Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos participated on Sunday in the Conference on the Reconstruction of Gaza, which took place in Cairo, at the initiative of Egypt and Norway.

Mr. Venizelos stated that Greece is a longstanding supporter, economically as well as through the provision of other means, of the efforts towards reconstruction of the region, stressing the need to revive the talks between Palestine and Israel and revitalize the peace process. On the margins of the Conference, Mr. Venizelos had a number of bilateral meetings with, among others, the UN Secretary General and the Foreign Ministers of the U.S., Palestine, France, Italy, and Luxembourg, during which, beyond the Palestinian issue, developments in the Cyprus issue were discussed.

He said:

Despite the economic crisis, Greece has provided over 26 million euros over the past five years for the Palestinian people. Immediately following the ceasefire, we provided 500,000 euros for repair of the water mains network and for food aid, and today we are providing a further 1 million euros. It is a symbolic sum in the face of the vast needs.

He congratulated the Egyptian government for its decisive role in the ceasefire and the reestablishment of dialogue on the Palestinian issue.