2 September 2009
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will depart Wednesday on a visit to Africa in a bid to boost trade ties and drum up diplomatic support in a continent where pro-Arab sentiment has long been strong.
Lieberman's visit will be the first by an Israeli foreign minister to Africa in 20 years. An Israeli business delegation, along with delegates from the Foreign, Finance and Defense Ministries will accompany him on visits to Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana.
'The aim is to reinvigorate our political and economic relations,' said Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Lieberman.
African nations often vote in blocs in United Nations forums where Israel is a frequent target of censure. Israel is trying to enlist support for international pressure on Iran to abandon its disputed nuclear program.
Lieberman last month toured Latin America, another region that had not been high on Israel's diplomatic agenda.
'Israel has been absent for many years from many areas of the world,' Lieberman said, 'After my visit to South America, I was convinced of the importance of these kinds of visits and the contribution they bring in relations between the countries.'
The Foreign Ministry stated that the issue of Iran will be discussed in light of Iran's effort to become a presence in Africa.
Liberman's trip will start in Addis Ababba where he will meet with Ethiopia's president and foreign minister and attend an economic seminar in conjunction with economic ministers from the Ethiopian government.
He will also help inaugurate a joint project between Israel, Ethiopia and the United States, which will strive to support farmers and agriculture in Ethiopia.
Lieberman will then visit Uganda on Thursday where he will meet the president and foreign minister. While in Entebbe, he will participate in a memorial ceremony commemorating Operation Entebbe, a hostage rescue operation in 1967 where 45 Ugandan soldiers were killed.
