For the first time since Greece officially recognized Israel in 1990, an Israeli president will pay an official visit to Athens this week, confirming the progress in relations between the two countries strained during several years by the Greek pro-Arab policy.

Moshe Katsav and his wife Gila, are due to arrive in the Greek capital on Tuesday for a two-day visit at the invitation of Greek president Carolos Papoulias.

During this visit, Katsav will hold meetings with his counterpart, prime minister Konstantine Karamanlis, the speaker of the Parliament Anna Psarouda Benaki, leaders of the political parties and the Jewish Community.

Along with Papoulias, Katsav will also travel to the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, once called the “Jerusalem of the Balkans”, to visit the Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Memorial and pay tribute to the thousands Jews of this city who were killed by the Nazis during WWII.

“The Thessaloniki part of Katsav’s visit will be a mark of recognition for the Jewish memory of this city and the links between the two people,” Moise Constantidis, chairman of the Central council of Jews in Greece, said.

According to an Israeli diplomatic source, this visit “is a testimony of warm relations which were established between the two countries over the last years and took a good way, with a sharing of interests and values.”

“It’s an important visit which will enhance the excellent bilateral relations,” Goerges Koumoutsakos, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman said.

Greek President Carolos Papoulias (L) and his Israeli counterpart Moshe Katsav inspect a presidential guard in Athens during welcoming ceremonies.

Pro-arab stance

Until recently, Greece was so pro-Arab that “it was the only Arab country Israel was not at war with” as a diplomatic source told EJP, talking under condition of anonymity.

The relations between the two countries can be divided into three periods.

In 1947, Greece voted against the establishment of the state of Israel - the only European country to do so. From 1947 until October 1981 relations between the two counties were indifferent without being hostile.

Greece had not recognized Israel de jure but only de facto and the Israeli embassy in Athens was a diplomatic mission.

The second and worse period ever was from 1981-1990 when the Socialist party led by Andrea Papandreou ruled Greece. His foreign minister at the time was the present President, Carolos Papoulias.

Papandreou was a staunch supporter of the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat and made sure to show it all over the world.

He organized demonstration during the Lebanon war of 1982, and the first intifada, called Israel “Nazi” and said “what the Nazis did to the Jews, the Jews are doing to the Arabs.”

The life of the 6,000 members of the local Jewish community became very difficult from one day to another and incidents were regular, encouraged by a virulent anti-Israeli Greek press.

In November 1987, Papoulias, as foreign minister, traveled to Israel on an official visit. On his way back on the plane he implied that he would recommend to the Greek cabinet to recognize Israel de jure, but the first intifada postponed such thoughts.

The northern Greek city of Thessaloniki

Improved relations

The warming between the two countries started from 1990 when the liberal party, New Democracy, under Kostas Mitsotakis, won the elections and as promised his first act on foreign issues was recognizing Israel de jure, in spite of fierce opposition in Parliament.

The liberals lost the elections 3 years later to the Socialists of Andrea Papandreou. Only this time, the Oslo accords were signed and his stance turned 180 degrees towards Israel.

The turning point in the bilateral relations was when Kostas Simitis succeeded Papandreou after his death and named the son of the deceased, George, as foreign minister.

From then on, relations changed completely with bilateral visits, military maneuvers, exchange of academics and writers.