By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem, Israel ---- September 2, 2009 ..... The following was communicated by the Israel Foreign Minister's Bureau to the Israel News Agency.

Israel Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman will depart Israel today for Africa. The Israel Foreign Minister will visit Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
Twenty Israel businesspersons from the energy, agriculture, shipping, water, infrastructure, chemical, media and security industry sectors will accompany the minister, as will senior government officials from the Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, Ministry of Defense and the National Security Council.

Israel Foreign Minister Liberman will begin his visit to Africa in Addis Ababa, where he will meet with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and will open the Ethiopian Israel economic forum with the participation of Ethiopian economic ministers.

Liberman will inaugurate the center of excellence for developing human resources in agriculture in Ethiopia, a tripartite project of the two countries and the USAID. The Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the State Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia and the USAID Mission Director for Ethiopia will also attend.

On Friday, 4 September, Liberman will visit Nairobi, where he will meet with the President and Vice President of Kenyan, as well as with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the Minister for Water and Irrigation, with whom the Israel Foreign Minister will sign an agreement on water.

Israel Foreign Minister Liberman will open an economic forum and will participate in a meeting with members of the Jewish community in Nairobi's synagogue. He will also present a donation from Israel of agricultural kits. During his visit, Minister Liberman will sign an agreement for renewing and expanding the UN Habitat cooperation agreement with the UN Under-Secretary-General. The signing ceremony will be attended by Kenyan economic ministers and economic leaders.

On Monday, September 7, the Israel Foreign Minister will visit Ghana and meet with the President and Foreign Minister, and will open an economic forum.

Israel Foreign Minister Liberman will visit Nigeria on Tuesday, 8 September, where he will meet with the Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense. FM Liberman will sign a trade agreement with the Minister of Commerce and Industry and will open a business seminar. During his visit to Nigeria, the Foreign Minister will sign a memorandum of understanding and an international cooperation agreement with ECOWAS, the 15 member Economic Community of West African States.

Foreign Minister Liberman will visit Uganda on 10 September, where he will meet with the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs and open an economic event with Uganda's economic ministers and leaders of Uganda's economic sectors. FM Liberman will participate in a memorial ceremony for the fallen of 1976's Entebbe rescue operation.

Foreign Minister Liberman will return to Israel on Thursday, 10 September.

Israel Foreign Minister Liberman noted that "the visit to Africa is very important in reinforcing and improving Israel's standing in the international community and that it will contribute to advancing Israel's interests in international forums. The visit will also strengthen economic and business ties between the African states and Israel."

FM Liberman added that the visit is one element of his plan to open up new paths in Israel's foreign policy.

"For many years, Israel leaders were absent from entire regions around the world. During my visit to South America, I became convinced of the great importance host countries ascribe to these visits and of their considerable contribution to relations between states."

The Iran issue will be raised during the visit in light of the efforts Iran is making to establish itself in the region and operate there.

Joel Leyden contributed to the above news story.

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