Posted on 11/08/18
Jerusalem, Israel - Nov. 8, 2018 - President Reuven Rivlin received diplomatic credentials from new Ambassadors of Croatia, Jordan, Czech Republic, Egypt and Mongolia to the State of Israel at a ceremony at the Beit Hanasi in Jerusalem, on the morning of November 8 / 30 Cheshvan.
As each ambassador arrived, their country’s flag was raised and the Israel Police Band played their national anthem. The ambassadors inspected an IDF guard of honor and presented their credentials to the president. After an audience with the president, the new ambassadors signed the guest book and Hatikvah was played at the end of the ceremony.
The first to present her credentials was the new ambassador of Croatia, Vesela Mrđen Korać. The Croatian ambassador thanked the president for his warm and kind welcome and said, “I had the pleasure of meeting you on your visit to Croatia in July, and we are looking forward to our president’s reciprocal state visit to Israel next year. Our countries have close and strong relations, and we are interested in deepening them even further into regular dialog. Croatia is a strong friend and ally of Israel at the UN, in NATO and in the European Union.”
The next to present his credentials was Ghassan Majali from Jordan. President Rivlin welcomed him and noted that next year we will mark the 25th anniversary of the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. “We are determined to live in peace with our neighbors, and we are hopeful and optimistic that others will do as you have done. The good relations between our two countries are a legacy of the leadership of the late King Hussein. Please send my warmest wishes to His Majesty King Abdullah II.”
The president received the credentials of Martin Stropnick, the new Czech ambassador. “I am so happy you are here. You left a very important position in government to be your country’s ambassador to Israel. That says something about the good relations between our two countries,” he continued, and emphasized the excellent bilateral relations between Israel and the Czech Republic and that Israel would be delighted to continue to develop and deepen areas of cooperation. President Rivlin thanked the Czech people for its assistance to the young State of Israel in the War of Independence, and recalled that the first rifle he handled as a recruit to the IDF was Czech-manufactured. The president sent his warmest wishes to President Zeman, who will be visiting Israel soon.
The next to present his credentials to the president was the incoming Egyptian ambassador, Khaled Azmi. The president began by noting that in a few months time we will mark the 40th anniversary of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. He said he hoped that a way could be found to celebrate the event and to pass on the values of peace and partnership to the next generations. “Since the peace treaty was signed nearly 40 years ago, we have welcomed six Egyptian ambassadors. Now you are the seventh. I wish you success during your time here.” The president added: “The Egyptian people play an important role in our region. There are advantages to peace, and ‘no more war’ is not just a phrase. It is important that the two peoples get to know each other.”
Last of the morning ceremonies was the new Mongolian ambassador, Bold Ravdan. “I am pleased that such a distinguished and experienced diplomat is representing Mongolia in Israel,” said Rivlin. “Our two countries cooperate on education and I’m pleased that we have recently extended the cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science.”
