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Israel hails Greece’s new government

22 June 2012 02:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Israel’s government sent its best wishes of success to Athens on Thursday soon after a new Greek cabinet was formed following two months of political stalemate, APA reports.

"Israel wishes the new government of Greece much success in facing the complex economic challenges which lay ahead for the country," said a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

"We share the hope that the government of Antonis Samaras will lead Greece towards a better future. The state of Israel will continue to nurture its friendship with the Greek people and their government, and will endeavor to widen the ties between the two countries," it said.

Samaras’ party narrowly defeated the radical left SYRIZA party which had threatened to fundamentally change Greece’s policy toward Israel, which had improved dramatically over the last two years.

The statement expressed concern over the election of 18 members of the far right Golden Dawn Party to the Greek parliament "and the possible influence of this group on the development of racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic ideas in the country."

"We trust in the ability of Greece to tackle this challenge too, and to preserve its ancient democratic values," the statement said.

The Golden Dawn Party, whose leader has denied the Holocaust, received about 7 percent of the vote.