His Excellency Mr. Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, Her Excellency, Ms. Vanya Chavdarova Andreeva-Malakova, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria and Her Excellency Ms. Dana Erlich, Ambassador of Israel, presented their Letters of Credence to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin today.
His Excellency Mr. Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Maria Elena Botero Ospina and Mr. Carlos Andrés Padrón Barrios, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia.
Her Excellency Ms. Vanya Chavdarova Andreeva-Malakova, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria, was accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Chavdar Malakov, her daughter, Ms. Andrea Malakova and Mr. Rosen Spasov, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Her Excellency Ms. Dana Erlich, Ambassador of Israel, was accompanied by Mrs. Adi Ophir Maoz, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel.
Mr. Seán Fleming TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, represented the Government at the ceremony.
The following were also present: Ms. Orla O’Hanrahan, Secretary General to the President; Ms. Maeve Collins, Director General, European Union Division, Department of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Ralph Victory, Deputy Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs; Col Stephen Howard, Comdt Brian Walsh, Comdt Deirdre Newell, Capt Pól Ó Domhnaill, Aides-de-Camp to the President; Mr. Joe Brennan and Ms. Cathy Barnicle, Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Ambassadors were accompanied to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2 Brigade Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Second Lieutenant Cathal O’Luasa.
A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by 1 Infantry Battalion, Renmore Barracks, Co. Galway under the command of Lieutenant Ciaran Higgins.
2nd Lieutenant Conor O’Brien from 1 Infantry Battalion, Renmore Barracks, Co. Galway was the flag officer.
Captain Thomas Kelly conducted the Army No.1 Band which is based in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
