ON Tuesday, 1 October 2024, His Excellency, Henry Joseph Mokono, Papua New Guinea’s Ambassador to the State of lsrael formally presented his Letter of Credence to the President of Israel, His Excellency, Isaac Herzog at the President’s residence in Jerusalem.
The moment in itself was significant and historic as Ambassador Mokono is the first-ever diplomatic envoy PNG’s has appointed to the State of Israel as well as the only Ambassador from the Pacific islands region apart from Australia to be appointed to lsrael.
Also, the Presentation of Credentials comes one year later, after the official opening of PNG’s Embassy last year by Prime Minister Marape and witnessed by both delegations including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Herzog welcomed Ambassador Mokono and conveyed his welcome and also appreciation to Ambassador Mokono and PNG for its continued support and commitment to lsrael given the challenging time Israel is going through with the ongoing year-long war with Hamas, Hezbollah and the other Jinadis terror groups that Israel has been fighting on multi fronts.
In response, Ambassador Mokono reassured President Herzog of the government and people of Papua New Guinea’s support to the people and State of Israel.
In addition, he mentioned the PNG government’s proposal on various areas of cooperation both countries can look at in growing the bilateral relations to bring mutual opportunities and benefits to both governments and people.
Ambassador Mokono conveyed his keenness and desire to see that his tour of duty in the State of lsrael would be one that saw the elevation of the bilateral relations to even higher level.
President Herzog in response, assured Ambassador Mokono his support as well as that of the government of lsrael in ensuring the suceess of Ambassador Mokono’s tour of duty in lsrael given that he is first-ever diplomatic envoy from PNG and from the Pacific Islands.
The event was also witnessed by Ambassador Mokono’s family and PNG diplomatic officials who had accompanied him to the event.
It had also seen the acceptance of four other Head of Missions present their credentials to the President. These Heads were mainly from the European region.
The Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials came on the eve of the Jewish New Year which the Jewish holiday (Rosh Hashanah) commences from the 2 – 6 October 2024.
