Greek Parliament asks for recognition of the Palestinian state
The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas today visited the Greek Parliament, where he was warmly recieved by president, Nikos Voutsis, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Greek MPs, . The Hellenic Parliament Plenary unanimously asked for the recognition of the state of Palestine by the Greek government. A Draft Special Decision was adopted by the majority of Members of Parliament from all parties.
By its decision, the Parliament calls on the Greek Government “ to speed up all necessary procedures towards the recognition of the State of Palestine and proceed to diplomatic endeavors towards the immediate resumption of credible peace processes between the two stakeholders”.
The Palestinian President was accompanied by the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Riad Maki and a high-rank delegation. From the Greek side, the 1st Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament and Chairman of the Greece-Palestine Friendship Group, Mr. Tasos Kourakis, the Hellenic Parliament Vice-Presidents Giorgos Varemenos, Tassia Christodoulopoulou, Demetrios Kremastinos and Giorgos Lambroulis, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense Mr. Costas Douzinas and the members of the Committee’s Bureau Dimitris Emmanouilides and Maria Triantafyllou, as well as the Friendship Group Bureau members Stavros Tassou and Ionneta Kavadia.
During the meeting, the President of the Hellenic Parliament and the President of Palestine proceeded to the following statements:
Nikolas Voutsis:
“ Mr. President, we welcome you to the Hellenic Parliament premises at the presence of our country’s Prime Minister, the Hellenic Palriament Presidium members, the Chairman and Bureau members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense and the Chairman and Bureau members of the Greece-Palestine Friendship Group. Shortly, in the frame of a special sitting at the Hellenic Parliament Plenary Hall, we will adopt a Decision to call on the Greek Government to recognize the State of Palestine”
Mr. Abbas:
“ Thank you very much Honorable President of the Hellenic Parliament, honorable Prime Minister of Greece, honorable Hellenic Parliament Vice- Presidents , Committee Chairmen and members of the Hellenic Parliament. I am proud to be here today, at this historical building, bulwark of the Republic.
I wish to express my gratitude, also speaking on behalf of the people of Palestine, over this glorious step taken today at the Hellenic Parliament, which further contributes to the establishment of the State of Palestine. It is a day that will be recorded to the history of the people of Palestine. It is a day , crowning the steps made by the Greek people, via today’s Decision, sending a message of support and solidarity to the people of Palestine. This glorious step that you take, appealing to the Greek Government to recognize the State of Palestine, is a very important step and will be recorded to the history of the people of Palestine.
For us, this is no wonder for our friends in history, the Greek people, distinguished on grounds of international relations and especially relations with the people of Palestine. We feel at home, our home in Palestine, being here at the House of Democracy.
We warmly thank you, God thanks you; further steps shall follow towards the strengthening of historical close bonds between our peoples, the Greek and the Palestinian”.
The text adopted is the following:
DECISION
The Hellenic Parliament
Invoking the firm commitment of the Greek people to peace, security and prosperity in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Invoking the UN General Assembly Resolution of the 29th of November 2012, which granted Palestine non-member observer state status.
Invoking resolutions, regarding the recognition of a Palestinian State, approved by national parliaments of EU member states, as well as the European Parliament Resolution of the 17th of December 2014.
Noting with great concern the interruption of the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
Noting with great concern the escalation of tension and violence in the region.
Noting with great concern the continuation of the Israeli settlement activity.
Underscoring the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security, renouncing any form of oppression, violence and terrorism.
Underscoring the need for a peaceful co-existence of Israelis and Palestinians within mutually recognized states.
Noting that Greece has steadily supported the two-state solution, in the framework of which will co-exist in peace and security the State of Israel and a unified, democratic and sovereign Palestinian State, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital.
Noting the need for a just and viable solution, as well as the need for the immediate launching of credible negotiations to this end between the two sides.
Noting that the international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state will contribute to the promotion of the negotiations and the achievement of a definite solution.
Calls upon:
The Greek Government, taking into account the aforementioned,
To promote all the necessary procedures, in order to recognize a State of Palestine and
To make every diplomatic effort for the immediate relaunching of credible peace talks between the two sides.
SOURCE: Hellenic Parliament
PHOTO: Hellenic Parliament/Eleftherios Alikis
