President Yar’Adua receives seven new envoys
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Nov 30, 2007, 17:29

Seven new ambassadors and high commissioners to Nigeria presented their letters of accreditation to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua during separate audiences at State House, on Friday November 30.

The new Israeli Ambassador, Mr. Moshe Ram, assured President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that his country would support the administration’s seven-point agenda, especially in agriculture, where Israel has technical know-how.

He said Israel has taken it upon itself to be Nigeria’s “partner in development”, because of the long-standing cordial relations between the two peoples, and the desire to further strengthen existing mutually beneficial relations.

Speaking on the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Annapolis, USA, Mr. Ram said Nigeria could play a positive role in the peace efforts in the Middle East, because “your country has good relations with Israel and the Arab nations”, adding that “Nigeria is a regional super-power in peace keeping”. He stated that Israel was glad because all involved in the talks had agreed that there should be constant negotiations in the region.

Responding, President Yar’Adua said Nigeria and Israel “enjoy excellent relations”, with the two peoples already “integrated” even before formal diplomatic ties were established between the two countries.

In his own comments, the Irish Ambassador, Mr. Kyle O’Sullivan, said Ireland was proud to have contributed to the educational, medical and social growth of Nigeria through missionaries, adding that the trend had been reversed now, with many Nigerian professionals now practising in Ireland.

The Finnish Ambassador, Mr. Erik Ulfstedt, said his country and the European Union appreciated Nigeria’s “huge” contributions to peace-keeping, and urged President Yar’Adua to continue this important role, “because it is in everybody’s interest to have peace”.

Other Ambassadors who presented their letters of credence were Mr. Sherif Moustafa Naguib of Egypt, Mr. Ri Chan Ho of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, Ms Caroline Chretien of Canada, and Mr. Msuya Mangachi of Tanzania.

President Yar’Adua assured them of his administration’s cooperation and support in their efforts to strengthen relations with Nigeria during their tenures, and wished them a pleasant stay in the country.

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