The chiefs of state of both Argentina and Uruguay will visit Israel this year, an indication of improved relations between Israel and Latin America, according to Hanan Olamy, head of the Latin American Department of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, it was reported yesterday in New York’s mass circulation Spanish-language newspaper, El Diario/La Prensa.
Uruguayan President Julio Sanguinetti plans an official visit to Israel within the next four months, and Argentine President Raul Alfonsin will also visit at some time during the coming year, Olamy said.
The New York-based Spanish-language daily added that Olamy also told reporters that two other Uruguayan officials–Vice President Enrique Tarigo and Foreign Minister Enrique Iglesias — are to arrive in Israel this week in separate visits. They are the highest level officials from this South American country to visit Israel in more than a decade.
Both Uruguay and Argentina have undergone transformation from military to civilian rule within the last two years.
Olamy said he anticipates that Israel’s relations with the Hispanic world will improve, following last week’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Spain, El Diario/La Prensa reported.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
