Norway Ready to Recognize a Palestinian State Together with Other Countries: PM

Fri Apr 12 2024
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OSLO: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Friday said that Norway is ready to recognize a Palestinian state together with other countries. He said this while hosting Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, who is seeking support for the cause.

The Norwegian Prime Minister told reporters that such a decision would need to be taken in close coordination with “like-minded countries”. “Norway stands ready to recognize the state of Palestine,” Store told a joint press conference with Sanchez. “We have not set a firm timetable,” Store added.

In November, Norway’s parliament adopted a government proposal for the country to be prepared to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

Norway also hosted Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at the beginning of the 1990s, which led to the Oslo Accords.

Sanchez is currently on a tour of Poland, Norway and Ireland this week to drum up support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, according to a Spanish government spokesperson.

Speaking alongside Store, Sanchez said Spain was “committed to recognizing Palestine as a state, as soon as possible, when the conditions are appropriate, and in a way that can have the most positive impact to the peace process.”

On March 22, Spain issued a statement with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia on the sidelines of an EU leaders summit, saying they were “ready to recognize Palestine” in a move that would happen when “the circumstances are right”.

Store on Friday said that he welcomed Sanchez’s initiative to consult among countries to “strengthen coordination”. “We will intensify that coordination in the weeks to come,” Store said.

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