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- Written by Jonathan Danilowitz
The Pool Bar at Tel Aviv's Hilton Hotel was the perfect sunset location last Tuesday for a party to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and Thailand. As the sun sank into the Mediterranean Sea, members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Israeli business community, VIPs, high society and journalists mingled, chatted, laughed and enjoyed the delicious food and drinks.
In the background a Thai sextet played authentic Thai music, while guests were startled to see artists weaving Thai silk, others crafting gorgeous artistic creations out of fruits and vegetables, and yet others hand-painting tiny Thai umbrellas – given to guests as a souvenir of the evening.
Hosting the party was H.E. Mr. Jukr Boon-Long, ambassador to Israel of the Kingdom of Thailand. The ambassador, in a short and gracious address to welcome the guests noted that in honor of this 60th diplomatic anniversary, Thailand Post and Israel Post have jointly issued stamps in their respective countries – an unusual and very creative way of symbolizing the close ties between the two states.
He added that Israel and Thailand share cultural, medical, agricultural, scientific, investment and trade ties. "Culture transcends any boundary. Culture could travel beyond territorial; political, religious, and ideological borders. Culture creates understanding amongst people of different races. For this reason, the Embassy is very conscious of how better understanding of each other's cultures and background can lead to a reservoir of goodwill and cooperation among nations."
Among the ambassadors and other distinguished guests was the doyen of the Israeli diplomatic corps, H. E. Henri Etoundi Essomba , ambassador of Cameroon; H. E..Lars Faaborg-Andersen; the ambassador to Israel of the European Union; H. E. Sisa Ngombane , ambassador of South Africa; Adv. Joseph Gillor, honorary consul for Thailand in Haifa and President of the Israel-Thailand Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Sawalee Eldar, CEO of Oriental Food Importers Ltd., and of course Ms. Rinat Gilboa who designed the exquisite Israeli stamp. She told your DIPLOMACY correspondent that this is not the first time she has designed stamps for the Israel Postal Authority, and that "it takes endless hours to get it just right".
Also honoring the guests with their presence were Hezi Zaieg, Chairman of Israel Postal Company, and Haim Elmoznino, CEO & President of the Company. They participated in the unveiling of the actual stamp, and paid tribute to the close relationship between the two countries, and thanked the stamp's designer again for her brilliant work.
Israel's Minister of Communication, Gilad Erdan, represented the government of Israel and replied on behalf of the people of Israel. He noted that it is not coincidental that the theme of the stamp is the Thai mangosteen fruit and the Israeli pomegranate. "These fruits are symbolic of the fruitful and long-standing excellent relations that have existed between the two countries since Israel was only 6 years old", said Mr. Erdan, who then revealed that when he was a young man just released from the army, he chose to spend a long period of time touring Thailand as a backpacker, and added that today Thailand is the 2nd most popular tourist destination for Israelis. Guests at the event were invited to taste the mangosteen fruits, especially imported for the occasion.
Also especially "imported" was the cultural troupe who performed authentic Thai dancing and musical excerpts, from the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute of Thailand. They showcased some of Thailand's exquisite culture. They are currently on tour to Beer Sheva, Nazareth, and Haifa with the kind sponsorship of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture.
A gift of a day-of-issue cancellation envelope of the two stamps (Thai and Israel) was presented to each guest, together with colorful literature on tourist attractions in Thailand.
This will be a hard act to follow.
Photos Silvia Golan
- Details
- Written by Sima Lahat & Silvia Golan
The 116th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of the Philippines was celebrated on June 12 in the Tel Aviv Carlton Hotel. The invitees included many Distinguished Ambassadors, Consuls and other Diplomatic personalities, military and medical people who participated in the rescue operations following the nature disaster that happened in the Philippine.
The Philippine national government declared June 12, 2014 as one of the Regular National Holiday in the entire Philippines in celebration of the country’s Independence Day celebration.
