wfn.org | BWNS -- Head of State visits Baha'i World Centre

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Baha'i World News Service
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Head of State visits Baha'i World Centre
HAIFA, Israel, 7 December 2005 (BWNS) -- The president of the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note, and his wife, Mrs. Mary Note, paid
an official visit to the Baha'i World Centre on 1 December 2005.

The president and first lady were welcomed by a member of the Universal
House of Justice, Dr. Peter Khan, and his wife, Dr. Janet Khan. Also in
the welcoming party were a counsellor member of the International
Teaching Centre, Mr. Stephen Hall, and his wife, Mrs. Dicy Hall.

Among those in the presidential entourage were the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Marshall Islands, Mr. Gerald Zackios, and Mrs. Zackios,
and Bikini Atoll senator Tomaki Juda and Mrs. Juda.

At a reception in the seat of the Universal House of Justice, Dr. Khan
discussed with President Note the history of the Baha'i community in the
Marshall Islands and the contributions the Baha'is have made to
development in that country.

President Note and his party then visited the Shrine of the Bab and its
surrounding Terraces.

"I enjoyed the visit very much," said President Note.

It was the second visit to the Baha'i World Centre by a head of state of
the Marshall Islands, the first being in 1990 by President Amata Kabua.

President Note was on state visit to Israel, said the deputy
secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community, Murray Smith.

Mr. Smith said the visit came about at the suggestion of Mr. Zackios.

"Through his frequent contact with the representatives of the Baha'i
community, the Foreign Minister, Gerald Zackios, was aware that the
international headquarters of the Baha'i Faith, with its beautiful
gardens, was located in Haifa and he encouraged the officials in the
office of the President to request inclusion of the Baha'i World Centre
in the itinerary," Mr. Smith said.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Marshall Islands
was established in 1977. There are currently 13 Local Spiritual
Assemblies of the Baha'i Faith in the country.