual respect for the sovereign status of the two countries and recognition
of the common political, defence and economic needs of both countries.

At the post-meeting press conference, foreign ministers Karel Schwarzenberg
and Avigdor Lieberman signed a joint declaration aimed at extending and
deepening dialogue between the two countries. This document will form the
basis, among other things, of regular meetings of foreign policy and
security experts and researchers.

Other agreements signed between the Czech Republic and the State of Israel
also concerned arrangements ensuring wider access to the Czech-Israeli
transport market, greater air transport flexibility and themes touching on
restoration, reconstruction and affordable housing. The education ministers
also agreed on joint Czech-Israeli projects on basic research in
neurodegenerative diseases and advanced programming.

The Israeli prime minister brought seven Israeli government ministers with
him for the talks with their Czech counterparts. Foreign minister Avigdor
Lieberman, industry minister Shalom Simhon, science and technology minister
Daniel Hershkowitz, social affairs and communications minister Moshe Kahlon,
transport minister Israel Katz, construction minister Ariel Atias and
cultural and sports minister Limor Livnat came to Prague, where they also
held separate bilateral meetings with their Czech ministerial counterparts.

The Czech delegation, headed by Prime Minister Petr NeÄ?as, was represented
at the joint meeting of the Czech and Israeli governments by foreign
minister Karel Schwarzenberg, industry and trade minister Martin Kuba,
education minister Petr Fiala, labour minister Jaromír Drábek, transport
minister Pavel Dobeš, regional development minister Kamil Jankovský and
culture minister Alena Hanáková.