Palestinian President Opens Embassy in the Vatican

Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during an audience at the Vatican Saturday.

Vatican City, 16 Rabiul Akhir1438/14 January 2017 (MINA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurated on Saturday a Palestinian embassy in the Vatican, a diplomatic accomplishment that came a year after the Holy See officially recognized the State of Palestine.

President Abbas, at a ceremony during which the Flag of Palestine was hoisted atop the new diplomatic mission’s headquarters, expressed hope other states would follow suit for sake of making peace in the Middle East.

Abbas added that during his current visit to the Vatican held talks with Pope Francis on the Middle East peace conference, due in Paris on Sunday.

He hoped reports about intention of the new US Administration to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would prove to be false, saying such a step would further hinder peace efforts.

The Palestinian president called on Donald Trump, who would take the oath as the new US president on January 20th, to engineer dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis for peace’s sake. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)