MFAQQ&A Interview with Ambassador Yaron Mayer Yaron Mayer joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA) of Israel in 1993. He has served in various capacities at Israeli Embassies in Hungary and India and was a deputy director at Southeast Asia Department, Asia and the Pacific Division of the MFA prior to being appointed at the Israeli Ambassador to Myanmar. Ambassador Mayer spoke with Asian Jewish Life in March 2010. The full text of this interview can be found on our website at www.asianjewishlife.org. QQ Why does Israel have an embassy in Myanmar as opposed to non- resident ambassador as elsewhere in the region? Israel and Myanmar’s relationship goes back to the early fifties when both countries were newly born and under unique circumstances. They benefited from the special relationship with each other. Last year we marked 55 years of the establishment of embassies in both countries. Israel remembers very well the Ambassador Yaron Mayer friendship and support of Burma those days towards Israel. Prime Minister U Nu paid the first ever official visit of a Prime Myanmar is a popular destination for Jewish community or Jewish people Minister to Israel in 1955 and Israel’s first Israeli tourists. Among them there are have no problems in this country. Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, paid also many backpackers who come to a long visit to Burma in 1961 in addition explore the wonders of Myanmar and its QQ What aid did Israel to many other Israeli dignitaries who people. However, I wouldn’t consider it provide to Myanmar came to Burma like Moshe Sharet, Golda part of the back-packers circuit unlike during Cyclone Nargis in Meir, Moshe Dayan, Shimon Peres and Thailand or India. Many of the Israeli 2008? President Yitshak Ben Zvi. These visits visitors do make repeated visits and were background to extensive relations leave the country with deep feelings of Israel aid and assistance from the in various fields such as economics, satisfactions and appreciation towards government and various Israeli NGOs as agriculture and industry. the people. Once Myanmar becomes well as private citizens came to Myanmar more open, I am certain that many more right after Cyclone Nargis. Israel provided Both Israel and Myanmar kept their Israelis will come. medicine & medical equipment, training embassies open throughout the years. to local volunteers, consultations with The friendship and good feelings QQ Is Israel involved the local government and civil society between the two people also contributes with the restoration organizations. Soon after the cyclone, hugely to people-to-people contacts or preservation of the Israeli disaster management experts in the forms of tourism, training, synagogue or the Jewish immediately arrived to assist in relief exposures and humanitarian projects. efforts. Taking into account the friendly Israel believes that there is potential for cemetery? relations, many Israelis felt the need of further economic and trade relations The embassy of Israel in Yangon is in the crisis and spontaneously responded with Myanmar and also recognizes the close contact with the local Jewish to the tragic situation. Beside the strategic importance of Myanmar. community as well as with Jews of support of governmental agencies like Myanmar origin who visit the country. MASHAV, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs QQ Is Myanmar part of Naturally we are involved in various and the Ministry of Health, I can mention the Israeli back-packers aspects of these matters. However, it the immediate response of organizations circuit? should be mentioned that generally the such as IsraAid, Israel Flying Aid, FIRST, 16 ASIAN JEWISH LIFE SPRING 2010 MFAQQ&A Interview with Ambassador Yaron Mayer LATET, MDA Kibbutz Movement, the with the Ministry of Health, Union of Israeli private companies in the field of JDC, Benei Britt and others. Myanmar. We hope that this project water and agriculture are also active in will continue. Myanmar. Cyclone Nargis hit right at a time when Israel Embassy in Yangon was preparing Another significant project is in the area QQ In what commercial its 60th Independence Day event. The HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. areas is collaboration then ambassador, Mrs. Ruth Schatz, Collaboration between the Myanmar taking place between promptly decided to cancel the event Business Coalition on AIDS (MBCA) Israel and Myanmar? and diverted its budget towards the relief and the Jerusalem AIDS Project (JAIP) efforts. provides opportunities for training and Are there cultural or exposure visits to successful programs educational exchanges? QQ Is the Israeli aid for and projects in Israel whereby Myanmar cyclone struck areas participants gain hands-on learning The potential for commercial collaboration continuing? What