By Manal Abdel Fattah
Ambassador George Azar, Egypt’s ambassador to New Zealand, presented his credentials to Mrs. Cindy Keiro, Governor-General, on February 1, at the New Zealand government headquarters in Auckland, during a special ceremony in accordance with New Zealand customs and ancient Maori traditions. The ceremony included accepting the challenge of the Maori warriors to ensure that the guest had come for the purpose of peace, then welcoming the ambassador and his family, displaying a guard of honor while raising the Egyptian flag, and then heading to meet the Governor-General.
During the meeting, Ambassador George Azar delivered a speech before the Governor-General in which he praised the good bilateral relations and touched on various areas of cooperation between the two countries. He also pointed out the special importance represented by the current year, as it witnesses the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Egypt and New Zealand, stressing his intention to make Every effort is made to strengthen these relations at all levels.
After handing over the credentials addressed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to the Governor-General, she expressed her pride in the relations between Egypt and New Zealand, and addressed a number of areas of joint cooperation, and asked to convey her greetings to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. She also praised the efforts made by Egypt to bring Peace and finding a settlement to regional and international crises.