On Thursday, October 31st, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy welcomed the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid for the official signing of the Waterford Ramallah Twinning agreement.
Mayor Cllr. Jason Murphy hosted the Palestinian delegation in the Mayor's Parlour in City Hall. Also in attendance was Mayor of the Metropolitan District Cllr. Joe Kelly, Deputy Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Adam Wyse, elected representatives, members of the Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee, and Sean McKeown, Chief Executive, Waterford City and County Council.
Welcoming the Ambassador to Waterford the Mayor said, "We are here to celebrate a new connection between Waterford and Ramallah, to formalise a friendship that will bridge two distinct cultures and foster collaboration, understanding, and shared prosperity.
Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid and Sean McKeown Chief Executive Waterford City and County Council
"In a world where division too often overshadows connection, our cities today are planting seeds of friendship, of peace, and of solidarity. Let this twinning serve as a reminder that we are all part of a global community, where each city and each person has something to teach and something to learn."
Ambassador Abdalmajid was warmly received, and she urged those in attendance to "keep talking about Palestine."
At the official signing of Waterford Ramallah twinning agreement were Mayor of the Metropolitan District Cllr. Joe Kelly, Cllr. Catherine Burke, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, David Rees, Cllr. Séamus Ryan and Brian Partridge
The Ambassador and Mayor then signed the official twinning documents with the Mayor of Ramallah, Issa Kassis, who joined the reception virtually from Ramallah, saying that the Ramallah Municipality was proud to raise the Irish flag earlier this year when Ireland officially recognised the State of Palestine.
The twinning of Waterford and Ramallah will explore opportunities for both cities to share respective knowledge and experiences of arts and culture, commerce and industry, education, sports, and civic development.
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