Peres greets new envoys from Hungary, Turkmenistan, Micronesia, and Serbia

Micronesia unfailingly votes with and for Israel at the UN and other international forums, and can therefore be regarded as Israel’s best friend.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Pres. Shimon Peres (L), Foreign Ministry official Talia Lador-Fresher, and Hungarian ambassador Andor Nagy (photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
Pres. Shimon Peres (L), Foreign Ministry official Talia Lador-Fresher, and Hungarian ambassador Andor Nagy
(photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
Micronesia unfailingly votes with Israel at the UN and other international forums, and is Israel’s good friend. Micronesia’s non-resident ambassador, Asterio R. Takesy, was the last of four new envoys who on Monday presented their credentials to President Shimon Peres.
Takesy is also Micronesia’s ambassador to the United States and is stationed in Washington.
Peres said that Micronesia is “a small land, but a great friend,” expressing Israel’s gratitude for its continued support.
“You stood day after day and year after year on our side and we are very grateful for your position,” said Peres.
Takesy said Micronesia looks to Israel in the realm of technology, with the aim of improving the quality of life. President Emanuel Mori, who was last in Israel in 2010, wants to return and explore how to best utilize Israel’s know-how.
Hungarian jurist and politician Andor Nagy, for whom Israel is his first posting, spoke frankly when Peres raised the issue of anti-Semitism in Hungary.
Israel is concerned, “but appreciates the attitude of the Hungarian government toward this ugly phenomenon,” said Peres.
Nagy responded that it is “painful” that, seventy years after the Holocaust, there are racists and anti-Semites in Hungary, but noted that the government is opposed to anti-Semitism and there is a special hotline so anti-Semitic incidents can immediately be reported. Moreover, there is a Jewish renaissance in Hungary today, he said, with 24 synagogues and some 100,000 Jews.
Serbian Ambassador Milutin Stanojevic has been in Israel for four years, serving previously as his country’s charge d’affaires.
Congratulating Stanojevic on his new role, Peres commented that he knows Israel well and has made many friends here.
Non-resident ambassador of Turkmenistan Serdarov Ata Oveznepesovich is also ambassador to Turkey and is stationed in Ankara.