The June 12, 2014 Independence Day Celebration is considered as the 116th anniversary celebration of the Philippine declaration of Independence from the Spanish colonial regime that governed the country for more than 377 years of occupation.
The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippine, His Excellency Generoso D. G. Calonege, welcomed the participants and said:
Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs Meir Cohen, Excellencies and other members of the diplomatic corps, friends and fellow Filipinos, good evening and welcome.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, I wish to thank you for joining us this evening as we commemorate the 116tb Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
As I recall events of the last year, I cannot help but note some difficulties that the Philippines encountered. Many of you have beard about the tragic and devastating effects of Typhoon Haiyan in the Central Visayas region. The storm and its aftermath affected thousands of families, but the outpouring of support and assistance from the international community has been overwhelming as well.
We would like to take this opportunity to once again express the Philippines' deep appreciation to the Government of the State of Israel for sending a humanitarian delegation from the IDF Home Front Command. The state-of-the-art field hospital they established served almost three thousand local residents of Bogo, Cebu during the crucial first few days after the typhoon .
I would also like to thank other organizations that took the initiative to send their own teams to the Philippines, such as ZAKA, IsraAID, the Israel Relief Coalition, and the American Jewish Committee, as well private Israeli citizens who sent donations to the affected areas. Your actions are a testament to the deep friendship between our countries and our peoples.
As I speak, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts are still ongoing, but we Filipinos are a resilient and enduring people.
Despite the setbacks suffered in 2013 the Philippine economy has maintained its growth, with an even more positive outlook for the future. During the same year the Philippines achieved investment grade status from all three major global credit-rating agencies: Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, and Moody's.
These were achieved through fiscal discipline, a stable political climate, and good governance through the leadership of President Benigno S.Aquino III.
Furthermore, the World Bank's 2014 Global Economic Prospects Report forecasts growth of 6.5% this year, 7.1% in 2015, and 6.5% in 2016, while the World Economic Forum raised the Philippines' rank to 59 out of 148 countries in its Global Competitiveness Index.
Inflation is also at a four-year low, and with the planned increase in infrastructure
building , prospects for the Philippine economy are very positive indeed. and as our economy grows, scvtfo;s our number of visitors. In 2013 the Philippines hosted a total of 4.7 million tourists, up by 10% from 2012. Israeli visitors alone posted a 30% increase last year, maintaining the steady double digit increase since 2010.
The Philippines' geographic location historically made it the crossroads between the East and the West, and a melting pot of diverse cultures and beliefs.
Some may say that our country is an archipelago divided by the waters of the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. We say, however, that the Philippines' seven thousand one hundred and seven different islands are bound together by these bodies of water which, since time immemorial, have served as our source of livelihood, means of transportation, trade and cultural exchanges.
Many of you are familiar with the Filipino culture of warmth, hospitality and openness borne out of this history. For those who are not familiar, I have good news for you.
The signing of the Philippines -Israel Air Service Agreement last month will pave the way for direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, bringing the Philippines closer and more accessible to you. Soon enough, those who may wish to escape the heat of an Israeli summer will find it easier to seek refuge in the cool rains and forests of the Philippines . Filipinos who yearn to visit the birthplace of Christianity will also find it easier to travel to Israel.
Philippine - Israel relations have always been warm. Our common commitment to the values of freedom and democracy has been a springboard for collaborative efforts in various fields for decades.
I am pleased to inform you that agricultural cooperation is going well and strong as demonstrated by the second phase of the Philippines - Israel Center for Agricultural Training, also known as PICAT, and by the Granot Agrostudies Program, both under the Ministry of Foreign Affair's MASHAV.
Originally began with one pilot project in Nueva Ecija in 2006, PICAT provided a venue for Israeli experts to provide on-site training and capacity building for the cultivation of high-value crops to Filipino farmers. The program is now on its eighth year and has expanded to seven other provinces in Central Luzon, namely Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Zambales.
