(Communicated by the Office of the President)

President Shimon Peres (Thursday, 28 February 2013) received letters of credence from five new ambassadors from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Chile and Zambia. The new ambassadors, who will be officially taking up their positions as ambassadors of their countries in Israel, presented their letters of credence at an official ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.

The new ambassadors thanked President Peres for his welcome and said it was a great privilege to serve in Israel. President Peres wished them luck and said, "Israel is faced with strategic and diplomatic challenges - I hope that we will expand our cooperation with your countries."

During the meeting with the incoming South African's, the new ambassador expressed his hope that the peace process with the Palestinians can be restarted. He said to President Peres that South Africa realizes the process is a long one but that South Africa believes that Israel deserves genuine peace and support any step in that direction. President Peres thanked the ambassador and said, "I believe that the solution is two states, for two peoples living side by side in peace and security. The peace process is top of our agenda."

The new Vietnamese ambassador thanked President Peres for the improved relations between the two countries in particular in the fields of agriculture and technology. President Peres responded and said, "There are 300 students from Vietnam in Israel who came here to learn about modern agriculture. This is a unique project which benefits both countries."

The five ambassadors were as follows:

• Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam - H.E. Mr. Ta  Duy Chinh
• Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka - H.E. Mr. Sarath Devesena Wijesinghe
• Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa - H.E. Mr. Sisa Ngombane
• Ambassador of the Republic of Chile - H.E. Mr. Jorge Montero Figueroa
• Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia - H.E. Ms. Mary Mildred Zambezi