Palestinian Ambassador Calls on President Nasheed

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Anwar H. Al-Agha.

At the meeting held today at the President’s Office, the President and the Ambassador highlighted on the close relations between the two countries.

Palestinian officials are visiting friendly nations to get the support for their approach to the UN to get the international recognition of an independent Palestinian state. A senior Palestinian official on Tuesday said the Palestinian leadership will soon approach the United Nations to gain an international recognition of a Palestinian state.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, told a news conference in Ramallah that applying to gain a full membership for the state of Palestine will be soon.

"Demanding an international recognition of the state of Palestine established on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 will be soon after we finish the debates, consultations and preparations for it," Abed Rabbo said.

The Palestinians will request a full membership of the state of Palestine in the UN "after consultations with Arab brothers and foreign friends, mainly the Europeans, Africans and Asians," he added.

After the peace talks with Israel were stalled and Israel refused to halt settlement activities on the Palestinian territories, the Palestinian leadership decided to approach the United Nations to gain the international recognition of a state.

"There are no laws in the UN that set up a date for approaching it's general assembly to demand an international recognition of a full membership," Abed Rabbo said, adding "the best time for the application will be in September."

"The executive committee agreed to keep working until applying to the UN in September," he said.