President of the Republic receives credentials from Israel and Canada Ambassadors

The Head of State, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, received today the credentials from two new Ambassadors to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (RDTL), of Israel and Canada, in a ceremony held at the Palace Nicolau Lobato, in Díli.

The Israeli Ambassador, Mrs. Amira Arnon, on behalf of President Shimon Peres and the Israeli People transmitted the best wishes to Dr. Ramos-Horta and the Timorese People.

The Timorese President emphasized the significance of the relations between Israel and RDTL, from the first day of the reestablishment of Independence.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate reaffirmed the “danger of nuclear weapons in Middle East” and evoked the call of the US President, Mr. Barack Obama, to total denuclearization.

Dr.Ramos-Horta defended the thesis of “two States” – the Israeli and the Palestinian – in the region, as the unique solution “to achieve peace and democracy” in Middle East.

The Israeli Ambassador holds a Bachelor Arts degree in International Relations, from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. She holds also a Masters degree in Political Sciences – National Defense, from the Haifa University.

Ambassador Arnon attended a Young Diplomats special program on Middle Eastern Affairs, from the University of Jerusalem, as well as the Military College for National Defense – Israel.

In November 1970, she joined the Foreign Office. Since 1996, the diplomat worked at the UN, New York, Nepal, Turkey, Guatemala and the Balkans (Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina).

In 2009, Mrs. Arnon assumed the post of Ambassador to Singapore and non-resident Ambassador to the RDTL.

The Canadian Ambassador, Mr. Mackenzie Clugston, underlined the RDTL “capacity building” and congratulated the President and the Timorese People.

Dr. Ramos-Horta said he is grateful for the “solidarity” received from Canada since 1999 and mentioned the Canadian officials and police performance under the UN flag.

The Timorese Head of State said Canada is one of the most important contributors to UN and censured the slowness of the reform of the organization, despite the major changes occurred during the last decade in the world.

Mr. Mackenzie Clugston, considered one of the top diplomats of his country, is an expert on East Asian Affairs, with specialization on Japan.

Ambassador Clugston joined the Foreign Service in 1982 and worked in Japan in four different positions: as public affairs officer (1985), trade commissioner (1997), general consul in Osaka (2000) and deputy head of mission (2003).

Graduated from Trent University, master in Public Administration from Queen’s University, Ambassador Glugston speaks fluently English, French and Japanese. The diplomat will cover Timor-Leste from Jakarta.

The ceremony ended with the usual protocol change of gifts.


PPS - Díli, 08OCT-09