is being of best-practice methodologies and between Israel and Myanmar is big, done? approaches from Israel’s experienced similar to commercial ties with other Asian organizations. Israel’s HIV/AIDS countries. However, the volume of these As in any disaster of this magnitude, experts also come to Myanmar to contacts is still relatively small and we cyclone affected areas are still in need share insights and experiences with hope that economic reforms in Myanmar of recovery and reconstruction support. local HIV organizations and agencies. will enable business people from both Israel, in cooperation with local partners, Recently we held such workshop with sides to enhance their business ventures. is actively involved in reconstruction of cooperation between Mashav and I see three main fields that we should few villages in the delta region building Burnet Institute. promote. Firstly, is the field of agriculture schools, providing livelihood support and water technology, which is already and trainings to promote psycho-social A new field of cooperation is in being explored but the potential is support for trauma recovery. So far, 3 Hydrotherapy. Two Myanmar much higher. Secondly, is in field of primary schools are being rebuilt along physiotherapists from “EDEN”, a private telecommunication and information with other amenities such as bridges, institute for children with disabilities, technology which many Israeli companies latrines, etc in all respective villages. have been sent to Israel to receive have world-known standards that can These activities are undertaken in training and diplomas in the field of be adapted to different environments. collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign hydrotherapy. This marks the first hydro- Thirdly, there is much scope in the field of Affairs, MASHAV (the Israeli agency for therapy facility in Myanmar. medical equipment and pharmaceutical International cooperation) and various industries. civil society organizations. QQ Is Israel providing any assistance to Myanmar Currently Israel imports from Myanmar QQ In what other on water issues and traditional items like rice, textile, teak humanitarian aid projects agriculture? wood, gems and exports to Myanmar is Israel involved? telecommunication equipment as well as Agriculture and water management is the other high-tech technologies. Israel is active in various humanitarian main field of cooperation between our and health projects. One major project two countries. Israel receives annually Several cultural and educational events in that was initiated last year was the more than 100 trainees from Myanmar the field of music, cinematography, bible ‘Eye from Zion’ project, which brought and also provides on the spot tailor made teaching and art exhibitions have been a delegation of eye surgeons from training in Myanmar through MASHAV. organized by the embassy in the last few Israel’s best hospitals and provided The director general of Myanmar’s years. We believe that culture is useful to two weeks of free eye treatment and ministry of Irrigation participated last create better mutual understandings and training in three locations in Myanmar. year in WATEC exhibition in Israel to provide a platform for people-to-people The Embassy of Israel in Yangon and following up to this visit, more dialogue. We also encourage Myanmar facilitated this project in cooperation collaboration is now under consideration. art and cultural activities in Israel. ASIAN JEWISH LIFE SPRING 2010 17 MFAQQ&A Interview with Ambassador Yaron Mayer This year, the first Holocaust Memorial Ceremony was held in Myanmar, which was jointly organized by UNIC, the German Embassy and the Embassy of Israel. The event was hugely significant and drew much interest from various circles. The emphasis on the universal lessons from that chapter of history which sadly, is largely unknown here especially amongst the younger generation, made the event even more important and we wish that it will be a beginning of an annual tradition, and will lead to further awareness. QQ Are there any Israeli investments of any real significance in Myanmar? Like in the trade sector, there is also potential for Israeli investments in Myanmar. However, so far the amount of real significant investment is low. Eye from Zion, Israeli humanitarian aid in Myanmar QQ What was Myanmar’s position on the Goldstone Report given the QQ Have you or any Israeli As the twentieth Ambassador of controversy around their representative met with Israel to Myanmar, I feel that we are Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? continuing a tradition that has been record for human rights developed over the years through the abuses? Not since she is been kept under house contribution of many people of various arrest. However, like other members of backgrounds from