Granot Agrostudies provides agricultural training for Filipino students in Israel. To date, more than one thousand Filipino students have trained under this program and returned to the Philippines where they can put the agricultural techniques they have learned into action.
Defense and logistics cooperation between Israel and the Philippines is also well underway, highlighted by the visit of our Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin earlier this year and the recent re-opening of the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache. We welcome this new dimension in Philippines - Israel relations and look forward to working with the Israeli government in this field.
The Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and security in the Middle East. Since 2009, it has maintained peacekeepers at the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force stationed in the Golan. Together with other troop contributing countries, the mission plays a pivotal role in ensuring stability in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria.
The most visible indication of the good relations between our countries, however, is in the relationship between our peoples. Filipinos have become part of everyday life in Israel as they care for the most vulnerable members of society: the elderly and the differently-abled. Their hard work allow Israelis to carry on with their daily lives, confident that their loved ones are in good hands.
The Philippines appreciates this important role that has been entrusted to Filipino workers, as well as the policies enacted by the Israeli government to ensure that their rights and welfare are protected.
The year 2014 marks the 116th year since our forefathers sowed the seeds of the Republic of the Philippines. It also marks the 57th year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel. As we celebrate both auspicious events this evening, we also invite you to join us as we continue our journey as a country, and as partners in the international community.
Thank you very much, toda raba, maraming salamat.
After the Ambassador's speech, addressed the participants the Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Mr. Meir Cohen, and said the following:
I am greatly pleased and honored to represent the Government and the People of Israel in congratulating the government and people of the Philippines as they celebrate the 116th anniversary of their independence.
Israel and the Philippines have always enjoyed friendly relations with one another. One can trace the origins of these warm relations all the way back to World War II when the President of the Philippines made a concerted effort to welcome the Jews of Europe into his country during and immediately after the horrors of the Holocaust. Moreover, in 1947, the Philippines was the only country in all of Asia which supported the UN partition plan to give the Jews a state of their own. And even today, the Philippines takes an active role in supporting the wellbeing of Israel’s citizens: it is an active member of UNDOF, the peace keeping force in the Golan Heights, which is essential to our security.
Yet the people of the Philippines do not only care for Israelis through government action. Today there are tens of thousands of Pilipino caregivers working in Israel. Thanks to these caregivers, citizens of the Philippines have earned a reputation in Israel for their dedication, patience, and compassion.
For our part, Israel is glad to be able to reciprocate this dedication and sense of service to the Philippines through MASHAV. Since the establishment of this government agency, thousands of Pilipino students have studied in MASHAV courses. The “PICAT Project” has been particularly successful and we are pleased that it has spread to eight Pilipino provinces since its initial implementation.
Moreover, after the destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda last year, Israel sent a humanitarian delegation from the IDF Homefront Command and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the Philippines. Beyond the medical care which Israelis administered to over three thousand Pilipino typhoon victims in a field hoapital built by the Israelis, we also rebuilt two schools and drilled many new water wells. Israelis also offered on the spot courses in numerous subjects to help Pilipino citizens be better prepared for natural disasters.
We are also satisfied with the continuation of the “Agrostudies Project” in the Philippines, which enables hundreds of students to come to Israel and receive training in advanced agriculture. Next August, a new generation of 550 students will arrive in Israel for training and we wish them best of luck in their studies here.
In terms of economics, many Israeli companies are beginning to turn their attention to the Philippines. They see the vast untapped potential and as we speak, are investing in a variety of sectors in the Pilipino economy, particularly the defense industry which can be helpful to its national security.
In the international arena, Israel is also pleased with the Philippines’ actions over the past month. We appreciate that the Philippines took Israel’s position in UNESCO and WHO votes. We hope to see this pattern continue.
