Israel’s President Shimon Peres accompanied by 80 leading Israeli businesspeople to Mexico for expanding cooperation.
In his speech at the airport with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, President Peres expressed confidence in the ongoing peace process between Israel & the Palestinians.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said during a state visit to Mexico on Wednesday he was glad peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority had been restored, and that he hoped a two-state solution to the long conflict with the Palestinians would be put into writing.
Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, flew into Mexico on Tuesday at the head of an 80-member Israeli business delegation for a six-day visit to Mexico.
A welcome ceremony was held for Peres before he met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss how to strengthen the strategic, economic and security relations between the countries as well as the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We weren’t born to be enemies. We weren’t born to rule other people. We weren’t born to take land from anybody else. We were born with a call for peace. And now we are very glad that peace negotiations were restored between us and the Palestinians and I believe that we are really determined to write it up with a full peace agreement,” Peres told the gathered media as the two leaders delivered joint statements.
In August, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry convinced Israelis and Palestinians to engage in nine months of final status negotiations — the first direct talks between the two sides since 2010. But the historic disagreements that have divided the two sides for decades remain unresolved.
In stages over nine months, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners jailed since before the 1993 Oslo Accords. In exchange, the Palestinians have agreed not to seek recognition as an independent nation from the United Nations during the course of negotiations.
“We agreed that the answer to the conflict should be based on the two-state solution,” Peres said. “Two states for two peoples’ peace is … the best alternative for them and for us.”
Pena Nieto said Peres’ visit would be beneficial to both Israel and Mexico.
“During this visit, the first you have made to our country, we celebrate it above all because we have in the people of Israel a fondness and special friendship and above all, recognizing and thanking that in that friendship, paths are widened to more cooperation between our countries that allow more development and benefits for our countries,” Pena Nieto said.
Peres is also expected to meet with senior Mexican business leaders as well as billionaire Mexican businessman Carlos Slim.
On Thursday, Peres will open the Mexico-Israel Economic Forum and deliver a speech to the Senate.
He will travel to the western city of Guadalajara on Friday to attend an international book fair where Israel is the guest of honor. He will depart Mexico on Sunday.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=13635