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Presidents of Chile and Israel Issue Joint Friendship Statement

July 5, 1966
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An official communique pledging the Governments of Israel and Chile to work together for world peace and urging settlement of conflicts between nations through peaceful negotiations completed the formal phase of Israeli President Zalman Shazar’s state visit to Chile today.

The Israeli President continued his tour of Chile with a visit to the seashore resort city of Valparaiso where it was disclosed that he had canceled his scheduled, visit to Argentina because of political conditions there stemming from the military coup which toppled President Arturo Illia’s regime. Mr. Shazar will go to Brazil next in his Latin American tour.

The communique signed by Mr. Shazar and President Eduardo Frei declared that the two countries were united in increasing friendship, a friendship based on their matching goals of creating social progress and economic development without sacrificing personal liberty. The two Presidents agreed to increase Israeli-Chilean cooperation and listed a number of specific areas of action.

They agreed to more frequent exchanges of intellectuals. journalists and students for wider knowledge about each country’s cultural life. They proposed an increase of scientific instruction, along the lines of instruction of Chilean agronomists in Israel, exchange of experts in such fields as the peaceful uses of atomic energy and extension of trade.

They declared they were convinced that their cooperation could be fruitful in the international field and contribute to the stabilization of peaceful development in the community of nations. They urged efforts to strengthen the authority of the United Nations by strengthening respect for the territorial inviolability and sovereignty of all countries. They declared both Israel and Chile were convinced that all differences “can and must be” resolved by peaceful means such as direct talks between countries in conflict, principles basic to Israel’s efforts to achieve normal relations with hostile neighboring Arab countries.

PRESIDENT OF CHILE ACCEPTS INVITATION TO VISIT ISRAEL

They declared also agreement on the urgent need for regional and universal disarmament and control of conventional and atomic weapons. Both countries, they declared, consider the elimination of all racial and religious discrimination essential to assure full equality for all men and called for an increase in the “process of de-colonization” to assure free expression and respect for human rights. They resolved to work toward this goal.

Mr. Shazar invited President Frei to visit Israel and Mr. Frei accepted, saying he would fix a date for the visit later. The Israeli President made a series of visits to Jewish institutions in Santiago before proceeding to Valparaiso and its nearby resort area, Vina Ddlmar. At a Santiago public school named “Israel Republic, ” he was welcomed by cheering students with signs in Hebrew and Spanish. He then visited the Jewish Old Peoples Home.

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