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World Jewish News
Israel Expands Network of Offices Around the World
21.05.2009
Seven years after the closure of its offices in New Zealand, Israel is opening an embassy in this country. This was announced by the Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The Embassy was closed in 2002 due to budget cuts. And a couple of years later "Mossad" agents were discovered in New Zealand. They were arrested after attempting to steal local passports and use them in the espionage operation.
Two of them were convicted and remained in prison for six months, after which they were deported from the country.
This incident led to a serious crisis in relations between Israel and New Zealand, which imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel. About a year after the arrest of Israeli agents, the conflict was resolved, as a result of Israel's apology.
Then, Israel promised to open its embassy in Wellington, but so far this promise has not been fulfilled.
Lieberman said on Tuesday that he also intends to open a consular office in Sao Paulo in Brazil, which was closed in 2002 as well, and open - for the first time - an embassy in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat, in the light of strengthening the relations with this country.
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