Brazil's president bestows Order of Gra-Cruz on UAE Ambassador Al Kaitoub

15 January 2015 (WAM): Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has awarded the UAE Ambassador to Brazil, Sultan bin Rashid Al Kaitoub, the Order of Gra-Cruz of the First Class, Ambassador Eduardo dos Santos, Secretary-General of the Brazil's Ministry of External Relations and Deputy Minister, announced on Wednesday. The Brazilian official made the announcement during a luncheon hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of Ministry of External Relations in honour of the UAE ambassador to mark the end of his tenure in Brazil. Santos said that President Rousseff and External Relations Minister Mauro Vieira decided to bestow the high honour, which is awarded to kings and heads of state, on Ambassador Al Kaitoub to express the Brazilian government's appreciation of his efforts and services for the development of the bilateral relations between the UAE and Brazil. In his remarks during the event, Al Kaitoub thanked the Brazilian officials for the honour and highlighted the friendly trade and political relations and cooperation between the UAE and Brazil. He also hailed Brazil for its balanced positions on international issues and its support for the Arab issues in general and the Palestinian cause in particular. On his part, Ambassador Santos hailed the efforts the UAE ambassador has made for the promotion of the relations between the two countries, which in the recent years witnessed significant growth thanks to the of intensive efforts and the exchange of highest-level visits as well as the role of the national flag carriers. He also hailed the huge progress made by the UAE in all political, economic and social spheres becoming the favourite country for one the largest Brazilian communities. Senior officials from the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, US Ambassador to Brazil Liliana Ayalde and the ambassadors of Arab countries attended the event. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395275125873.html