RedCafe.net - View Single Post - Israel celebrates 60 years of independence

holyland red · 9th May 2008, 07:22

British PM: Israel`s creation one of the 20th century`s `greatest achievements`

By DPA and Haaretz Service

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday congratulated Israel on its 60th anniversary of independence, calling the state's creation of of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th Century.

During an event marking the anniversary at a London synagogue, the British leader said that Israel has faced "immense threats" since its creation and called for a future where the "children of Abraham" would live together in peace as part of the same extended family.

He also said that the British government was ready to support the Middle East peace process by contributing funds to aid Palestinian infrastructure.

The European Union on Thursday also congratulated Israel on the 60th anniversary, with officials vowing to forge even closer ties with the Middle Eastern state.

The head of the bloc's executive, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said Israel's significance for Europeans went "beyond normal forms of cooperation with a close neighbour."

"Both the European Union and the state of Israel were born out of the same great convulsion of the Second World War and the Shoah," Barroso said in a message.

"In its 60 years as an independent state, Israel has had to contend with many challenges. Yet through it all it has continued to adapt, develop and prosper.

"We now take almost for granted impressive Israeli achievements in fields such as science and technology, industry, agriculture, education and the arts. In retrospect, we can only wonder at how all this was achieved under such difficult circumstances," Barroso added.

The commission chief noted that the EU and Israel were already cooperating on a range of issues such as climate change, counter-terrorism "and the fight against racism and anti-Semitism".

The EU is Israel's main trading partner and Israel is the only non-European country to participate in the EU's Research and Development programme, noted External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

"Hundreds of project proposals by Israeli researchers have received EU funding, for example developing innovative cancer diagnostic techniques, hydrogen cars, machine translation techniques. Also, Israeli students are benefiting from scholarships under the EU's Erasmus Mundus exchange programme," Ferrero-Waldner told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

And Israel is now close to being granted "special status" within the EU's neighbourhood policy, officials in Brussels said.

Such a special status might include deals in the area of air transport, higher education, trade in agricultural products and services, social security, customs, information society, environment as well as consumer protection.

"The EU and Israel are closer now than they were ever before," the
commissioner said.

Other European dignitaries on Thursday also sent their well wishes to Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wrote to Peres "It gives me particular pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, on the sixtieth anniversary of your Independence. I extend my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of Israel in the coming year."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote: "As you know, France has always been committed to Israel's security and to the quest for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, to which the peoples of the region aspire. As in the past, France will continue to stand by you and to work together with you toward this goal, in order to end the suffering of the Israelis and the Palestinians, which has been going on far too long."

Sarkozy explained that Peres' last visit to Paris was an important one even in the development of the relations between the two states, and voiced hope that this close relationship will deepen when he comes to visit Israel in June.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano also sent his congratulations, as did Irish President Mary McAleese, Austrian President Heinz Fischer and many more.

In contrast, Nistelrooy10, Van Nistelrator, Sultan and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad were pissed off at the celebrations and refused to congratulate Israel.

9th May 2008, 07:22	#129 (permalink)
holyland red First Team Sub Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 9,011	British PM: Israel`s creation one of the 20th century`s `greatest achievements` By DPA and Haaretz Service British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday congratulated Israel on its 60th anniversary of independence, calling the state's creation of of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th Century. During an event marking the anniversary at a London synagogue, the British leader said that Israel has faced "immense threats" since its creation and called for a future where the "children of Abraham" would live together in peace as part of the same extended family. He also said that the British government was ready to support the Middle East peace process by contributing funds to aid Palestinian infrastructure. The European Union on Thursday also congratulated Israel on the 60th anniversary, with officials vowing to forge even closer ties with the Middle Eastern state. The head of the bloc's executive, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said Israel's significance for Europeans went "beyond normal forms of cooperation with a close neighbour." "Both the European Union and the state of Israel were born out of the same great convulsion of the Second World War and the Shoah," Barroso said in a message. "In its 60 years as an independent state, Israel has had to contend with many challenges. Yet through it all it has continued to adapt, develop and prosper. "We now take almost for granted impressive Israeli achievements in fields such as science and technology, industry, agriculture, education and the arts. In retrospect, we can only wonder at how all this was achieved under such difficult circumstances," Barroso added. The commission chief noted that the EU and Israel were already cooperating on a range of issues such as climate change, counter-terrorism "and the fight against racism and anti-Semitism". The EU is Israel's main trading partner and Israel is the only non-European country to participate in the EU's Research and Development programme, noted External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. "Hundreds of project proposals by Israeli researchers have received EU funding, for example developing innovative cancer diagnostic techniques, hydrogen cars, machine translation techniques. Also, Israeli students are benefiting from scholarships under the EU's Erasmus Mundus exchange programme," Ferrero-Waldner told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. And Israel is now close to being granted "special status" within the EU's neighbourhood policy, officials in Brussels said. Such a special status might include deals in the area of air transport, higher education, trade in agricultural products and services, social security, customs, information society, environment as well as consumer protection. "The EU and Israel are closer now than they were ever before," the commissioner said. Other European dignitaries on Thursday also sent their well wishes to Israeli President Shimon Peres. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wrote to Peres "It gives me particular pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, on the sixtieth anniversary of your Independence. I extend my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of Israel in the coming year." French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote: "As you know, France has always been committed to Israel's security and to the quest for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, to which the peoples of the region aspire. As in the past, France will continue to stand by you and to work together with you toward this goal, in order to end the suffering of the Israelis and the Palestinians, which has been going on far too long." Sarkozy explained that Peres' last visit to Paris was an important one even in the development of the relations between the two states, and voiced hope that this close relationship will deepen when he comes to visit Israel in June. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano also sent his congratulations, as did Irish President Mary McAleese, Austrian President Heinz Fischer and many more. In contrast, Nistelrooy10, Van Nistelrator, Sultan and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad were pissed off at the celebrations and refused to congratulate Israel.