São Paulo – This Wednesday (11th) in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, the Palestinian ambassador to Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, received the Medal of Legislative Merit from the Brazilian Chamber of Representatives. The tribute was paid for the diplomat’s work in the country for bringing Arabs and Brazilians closer together. "I was very glad to receive this tribute. In all, 35 medals were presented, and I was the only foreigner," the diplomat told ANBA.
The Medal of Legislative Merit exists since 1983 and pays tribute to citizens, institutions or organizations that have helped promote the development of the country in the social, economic, cultural or political field. The ambassador was nominated by Cândido Vaccarezza.
More than 700 people, including diplomats, representatives and businessmen, attended the tribute. Alzeben received the medal from the president of the Chamber of Representatives, Michel Temer. "It was very gratifying. I dedicated the acknowledgement to the Palestinian people and their leader, Yasser Arafat," said the ambassador, who called attention to the fact that the day of the homage was the same of Arafat’s passing (November 11th).
Alzeben assumed the position of Palestinian ambassador to Brasília in July 2008. Before coming to the country, he worked as an ambassador in Cuba, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela. Presently, the diplomat, who already speaks fluent Portuguese, is promoting the coming of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to Brazil. According to him, Abbas will have official meetings in the states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, on the 21st and 22nd this month.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
