Channels

Belgium raises Palestinian diplomatic status

After holding talks with Abbas in Jordan, Belgian FM announces upgrade in Palestinian diplomatic status, joining Ireland, Denmark, Finland

Belgium said Saturday it had raised the standing of a Palestinian diplomatic delegation to the country to "mission" status in a show of commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East.

 

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders confirmed the change from "general delegation" to "mission" after signing an agreement during a bilateral meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during a visit to Jordan.

 

Related stories:

 

"The raising (of status) reflects Belgian and European support for the two-state solution," Reynders said in a statement, adding that the head of the mission could use the title of ambassador.

 

Reynders signed the agreement during a bilateral meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday in the Jordanian capital of Amman as part of a visit that included a trip to the Palestinian territories and that will take him to Israel next week.

 

Finland, Denmark and Ireland also upgrade the status of Palestinian diplomatic missions.

 

Belgium's move had been planned since November 2012 when Belgium and was among 138 countries in the United Nations General Assembly to vote to recognize Palestine as a "non-member observer state."

 

Germany and the United Kingdom abstained from the vote, and the United States and Israel were among just nine countries that came out against the motion, arguing that the path to statehood should pass through direct peace talks.

 

 

  • Receive Ynetnews updates directly to your desktop

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.09.13, 22:10
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment