São Paulo – The Brazilian vice president Michel Temer was honored by Arab ambassadors in the country this Tuesday (26th) in Brasília. Temer is the acting president at this time, since the incumbent Dilma Rousseff is on a trip to Mexico. “Thank you for the actions you have taken to foster cooperation with our countries,” said the dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, according to the Brazilian Vice Presidency’s website. Alzeben is also the ambassador of Palestine in Brazil.
According to the Vice Presidency, the luncheon in Temer’s honor was attended by diplomats from 17 countries. “I have welcomed high-level authorities from Arab countries, and our exchange continues to show signs of vitality,” the VP said. “What matters is increasing trade flows. It must be made sure that both sides win,” he added.
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s president, Marcelo Sallum, Foreign Trade vice president, Rubens Hannun, and CEO, Michel Alaby, were in attendance.
The Vice Presidency also said Temer spoke for Middle East peace talks. “The path of dialogue is the only viable path to peace,” he said.
Since the beginning of his first term, in 2011, president Rousseff tasked Temer, a son to Lebanese parents, with Brazil’s relations with Arab countries. Since then, the VP has been to Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Palestine and Qatar, and welcomed Arab leaders in Brasília.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
