Upon receiving the Jerusalem Award from the Zionist Organization of Uruguay (OSU), Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou also spoke with the Israeli Ambassador to Uruguay, Yoed Magen, and the President of OSU Javier Galperín.

"This award is received by a person who is also president of his country and from that place I also accept it and with the tranquility of belonging to a country that never doubted where it had to be and, not only supported, but took the risk of being a pioneer in the creation of the State of Israel," said the Uruguayan president.

He also said that during his government, innovation and trade offices will be set up in Jerusalem.

For his part, Magen said that Uruguay is "a fundamental example" for the ambassadors at the United Nations of the "friendly policy" designed by former presidents Julio María Sanguinetti (1985-1990 and 1995-2000) Luis Lacalle Herrera (1990-1995) and Jorge Batlle (2000-2005) towards Israel and Jews.

"We want to highlight President Luis Lacalle Pou who since he assumed the presidency has been working for rapprochement between the two countries and his solidarity with Israel in its difficult times and empathy towards our people," he added.

According to Infobae, Lacalle Pou is the fifth Uruguayan president to be recognized with the award — same as José Mujica (2010-2015), Jorge Batlle (2000-2005), Julio María Sanguinetti (1985-1990 and 1995-2000), Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera (1990-1995) and Tabaré Vázquez (2005-2010 and 2015-2020).

The award is given as a way of expressing the recognition of the Jewish people to people who stand out for their "friendship, solidarity and identification with the Jewish people and with the Zionist cause."

It was started in 1990 by the Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, and Arieh Dultzin, who served as president of the World Zionist Organization.

The recipients of the award must be "activists in favor of Human Rights and the cause of peace, harmony and fraternity among peoples," or persons "who have contributed to the strengthening of the deep bonds of friendship between Israel and the different countries."