Reuven Rivlin lands in Fiji ahead of Pacific Islands meeting in Nadi
Rivlin was the guest of honor at a dinner alongside other Pacific Island leaders. All guests wore traditional shades of blue.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated: FEBRUARY 26, 2020 11:17President Reuven Rivlin is seen meeting with Fijian President Jioji Konrote. Both are wearing traditional blue-shaded attire.(photo credit: KOBY GIDEON/GPO)
President Reuven Rivlin landed in Fiji on Thursday and was welcomed as a guest of honor by Fiji's president ahead of his meeting with Pacific Island leaders, his office said in a statement.“I have come here from Jerusalem. I am a Jerusalemite, the son of a Jerusalemite. My family has lived in Jerusalem for seven generations," Rivlin, wearing traditional shades of blue, said at the dinner hosted by Fijian President Jioji Konrote, which was also attended by other Pacific Island leaders who would participate in the meeting later."Jerusalem is, was and always will be the eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people! We would also deeply appreciate your formal recognition of Jerusalem as our capital, as did the Republic of Nauru. And while I come from the Holy City, here in the Pacific I have found the Garden of Eden, just as I did in my trip to Tonga years ago as the speaker of the Knesset.“These visits have left a deep impression on me. It is an impression which I will take with me as I continue on to Australia, and, of course, back to Israel.”Rivlin thanked Konrote for the hospitality and praised the importance of partnerships.“Our strong friendship extends to the international arena as well. We deeply appreciate your support at the UN and hope that it will continue to grow," he said. "In the face of gross bias against Israel at the UN, it is not enough simply to abstain. The unfair political discrimination against Israel must be actively opposed.”He added that he hoped to meet with these leaders again in Jerusalem some day. Following the dinner, Rivlin held meetings with several Pacific Island leaders, including Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea, Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fa'otusia of Tonga, Prime Minister Minute Alapati Taupo of Tuvalu, Foreign Minister Andrew Napuat of the Solomon Islands and Interior Minister Jeremiah Manele of Vanuatu.
