Finland, Denmark follow Cyprus’ lead & upgrade PA to embassy status

The Northern European countries say upgrade is not recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state but a sign to encourage a negotiated peace with Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

The governments of Denmark and Finland announced on Saturday that they would be upgrading the status of the Palestinian missions in Copenhagen and Helsinki to be equivalent to that embassies.

Israeli Arabs wave Palestinian flags during a rally, April 2007.

Israeli Arabs wave Palestinian flags during a rally, April 2007. – Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad

In a joint statement the two Nordic countries emphasized that the upgrade of the status “does not entail a formal bilateral recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovnal and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja stated that the upgrade is a way to encourage Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas “to engage with determination in the necessary negotiations with the Israeli government on a two state solution.”

The two foreign ministers stated that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has many challenges “before we can recognize Palestine as a state,” adding “It is important to keep focused on the aim of Palestine becoming a fully recognized state and as such claim its rightful place as part of the international community of states.”

The move, gives Palestinian representatives in all Nordic countries the same working conditions as accredited diplomats serving in an embassy of a recognized state, according to the statement.

In February, Cyprus, which over the past two years has significantly improved ties with Israel, became the first Western European country in the EU outside of Malta to upgrade its Palestinian representation to that of an embassy. 

 

View original Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Denmark-Finland-give-PA-embassy-equivalent-status-312028