PA Foreign Minister Maliki
Photo: AFP
PA promotes Swedish initiative
PA seeks to convince EU to endorse document calling for recognition of Palestinian state
The Palestinians are aiming to convince European states to endorse a Swedish initiative calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in line with the 1967 borders, the PA's foreign minister says.
In an interview with Saudi newspaper al-Watan, Riyad al-Maliki said that the Palestinian Authority has been making an effort to advance the initiative in recent days. He added that the issue is the top priority at all levels of the Palestinian government at this time.
Al-Maliki added that once the European Union endorses the Swedish document, "we will demand that it be translated to moves on the ground, via a proposal to be submitted to the United Nations Security Council."
Addressing French rejection of the document, the minister added: "I believe that France has some reservations regarding some of the clauses, but not in respect to the document as a whole."
Al-Maliki also announced that he will be visiting Russia next week in order to enlist Moscow's support for recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN Security Council.
