(Communicated by the Knesset Spokesperson)

Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández visited the Knesset Wednesday evening (28 October 2015) and held a work meeting with Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein. The President and his entourage were greeted by Edelstein, Knesset Director-General Ronen Plot and Knesset Secretary Yardena Meller-Horowitz. Following the welcome ceremony, the Honduran leader signed the Knesset guestbook in Chagall State Hall.

During the work meeting with Hernández, Speaker Edelstein mentioned the importance Israel attaches to its relations with Honduras and noted the cooperation between the countries in the fields of agriculture, science, internal security and more. "The Israeli parliament will be at your disposal for the purpose of approving treaties and legislative measures, for the benefit of the fruitful cooperation between the countries," Edelstein told his guest. MK Michael Oren (Kulanu), who chairs the Israel-Honduras Parliamentary Friendship Group, thanked President Hernández for Honduras' support of Israel.

Hernández thanked his hosts for the warm welcome at the Israeli parliament and said Honduras would continue to stand by Israel's side in the international arena. He noted that over the past few years the Central American country has been suffering from a severe drought, which has caused a sharp decrease in agricultural exports. "We will ask to learn from your great success in the management of water for irrigation and drinking," he said.

Hernández also mentioned during the meeting that since 2004 some 30,000 people have been killed in Honduras in violent and crime-related incidents. "Unfortunately, our country has been one of the world's leaders in acts of violence over the past decade. Therefore, we will be glad to use the knowledge and expertise you have developed with regards to security and intelligence issues," he stated.