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Palestinian Authority demands Europeans recognize independent state

Arab World Materials 17 December 2010 02:53 (UTC +04:00)
Palestinian Authority on Thursday officially demanded that European countries recognize an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 by Israel, with east Jerusalem as its capital, dpa reported.
Palestinian Authority demands Europeans recognize independent state

Palestinian Authority on Thursday officially demanded that European countries recognize an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 by Israel, with east Jerusalem as its capital, dpa reported.

Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath met in Ramallah with the ambassadors from France, Britain, Sweden, Denmark and the EU special envoy for peace. He demanded that their countries recognize a Palestinian state on 1967 borders.

In a press statement emailed to reporters, Shaath demanded European recognition for a Palestinian state, "even in case a peace agreement is not reached with Israel."

He urged Europe to play "a more influential role in the peace process, which reached a standstill amid a US failure in convincing Israel to freeze settlement building."

It is the first time that the Palestinians are officially demanding European recognition for the potential establishment of a Palestinian state.

Earlier this week, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat addressed a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to demand that she recognize a Palestinian state. EU foreign ministers said that they would recognize a state at the "appropriate" time.

Two Latin American countries, Argentina and Brazil, have declared that they are ready to recognize an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 boundaries.

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