On June 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Albert Del Rosario, is scheduled to visit Israel. Our own Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avignor Lieberman, is looking forward to this visit and hopes to have a robust dialog with his Pilipino counterpart on variety of topics. More generally, the government of Israel views these high level visits as a powerful demonstration of the strong ties which bind our two nations together.
To conclude, Mr. Ambassador, please convey our congratulations to your Government and to the Pilipino People on the anniversary of your independence. May the Philippines enjoy growing prosperity and success, and may the ties of friendship between our two countries continue to flourish.
The national anthems of both countries were sung by a popular Philippine singer - Kathlyn Elegado. Also performed Rose Osang Fostanes - a Philippine singer who works in Israel and won the first place in the Israeli X-Factor contest.
I want to add: I have attended many events commemorating Independence Day of various countries, and heard many speeches. In this particularly event, I felt deeply the strong friendship between the people of both countries – Philippines and Israel – which was evident in the speeches and atmosphere ( Sima Lahat).
Photos Silvia Golan
- Details
- Written by Silvia G Golan
Photo H.E. Ms. Vivian Bercovici, presented her nomination form to the President of Israel
The President Shimon Peres told the New Ambassadors:
"The State of Israel and its citizens appreciate you very much - Please feel at home"
The new Ambassadors from Canada, Macedonia, Montenegro and Uganda presented their Letters of Credence to the President of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres, when starting their roles as Ambassadors of their respective countries in Israel, in an official ceremony at the President's residence. In their meetings with the President, the Ambassadors expressed their hopes for the strengthening of the mutual relations and the broadening of the mutual cooperation between the countries.
The new Ambassador from Canada, H.E. Ms. Vivian Bercovici, presented her Letter of Credence to the President of Israel with great excitement, thanked the President, and said: "I am very moved to be here, and I am ready to the challenges involved in the fulfillment of this service. We have very good relations and common values. We will be glad to work and strengthen the commercial and scientific relations between Israel and Canada. There are very good relations between the Jewish community in Canada and Canadian citizens, and I, as a Jewish Canadian citizen, can testify this". President Peres shook her hand warmly and said: "Canada is close to our hearts and one of our most important allies. Our mutual relations are at their top flourishing".
Photo The new Macedonia's Ambassador H.E. Mr. Pajo Avirovikj and the president Peres
The new Ambassador from Macedonia, H.E. Mr. Pajo Avirovikj, presented his Letter of Credence to President Peres and said: "I am very proud to have received the privilege of representing my country in Israel for the second time, and of continuing to work for the enhancement of the relations between our countries. Macedonia attributes great importance to its relations with Israel and the dialog between our countries."
The new Ambassador from Montenegro, H.E. Ms. Tamara Mugos, presented also her Letter of Credence to President Peres
Photo The new Ambassador from Montenegro, H.E. Ms. Tamara Mugos, presented her nomination form to the President.
The new Ambassador from Uganda, H.E. Mr. Angualia Laus Richard, presented his Letters of Credence to President Peres , thanked him and said: "Uganda and Israel have enjoyed very good relations for many years, and we expect to strengthen them in the coming years. We thank you, Mr. President, for your important role in these relations. I wish to congratulate you for the democratic elections for the presidency, which brought great honor to the State of Israel, and it is a privilege for me to have experienced the election process".
Photo The new Ambassador from Uganda, H.E. Mr. Angualia Laus Richard and the President Shimon Peres
President Peres welcomed the new Ambassadors, stressed that the State of Israel will help them broaden the mutual cooperation as much as possible, and said: "This house is open for you - please feel at home. You will discover that the State of Israel and its citizens appreciate you very much. Our relations are very good, and it is important for us to keep them as such and strengthen them. We will help you and stand by you in everything you need."
Photos Mark Neumann GPO
- Details
- Written by Jonathan Danilowitz
What might have been a stuffy, stiff and formal evening turned out to be really smart, very elegant, and wonderfully “cool” event on Wednesday evening 11th June.
