(Communicated by the President’s Office)

The President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, landed for a state visit in Latvia and Lithuania, the country currently holding the position of president of the European Union.

When he disembarked from the plane in Latvia, President Peres said: "I arrived on a state visit to two EU member states. Lithuania is the current president of the European Union, and Latvia will be the President in a year. We will have another round of political talks focused on topics including the addition of Hezbollah to the list of terrorist organizations, the boycott of Israeli products beyond the Green Line, and other important issues.

This is a visit to nations with a history that contains 300 years of hospitality, and on the other hand, the horrific Holocaust that destroyed an entire community. I will say Kaddish full of respect and reverence to the large community of those annihilated. We will remember the past, but we will turn our eyes to the future. I hope that we will find a common language and reach mutual understandings on current issues."

During the visit, President Peres will hold a round of intense diplomatic meetings with senior officials in Latvia, and on Wednesday he will hold a meeting with the President of Lithuania, who currently serves as president of the EU. President Peres will hold meetings with the presidents and the prime ministers of the two states, the heads of parliament, and senior ministers to discuss central political issues, the most important of which include sanctions against Iran, the involvement of the EU in promoting the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians and the EU’s decision to prohibit economic activity beyond the Green Line. 

President Peres will also take advantage of the opportunity to thank officials in Lithuania and Latvia for the EU's decision to add the Hezbollah military wing to its list of terrorist organizations.