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The President of the Republic at the Presentation of Credentials by H.E. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Ambassador
of the Republic of Lebanon on April 4, 200204.04.2002
Your Excellency,
I am delighted to welcome you as the first Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to Estonia.
The relations between Estonia and Lebanon are still of a short age, but they have evolved friendly and respecting each other's interests. In the interest of mutual enrichment of knowledge and expansion of contacts, our relations certainly are in need of a fresh impetus.
Estonia and Lebanon have many similar features. As small maritime countries, we have constantly been ravished by historical whirlwinds. So, now too, due to the extreme escalation of the conflict in Middle East, both Lebanon and the whole region are having troubled times. Estonia sees the only way out of the present situation in implementation of peaceful measures. We, on our part, also have contributed to securing peace in the Middle East. The Estonian peacekeepers and observers, in colours of the UN, have been present in the region already since mid-1990s. Let us hope that these activities have been of help also to Lebanon. After all, prevention of conflicts and sufferings in our globalizing world is just the goal we are sharing.
I wish Lebanon success in developing its relations with the European Union within the framework of the Mediterranean co-operation and on the basis of their bilateral partnership. Estonia as well, after having become a member of the European Union, intends to expand the scope of its relations with Mediterranean countries, and I hope that this will result in strengthening of the contacts between Estonia and Lebanon.
Mr Ambassador,
The bilateral trade, economic and cultural relations between Estonia and Lebanon definitely need to be advanced further. The friendly relationship between our countries so far gives us every reason to believe that we will succeed in doing this. With a view to this, I am banking on your personal contribution.
Please, accept my heartfelt wishes for the success of your mission promoting the relations between our countries.
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