Mr. Liberman: Thank you very much. Today, since this morning, I have been meeting with the President, with the Prime Minister and with my colleague, and I want to thank you for hosting our delegation. We had some very friendly and warm discussions with them.
I am also very proud to be the first Israeli Foreign Minister to visit Montenegro.
Israel and the Balkan nations have very good relations and, during the Second World War, our people even fought together against the Nazi regime.
From the first days of your independence, Israel recognized Montenegro as an independent country, and nominated our ambassador to Montenegro.
We discussed the issues related to our bilateral relations and of course we discussed all the issues in the international arena, including the Middle East and Balkan regions.
Also, I think that in Israel there is a big interest in Montenegro and was happy to see this reflected in direct flights, supporting Montenegro's tourism, and also our business communities investing in your real estate, your industry. I think that we have a very big potential to cooperate in areas such as agriculture, water treatment and high tech.
I think that our dialogue today and maybe next in Jerusalem can strengthen our bilateral relations and, of course, improve the atmosphere in the international community, and I hope for very fruitful relations in the future.
Reporter: Do you have comments on the US reports over alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces during the Gaza operation?
Mr. Liberman: Why US? It is not the US – it is a special committee of Judge Goldstein. I think most of the public can see the hypocrisy in the modern world and realize that the reason for some kinds of reports is not war crimes but the price of oil and gas and market interests. When countries and leaders such as Kaddafi or Ahmedinejad try to condemn Israel and accuse Israel of war crimes, it is really ironic, and maybe not so much ironic but very, very silly. I think we have very humanitarian values and I think the Israeli army is really the most humanitarian army in the world and we have been fighting for our independence since 1948. I am surprised that international credence is given to such kinds of reports, which give legitimacy to terror against Israel, and do not condemn the atrocities that the Hamas and Jihad perpetrate against their own people in the Gaza strip for their political aims in the Palestinian Authority.