Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-11-26

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece supports creation of Palestinian state, PM Tsipras says in Ramallah

[01] Greece supports creation of Palestinian state, PM Tsipras says in Ramallah

He also repeated his invitation to Abbas to carry out a visit to Athens, which will take place on December 21. According to sources, the Greek Parliament is expected to recognise the Palestinian State at that time.

Tsipras noted that Greece's position on the Palestinian issue was one of "principle" and independent of the country's efforts to develop bilateral ties with Israel.

Abbas referred to the "historic foundations" of Greek-Palestinian relations and appealed to Greeks to support the Palestinian people's demand to live in dignity in their homeland, within their own independent state. He expressed satisfaction with the support that Palestine has perennially received from Greece but was pessimistic about the likely outcome of current efforts to find a solution to the problem, accusing Israel of "sabotaging" all peace processes. He asked the EU to adopt an augmented role in efforts to find a solution based on the creation of a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders.

He also condemned terrorism in all forms, including extremist groups "hiding under the mantle of religion", and the attacks on France, Egypt and Lebanon.

Tsipras noted that this was a tense and difficult period marked by violence against civilians and stressed his concern at the escalation of violence.

"We are concerned by the expansion of a policy of settlements at the expense of the Palestinian people's rights. Chiefly, we are concerned by the fact that there is no political process with clear prospects of progress on the Palestinian issue, which might give your people the hope they need and primarily, the hope they deserve," he said.

Tsipras said that destabilisation and conflicts in the region are increasing and that the Palestinian issue was among the causes sparking destabilisation.

"For this reason, it is necessary to take bold steps today and support any international initiative," he said. In this framework, he added, Athens welcomed any effort made by President Abbas in this direction. He also pointed to Athens' perennial support within the United Nations, the European Union and other organisations of the need for a solution based on two states, one of which was a viable and independent Palestinian state with 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

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