Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Athens

The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Athens, where he held talks with the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

After his meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Abbas said Greece could play a crucial role in talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. He also called on the Greek MPs to vote in favor of the official recognition of the Palestinian state.

Abbas on Tuesday is scheduled to meet with the president of the Greek Parilament, Nikos Voutsis, while he is expected to address the Greek MPs. Voutsis will submit a nonbinding resolution, calling on the government to recognize Palestine as a state. The resolution has unanimously been  approved by the Parliament’s defense and foreign affairs committee.

Abbas will also meet with the head of the Church of Greece, Archbishop Ieronymos.

PHOTO: Public Broadcaster ERT