President Shimon Peres’ visit to Brazil is the first of an Israeli president in 40 years. Mr. Peres became the first Israeli president to receive honorary Brazilian citizenship.

Mr. Peres met on Wednesday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who boasts a wide range of ties in the global community. Peres’ visit comes a number of days before the expected arrival of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Peres used the forum to reach out to his “old friend” as he referred to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), reminding him of how he and the late Yitzchak Rabin first approached him to enter into negotiations, adding that Rabin was assassination but he remains committed to the goal.

On Tuesday, Mr. Peres met with Defense Minister Nelson Jobin, with the two agreeing that modern-day technology must be used to make the world safer and not the opposite.

The president also addressed the Brazilian parliament, explaining that since Israel’s establishment, we have been thrown into seven wars, with the realization that if we lost any of them, we would be annihilated. He also mentioned how Syria refuses to enter into direct talks with Israel, issuing a call to President Bashar al-Assad to agree to do so, without preconditions and without intermediaries.

Leaders spoke of increased cooperation in a number of spheres between the two countries, realizing the mutual benefit involved in such an arrangement.

He thanked Brazil for opening its doors to Holocaust survivors, and for voting in favor of the establishment of the State of Israel. “I admit that we lack a carnival like in Rio” the president said in a jovial tone, adding he hopes Israel’s soccer league will reach the achievements of Brazilian team.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)