Greek MPs : will recognize Palestine ‘soon’

Greek legislators from the ruling Syriza political party have told members of Palestinian political parties that Athens intends to officially recognize the 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.

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.

Source : PNN