Israel President S. Z. Shazar was honored today at the United Nations at a luncheon tendered to him by U.N. Secretary General U Thant at the U.N. headquarters, attended by more than 40 leading diplomatic representatives from various countries. The Soviet delegates to the United Nations boycotted the luncheon as did the delegate from Bulgaria, but all other members of the Security Council — except the representatives of Jordan and Nationalist China who were not invited — were present.
Mr. Thant announced at the luncheon a toast “To the President of Israel” to which President Shazar responded emphasizing that “Israel has watched with admiration the wise and courageous way” in which the U.N. Secretary-General has carried the burden of his office and pursued tirelessly the goal of peace.
“I bring you the warm and affectionate greetings of my people with the hope that you will be enabled to continue serving mankind for many years to come, ” Mr. Shazar said. “Israel has a unique involvement with the United Nations — which goes back even before we became an independent state. We have a vital interest in the organization being strengthened to fulfill the ideals of the charter. To all of you who work at the United Nations and serve those ideals, I extend my heartfelt wishes for success. “
Mr. Thant presented the President of Israel with a medallion dedicated to the U. N.’s International Cooperation Year and with an autographed album of United Nations stamps.
Several hundred members of the United Nations secretariat, standing behind barriers by the U.N, security guard, applauded the Israeli President as he walked into the building. He was accompanied by Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael S. Comay; the President’s aide-de-camp Colonel Aryeh Raz, in full uniform and New York Consul General Michael Arnon.
President Shazar was met by Mr. Thant in the U.N. building and took him up to his office on the 38th floor. After a brief conference there Mr. Thant led the party to one of the Security Council lounges which had been prepared for the luncheon. The main luncheon dish was poached salmon. While the event was being conducted in honor of President Shazar, another luncheon was given in one of the private dining rooms at the United Nations in honor of Mrs. Shazar. Here the hostess was Mrs. Joan Comay, wife of Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. About 40 prominent women were guests at the luncheon.
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