Ghana FM: Abduction 'Painful & Regrettable'

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman met in Accra with his Ghanan counterpart, Hanna Tetteh,

In contrast to US President Barack Obama, who has remained silent on the abduction of three Israeli teenagers, Foreign Minister Tetteh said that the kidnapping is a painful and regrettable development, and she hopes that everything will be done to restore them to their parents. She also thanked Foreign Minister Liberman for re-opening Israel's embassy in Accra following his previous visit to Ghana five years ago.

FM Liberman thanked FM Tetteh for her expression of support and solidarity, and said that Israel hopes to bring the boys back home without the use of force, but the Israeli government will do everything necessary to bring them home.

FM Liberman also asked FM Tetteh to help Israel gain membership in the African Union. Israel was an observer member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) until that body was disbanded in 2002. Liberman noted that Ghana holds a very influential position in the organization, and hopes that it will exert its full weight in favor of this.