Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin on Wednesday welcomed Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to Beit HaNasi. President Piñera and his wife who are visiting Israel, were received in an official ceremony during which the two national anthems were played. The presidents reviewed an IDF honor guard and then made joint statements to the press.
By: David Ha”Ivri
President Rivlin to President Piñera: “The gaps between us and the Palestinians are great, but we must begin with small steps of cooperation, and not to boycott or refuse plans that will improve our economic and social situation. We must cooperate in every field where we can work together. That is the only way.”
At the beginning of his remarks, President Rivlin welcomed President Piñera on his second visit to Israel, noting the historic connection between the State of Israel and its capital, Jerusalem. “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people since the days of King David. As you know, the sovereign State of Israel allows, develops and cares for freedom of worship and religion for all those who enter the gates of Jerusalem. Our historical connection to Jerusalem, and our sovereignty in Jerusalem, make us responsible for preserving Jerusalem as a city of faith and peace.” The President also noted the deep friendship between Chile and Israel, even before the establishment of the State of Israel, in saving hundreds of Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust.
“The relations between our two countries have had ups and downs, but at the basis of all this is a solid foundation of friendship,” the president continued, speaking to President Piñera: “I am happy to say that under your leadership the cooperation between the two countries is reaching new heights. In the same year, we became members of the OECD. Despite the many challenges we have faced over the years, our countries have succeeded in developing stable and growing economies. Against all odds, against the natural elements, our countries have turned agriculture into a source of national pride and profit.”
Regarding the calls opposing cooperation between the two countries, the president said: “We must stand together in and counter those voices. We must prove, through what we do on the ground, that we are much stronger together than we are separately.”
Referring to his counterpart’s visit to the Palestinian Authority, the president stressed the need to promote cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians and not to boycott various initiatives: “On our tour of our region, you will also visit the Palestinian Authority. I recently spoke with Abu Mazen, who called me to offer me condolences and we are in constant contact, even if we do not always agree. Peace is the aspiration of the people of Israel. The gaps between us and the Palestinians are great, but we must begin with small steps of cooperation, and not to boycott or refuse plans that will improve our economic and social situation. We must cooperate in every field where we can work together. That is the only way.” Concluding his remarks, the President thanked his colleague and wished for continued fruitful cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.
The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, thanked the President for his warm welcome and expressed his condolences on the passing of Nechama. The president said he was happy to be visiting Israel again, this time to further strengthen relations between the two countries. ”In the coming days, we will sign agreements in order to strengthen our friendship and cooperation in areas that are important to us, such as satellite technology, water desalination and irrigation, which will help deal with our northern desert, solar energy and cyber defense. We hope that the visit will be fruitful, expand relations and strengthen cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
“I would like to stress our appreciation for your good will to find the path to peace and harmony with the Palestinian people. I know that you have always asked for peace in the Holy Land. It is a land sacred to a very large part of mankind, the capital of the three monotheistic religions. This is the place for a meeting where the three religions can cooperate with each other. Despite the differences, what unites humanity is the fact that we are all the children of that God,” he added.
