Denmark and Finland have announced plan to upgrade the status of Palestinian diplomatic missions in Copenhagen and Helsinki, to embassy status.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Danish counterpart Villy Soevndal made the announcement Friday after a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Nordinc countries in Stockholm.
”It is with satisfaction that we announce our joint intention to work with the Palestinians to be able to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Missions in Copenhagen and Helsinki. After this process all Nordic countries will be offering the same working conditions for official Palestinian representatives as is the case for accredited diplomats serving in an embassy of a recognized state,” it said.
“Palestine is in a phase of state-building, and many challenges remain for President Abbas to handle before we can recognize Palestine formally as a state. But 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.”
Denmark and Finland, like all other Nordic countries, which also include Sweden, Norway and Iceland,voted in favour of the upgraded status of Palestine in the UN on 29 November 2012.
The two countries expressed the hope that the move “will encourage President Abbas to engage with determination in the necessary negotiations with the Israeli government on a two-state solution.”
“The present efforts undertaken from the US and strongly supported by the EU deserve the support of the Palestinian and the Israeli governments,” the statement said.
The upgrade is meant to go into effect during the coming year.