Recognition of State of Palestine not included in support plan
Portugal, Greece and Denmark proposed on Monday “systematic support” for the Palestinian Authority in order to “strengthen its institutional capacity”, the Portuguese minister of foreign affairs announced. However, recognition of the State of Palestine is not included in this proposal.
“There are three states, Portugal, Greece and Denmark, that have presented a proposal (…) to provide, I would say, systematic support to the new Palestinian government of Prime Minister (Mohammad) Mustafa, in order to strengthen its institutional capacity and launch reforms that will enhance the affirmation of a Palestinian state in the future,” said Paulo Rangel in Brussels.
The minister of foreign affairs considered that the Palestinian Authority under Mohammad Mustafa “has shown reasonableness and a constructive spirit”.
Paulo Rangel conceded that the proposal is “only a programme for institutional capacity building” of the Palestinian Authority in order to be able to fulfil “the roadmap of reforms that prime minister Mohammad Mustafa has presented”.
On Sunday, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority argued that the only way to ensure the realisation of the two-state solution was through the recognition of the State of Palestine, which Spain, Ireland and Norway will do this week.
When asked about the recognition of the Palestinian state, Paulo Rangel rejected the possibility of this for the time being.
“I honestly haven’t even spoken about it because the Portuguese position is so clear, so clear, there has never been a government that has done as much to recognise the situation in Palestine as this one. The vote we took in the General Assembly [of the United Nations] is unparalleled in Portuguese tradition,” replied the minister.
The minister of foreign affairs added that on the Israeli-Palestinian issue “Portugal has a position of mediation” in order to “maintain the entire dialogue with the Palestinian authorities and with Israel”.
“For us to be able to be in this mediation solution, we have taken the necessary steps to maintain the credibility and support of both sides and I think that this is invaluable capital for a state like Portugal,” he added.
Paulo Rangel announced that he had also joined in criticising and condemning the Israeli bombardment of Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, after the International Court of Justice ruled that Tel Aviv had to cease its invasion of the Palestinian enclave and open the humanitarian corridors.
Source: LUSA
