Israeli president starts official visit to Brazil
Israeli president starts official visit to Brazil
18:59, November 11, 2009 
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Israeli President Shimon Peres began on Tuesday a six-day official visit to Brazil.
As the first Israeli head of state to visit the South American country in 40 years, Peres will be greeted on Wednesday by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
According to the Israeli Embassy in Brasilia, the visit aims at strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Peres, who is accompanied by a large business delegation, arrived in Brazil one week before a scheduled visit by Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and two weeks before a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In July, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said during a preparatory visit to Brazil that the country could persuade the Iranian government to renounce its nuclear program.
The Brazilian government has stated on several occasions that it could participate in peace negotiations in the Middle East.
The Brazilian Ministry of External Relations said in a statement that Lula da Silva and Peres are expected to "take stock of the bilateral agenda and discuss the political situation in the Middle East, particularly on the process of Israeli-Palestinian peace."
In his first engagement of the visit, Peres met late Tuesday with Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, with whom he discussed a bilateral cooperation agreement in the defense area and pledged to fight terrorism.
At the end of day, the Israeli leader will make a speech before a joint session in Brazilian Congress and will also receive the title of honorary citizen of Brasilia.
Following his activities in the Brazilian capital, Peres will travel to Sao Paulo on Thursday and on Friday to Rio de Janeiro, where he will meet with local authorities, business people and representatives of the Jewish community.
And on Sunday, Peres will travel to Argentina, where he will meet the largest Jewish community in Latin America and have talks with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner.
Source: Xinhua
As the first Israeli head of state to visit the South American country in 40 years, Peres will be greeted on Wednesday by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
According to the Israeli Embassy in Brasilia, the visit aims at strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Peres, who is accompanied by a large business delegation, arrived in Brazil one week before a scheduled visit by Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and two weeks before a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In July, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said during a preparatory visit to Brazil that the country could persuade the Iranian government to renounce its nuclear program.
The Brazilian government has stated on several occasions that it could participate in peace negotiations in the Middle East.
The Brazilian Ministry of External Relations said in a statement that Lula da Silva and Peres are expected to "take stock of the bilateral agenda and discuss the political situation in the Middle East, particularly on the process of Israeli-Palestinian peace."
In his first engagement of the visit, Peres met late Tuesday with Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, with whom he discussed a bilateral cooperation agreement in the defense area and pledged to fight terrorism.
At the end of day, the Israeli leader will make a speech before a joint session in Brazilian Congress and will also receive the title of honorary citizen of Brasilia.
Following his activities in the Brazilian capital, Peres will travel to Sao Paulo on Thursday and on Friday to Rio de Janeiro, where he will meet with local authorities, business people and representatives of the Jewish community.
And on Sunday, Peres will travel to Argentina, where he will meet the largest Jewish community in Latin America and have talks with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner.
Source: Xinhua
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