Indonesia Welcomes Spain, Ireland, Norway's Decision to Recognize Palestine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government welcomes the decision of Spain, Ireland, and Norway to recognize the Palestinian state. "This recognition has an important meaning in realizing a two-state solution," said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi directly conveyed the government's appreciation to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares in Brussels, Belgium, while attending a meeting between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and European countries to discuss specifically the issue of Palestine.

Furthermore, Retno also met Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide respectively on Monday to express similar appreciation. "Appreciate Norway’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine that is crucial to support the Palestinian cause & statehood," said Retno in her post on X.

Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized Palestine on Tuesday, in an effort to speed up a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The three countries hope their decision will encourage other European Union (EU) countries to take the same step.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid recognized Palestine as a viable state with the territory of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, unified under the Palestinian National Authority with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it would upgrade its representative office in Ramallah, West Bank, to an embassy and appoint an ambassador.

With the additional recognition of the three countries, 146 of the 193 UN member states now recognize the state of Palestine. Of the 27 EU member states, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria have recognized Palestine.

Slovenia is expected to follow suit by agreeing to recognize Palestine next Thursday, while Malta has said it is considering taking the same step.

France considers now as not the appropriate time to recognize a Palestinian state, while Germany—like its loyal ally, the US—still insists on rejecting a unilateral approach and insists that a two-state solution can only be achieved through dialogue.

ANTARA

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