The venue was the Grand Ballroom of Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel, a perfect location to celebrate the National Day of the Russian Federation in style.
The invitees included many Distinguished Ambassadors, Consuls and other Diplomatic personalities (the various Military Attaches all looking so crisp and smart in full dress uniforms), senior members of the Israeli political scene, captains of Israel’s industry and economy (including Stas Misezhnikov – former Israeli Minister of Tourism, and Asher Ben Artzi, former Chief Superintendent of Israel Police, to name just two), and members of the Russian-Israeli community, many of them displaying medals of their own military service in the former USSR and the modern Russian Federation.
The hosts were the Ambassador of Russia to Israel, his Excellency Sergey Yakovlev and Mrs. Yakovlev. In an unusually short (and sweet) speech by the Ambassador he simply welcomed the guests and invited them to enjoy themselves on the festive occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation – which they obviously did.
Elegant snacks, a delicious and generous buffet dinner, an open bar where the wine, champagne and vodka flowed like water is a sure basic recipe for enjoyment.
Israeli Minster of Absorption Sofa Landver (herself of Russian origin) responded to the Ambassador on behalf of the Israeli people. She opened her address by warmly congratulating the Government and the people of the Russian Federation, and asked Ambassador Yakovlev to convey the good wishes to the Government and people. Mrs. Landver noted that the national days of Russia and Israel are very close together, symbolic of the close ties between the two countries, and that the dates coincide with the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi regime, a defeat in which Russia played a major role. “This holiday is one of the most important celebrations in Russia and it also holds a special place in the hearts of Israelis. How amazing, that only three years after Russia defeated the Nazis, the State of Israel was established, in May 1948”.
The evening was conducted under the stewardship of Aleksander Kryukov, Counselor of the Russian Embassy. He introduced the vibrant after-dinner entertainers, including the classic tenor Dr. Michael Riskin and soprano Radha Abramovich who were expertly accompanied by musicians Leonid Ptashka, Valery Lipetz and Alex Akovov.
Lining the red carpet at the entrance were photographs from the 2014 winter Olympics at Sochi, with the addition of some older photographs of some the former USSR’s sports men and women and their spectacular successes.
Photos Silvia Golan
- Details
- Written by Sima Lahat
The Italian Republic day was celebrated on June 2nd 2014. Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica in Italian (Festival of the Republic), is a national holiday in Italy on June 2 each year. It celebrates the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy in 1946 so their country could become a republic. Republic Day is a day off work for many people in Italy. Events include: Official ceremonies, Military parades, Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, inside the Altare della Patria in Rome.
Outside Italy, many Italian diplomats in embassies celebrate this day worldwide.
On the wide lawn of the Ambassador's house, Mr. Francesco M. Talo, gathered hundreds of guests to celebrate the occasion. Among them were the diplomatic community members, Minister Silvan Shalom, Mr. Meir Shitrit, Tal Brody, Sheri Harrison and many others.
The official part of the event, started with the announcement of Moran Atias, in both languages: Italian and Hebrew. After the three national anthems were played (Italian, Israeli and the EEU) the Ambassador held a short speech praising the close and strong ties between both countries. His speech was followed by the warm words of the Italian minister of education - Maria Chiara Carrozza, and the Israeli Minister of International Relations and Minister of Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz. Then, the Commissioner of the European Union, Giuseppe Sala, promoted Expo Milano 2015 under the title of: "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life", mentioning the importance of the Israeli pavilion, one of the attractions on the Expo 2015 exhibition.
After several songs by an Israeli youth quire, followed by jazz music, the guests could enjoy the fine tastes of Italian food and wines. The wine and Parmesan cheese were brought from Italy especially for this event. Waiters served hot Pizza and Antipasti. There were counters of Espresso and Italian chocolate and delicious Nutella ice cream.
I would like to congratulate the Italian people on this important and enjoyable celebration.
Photo Silvia Golan
