Egyptian Ambassador to President Peres:I came with the message of peace. We are committed to all the agreements we signed with Israel and we are also committed to the peace treaty with Israel.
Jordanian Ambassador to President Peres:
The foremost priority in our foreign policy still remains the peace process and achieving peace between all neighboring countries including the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel
President Peres to the Egyptian Ambassador:
"I wish to convey to President Morsi my very best wishes for his success, for the success of Egypt and for the success of the Middle East." New ambassadors from Egypt, Jordan, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy, Malta and Armenia presented their Letters of Credence to the President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, as they began their role as ambassadors of their countries to Israel. The event took place in the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
The Egyptian ambassador, Mr. Atef Mohamed, said to President Peres: "It's an honor and pleasure for me to be here as ambassador of Egypt in Israel. I came with the message of peace and I came to confirm that we are really working for mutual trust and transparency. We are committed to all the agreements we signed with Israel and we are also committed to the peace treaty with Israel. We have to go with our new generation to the peaceful future."
President Peres welcomed the Egyptian Ambassador and said: "We consider Egypt historically and politically as the leading country of the Arab world. We have the highest respect for your people and for your history. I believe that all of us will do whatever we can for our young generation. The peace between us saved the lives of tens of thousands of young people in Egypt, the Middle East and in Israel. The lives of the young people are the most important concern. I know it's not simple, I know there are people who try to frustrate peace and I believe that our governments will do whatever they can to keep the peace between us deep, sincere, strong and serious for the sake of your people and for the sake of our people. I know this is an unfinished job because you, as well as us, would like to see peace across the Middle East. I followed President Morsi's speech and saw that he too feels that to complete the peace process with the Palestinians should be on the agenda and I think he is right and that is also the topic that we attach the highest importance to. Please convey to President Morsi my very best wishes, for his success, for the success of Egypt and for the success of the Middle East."
The Jordanian Ambassador, Mr. Walid Khalid Abdullah Obeidat, presented his Letter of Credence after two years without a Jordanian ambassador in Israel and said to President Peres: "I'm very proud and honored to be here in Israel to represent the policies of his majesty and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Our policies were always governed by international law and international legitimacy. The foremost priority in our foreign policy still remains the peace process and achieving peace between all neighboring countries including the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the state of Israel and forming a region that is economically viable, a region that has political stability and a region that works and looks for a bright future."
President Peres welcomed the new Jordanian ambassador and said, "Mr. Ambassador it is with real pleasure and respect and hope that I receive you as a representative of a country that we have the highest regard for and for a leader of a country that we respect very much. Jordan played a very positive role in trying to bring peace between us and the Palestinians. Please convey to your majesty that we would like to do whatever we can together to complete the peace with the Palestinians; I think it's important to you, and important to us. I think the Jordanians and us have agreed that the best solution is a two state solution; an Arab state called Palestine and a Jewish state called Israel. We think the best security is peace itself, based on trust and mutual respect. The people here in Israel will look upon you as a messenger of peace and goodwill. We feel ourselves real friends of the Hashemite kingdom, its people and its future and destiny. All doors here in Israel are open. It is in that spirit that I welcome you." President Peres referred to the role of Jordan in Jerusalem and stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of religious expression for all people. The Jordanian Ambassador responded and said, "Jordan is the custodian of the Christian and Muslim sights under the oversight of the Hashemite's, we are also keen to preserve the rights of all believers in the city and to have any problems solved in a fruitful manner."
President Peres welcomed the six new ambassadors to Israel from Italy, Cote d'Ivoire, Malta, Armenia, Egypt, Jordan and Armenia. President Peres said to them, "Feel welcome and at home in our country. All doors are open to you in order to strengthen the relationships and increase the cooperation between our countries."
The New Ambassadors:
Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire - H.E. Mr. Jean Baptiste Gomis
Ambassador of the Republic of Italy - H.E. Mr. Francesco Maria Talo
Ambassador of Malta - H.E. Mr. Simon Pullicino
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt - H.E. Mr. Atef Mohamed Salem Sayed Elahl
Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - H.E. Mr. Walid Khalid Abdullah Obeidat
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia - H.E. Mr. Armen Melkonian
photos Mark Neeman/GPO
