During his visit to Israel, Prime Minister Edi Rama was received by former President of Israel Shimon Peres in the Peres Center for Peace, a non-governmental organization established by him, which promotes the rapprochement of Israel with its neighbors by promoting peace through joint economic and social projects.

Shimon Peres is one of the most prominent political figures in Israel, who has held a number of important positions for the country during his career. He is known as one of the personalities who supported and worked for peace between Israel and Palestine, and to this mission he has dedicated the Peres Centre for Peace, founded by him in 1996.

Shimon Peres was President of Israel from 2007 to 2014, in addition to having held twice the office of Prime Minister of the country, a few times that of deputy prime minister, defense minister, foreign minister, minister of finance, minister of transport, minister of Immigration, Minister of regional cooperation over the years 1969-2002.

In 2012 Peres was awarded by President Obama the highest state medal in the US, the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to peace.

The meeting was attended also by prominent representatives of the Albanian-Jewish community living there.

In addition to expressing his satisfaction for meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, former President Peres praised with admiration the changes made recently in Albania and the role and contribution of Prime Minister Rama. “I know that Albania today is a totally different country, very much because of you. In the beginning you were the most loved mayor that Albania has ever had, and now you are the most loved Prime Minister Albania has.”

Former President Peres said that he sees a promising future for Albania, in addition to being willing to provide support and cooperation, as the best way for countries to assist each other towards prosperity. “You have shown that basically by wisdom and good will you have served your people greatly and put Albania again on the map. I am very moved to see you here. Albania is a small country as us. Smallness and greatness nowadays are not measured by the size of the land or the number of the people. It is measured by the values ​​and the quality of education of a country. As far as I know you have too many problems, but what you did in a short time is fantastic, so I want to congratulate you for bringing back Albania to the beauty of its land, to the kindness of the people, and for the efforts to become a country that is not based solely on the beauty of land, but also on science and technology. As far as we can, we will be more than delighted to be of help because small countries can become great, not by armies, but through education. For me this is not just another diplomatic meeting, but really a very moving event.”

On his part, the Prime Minister praised the prominent and popular figure of former President of Israel Shimon Peres, as a carrier of messages of understanding and peaceful coexistence among countries.

Prime Minister Rama gave former President Peres the Prime Minister’s medal of Gratitude, and addressed him these words: “For everything you are and represent, for the “wise man” of Israel, thank you from the heart, and I give you on behalf of the Albanian government and, if I am allowed, of all those who gathered here tonight the Prime Minister’s medal of Gratitude.