Asunción, Agencia IP.- The State of Israel reopened its embassy in Paraguay’s capital last Wednesday, after six years, to fully reestablish bilateral relations between the two nations. Likewise, the Paraguayan government announced the transfer of its diplomatic headquarters from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December of this year.
The Israeli ambassador, Yoed Magen, stressed that the embassy reopening in Asunción is part of a commitment made to President Santiago Peña in May of last year, shortly after his election.
«In that meeting you told me that you would be Israel’s best friend in the world. One year after your presidency began, we have witnessed your unconditional friendship with Israel and are very proud and honored to have a friend of your stature,» Magen told the Paraguayan President.
He indicated that one of the commitments was to reopen the Israeli embassy and that «today, September 18, this idea becomes a reality.» «I have no words to describe how excited I am,» said the ambassador.
In turn, the Paraguayan President, Santiago Peña, reaffirmed the convictions and values shared with Israel, «a people for whom we have great admiration.»
In his speech, the President announced that in December of this year, Paraguay will return to Jerusalem, the headquarters of its embassy, which had been moved to Tel Aviv in 2018. «It will return to where it should always have been,» said Peña.
Both nations will benefit
«Our two nations will be the first to benefit from the installation of this headquarters,» said the Israeli ambassador at the reopening ceremony of the headquarters.
As one of the first actions in this regard, he announced that next October, an Israeli expert in water and agriculture will be installed in Asunción. The expert will work with his peers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on projects in this sector.
Israel’s advanced technology in agricultural production with irrigation systems was precisely one of the opportunities mentioned by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Gustavo Villate when referring to cooperation between Paraguay and Israel.
«We have already been working on issues such as cybersecurity and aerospace security, as well as agricultural production. They have technology that could be applied in Paraguay, such as an irrigation system for the Paraguayan Chaco region,» he said.