Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, 4 March, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, Israel, met with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. An agreement was signed regarding visa exemptions for incoming tourists.
The two prime ministers discussed strengthening bilateral relations. Netanyahu said that he expects that the tightening of relations will find expression in Samoan support for Israel in international forums, saying:
“Prime Minister Tuilaepa this is your first visit to Israel and I’m sure it won’t be the last because there’s an abiding friendship between Samoa and Israel and we greet you here as a friend.
We’re going to sign an agreement to remove visa requirements for Israelis and Samoans. We appreciate your friendship. We appreciate your support in international forums and your support for Israel joining the Asian Development Bank.Equally we are cooperating in many areas in agriculture, IT, health and energy and we are prepared to do a lot more.
You are being welcomed as a friend. I know that you’ve had time to visit some of the sites here. I hope you take some more time. You’ll see an ancient land with deep roots in our history, yet with a striving to seize the future for the betterment of our people and all mankind. In that sense we welcome you as part of our common civilization. Welcome friend, to Jerusalem.”
From meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, the Samoan Prime Minister traveled by motorcade to Beit Hanasi for a red carpet reception and working meeting with President Reuven Rivlin.
The president welcomed the prime minister on his visit to Israel, saying “our countries are on different sides of the globe but the friendship between us is deep and real. I know that you are deeply worried about climate change. We live on the same planet, breathe the same air and drink the same water and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that climate change does not destroy our world. Our researchers develop new ideas into that are changing the world. We believe these developments can benefit us all and we are happy to share them, as we are doing with you in agriculture and water.”
The prime minister thanked the president for his warm welcome and said, “Mr President, thank you for welcoming me and my delegation to your beautiful country. Israel’s knowledge economy is well-known around the world and we want to make use of your achievements in many fields. The world is getting smaller and smaller and we look forward to greater interaction with you, and between Israel and the members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).”
[Source: BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul)
