http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=231828
View Rate : 493 # News Code : TTime- 231828 Print Date
: Thursday, December 9, 2010
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay recognizing Palestinian state
BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Argentina and Uruguay said Monday they were joining Brazil
in recognizing an independent Palestinian state, earning praise from
Palestinian officials.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, on a visit to Turkey, expressed
his pride over the decision by Buenos Aires, according to an official
statement.
His foreign minister, Riad al-Malki, told AFP the Palestinians had expected
that Paraguay and other Latin American countries will make "similar decisions."
"The Argentine government recognizes Palestine as a free and independent state
within the borders defined in 1967," Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman
said, reading a letter sent by President Cristina Kirchner to Abbas.
Timerman said the move reflected a general consensus among members of Mercosur,
the South American trade bloc.
Uruguay announced soon afterward it will recognize a Palestinian state next
year.
"Uruguay will surely follow the same path as Argentina in 2011," deputy foreign
minister Roberto Conde told AFP. "We are working toward opening a diplomatic
representation in Palestine, most likely in Ramallah."
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay all make up Mercosur. Venezuela's
membership is pending.
The decision to recognize a Palestinian state stems from a "deep desire to see
a definitive advance in the negotiation process leading to the establishment of
a just and durable peace in the Middle East," Timerman said.
But Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor scolded: "This regrettable
decision will not help at all to change the situation between Israel and the
Palestinians."
Israel has already reacted with "sadness and disappointment" to Brazil's
declaration on the issue, saying it breached a 1995 agreement it had with the
Palestinian Authority that any Palestinian state should only come about through
mutual negotiations.
U.S. lawmakers have also condemned Brazil's decision as "severely misguided"
and "regrettable."
Western countries have agreed that any definition of a Palestinian state
required Israeli approval. The United States has consistently protected
Israel's position at the UN Security Council.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had sought a mediator role
in the Israeli-Palestinian situation, made his announcement shortly before he
is scheduled to stand down on January 1 next year.
His protégée and former cabinet chief, Dilma Rousseff, has been elected to take
over the reins of power. She has pledged to pursue his policies.
Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay made their announcements as peace talks between
Israel and the Palestinians teeter on the brink of collapse following the end
of the temporary ban on Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday he did "not see any
reason" to extend the settlement freeze.
Abbas has said the Palestinian side will not return to negotiations while
Israel continues to build on land the Palestinians want for their state.
He has repeatedly said he would explore other options if the peace talks
collapse -- including asking for UN recognition of a Palestinian state based on
the 1967 borders.
Some 104 countries now recognize a Palestinian state, according to the
Palestinian diplomatic mission at the United Nations.
Other Latin American nations that have already taken the step are Costa Rica,
Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In all, 150 countries have some form of diplomatic relations with the
Palestinians, said the mission, which has observer status at the United
Nations.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said he hoped the Palestinian mission would
become a full UN member in 2011, alongside other nations
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