​(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
 
President Reuven Rivlin this morning (Monday, 6 June 2016) welcomed at his residence, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, who was visiting Israel to receive an honorary doctorate from Haifa University.
 
President Rivlin welcomed President Sirleaf and her delegation, "As a leader of your country, and as a Nobel Peace Prize winner, you are a symbol and it is a great honor for us to welcome you, knowing what you have done not only for your people, but for the whole world. We face similar challenges, and we are looking to the future. Israel is working to try and bring to an end the tragedy, the conflict, with the Palestinians. We have to respect the idea that they are here, and they have to respect the idea that the Jewish people have returned back to our homeland, and this is difficult because there is no confidence between the communities."
 
President Rivlin concluded, "You have had struggles in your region, and you understand that sometimes you have to fight for your freedom, but to always look to the future, and for a better future."
 
President Sirleaf thanked the President and said, "Thank you for the warm courtesy we have received. I visited Israel in 2007, and today I have returned to help strengthen, and rejuvenate the partnership between our two countries which has existed for many years, going back to Israel's independence. Since that time, we have had collaborative work together in partnership. Liberia has benefited from Israel's experience in our development goals. This partnership was held up during our conflict, but I am pleased that since I came to office in 2006, we started again, and we have benefited from exchanges and cooperation."
 
She added, "During this visit, we want to share in the tremendous progress that Israel has made especially in the field of agriculture, where your achievements continue to amaze us."
 
She concluded, "I want to thank you in particular for Israel's response during the Ebola crisis, when you were able to join with other forces and bilateral programs to help us defeat that enemy."