Belgium Promises to Consider Recognition of Palestinian State, Says Ambassador

Ramallah, MINA — The Belgian government has promised to consider the recognition of the State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, WAFA reported, citing Palestine’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU) Abdul Rahim al-Farra on Thursday.

Speaking to Voice of Palestine radio station, Farra said that Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the two-state solution and the establishment of the Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem.

Reynders also reaffirmed his country’s rejection of Israeli settlement construction, Israeli occupation authorities’ actions in Jerusalem in addition to the relocation of his country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“Belgium’s decision to upgrade the diplomatic status of the Palestinian representative office in Brussels and its support for the Palestinian people indicate that Palestine’s representative has become an ambassador just like ambassadors of other states in the Kingdom,” Farra added.

He noted that Foreign Minister Riyad Malki is scheduled to meet today the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Belgium in the presence of a number of ambassadors to the EU to discuss the latest developments regarding the Palestinian question.

Malki is also reportedly scheduled to hold meetings with EU Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Susanna Terstal in addition to policy and security ambassadors of the EU’s 28 member states. . (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)