Greece to Soon Recognize State of Palestine
During a Saturday meeting between a Greek parliamentary delegation from the Syriza Party and political parties of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, the Greek lawmakers confirmed that the government in Athens would "soon” recognize the State of Palestine, according to a PLC statement cited in a report by Ma’an News Agency.
However, a precise timetable for the official recognition
was not specified by the visiting Greek lawmakers, Press TV reported.
The parliament in Greece voted last December in favor of a
motion to recommend that the government recognize the Palestinian State.
The voting took place during a special parliamentary session
attended by Acting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Greek
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Despite the vote, the actual recognition has not
yet materialized.
"Due to some special circumstances, the Greek recognition of
the Palestinian state has been delayed, but it will come soon,” the PLC
statement quoted the visiting delegates as saying.
If implemented, Greece would become the second European nation
to officially recognize the State of Palestine, following Sweden’s 2014
official recognition of the state.
During their visit, the Greek lawmakers met with Fatah
movement’s Azzam al-Ahmad, Qays Abdul Karim of the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine, Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National
Initiative, Bassam al-Salihi of the Palestinian People’s Party, and the
Fatah-affiliated MPs Najat al-Astal, Muhib Awwad, and Abdullah Abdullah.
