The president of Cyprus has announced that his country recognizes a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders after several South American states made the similar move.
Demetris Christofias sent a letter to acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, pointing out to the "historic deep relations" between Palestine and Cyprus, Haaretz quoted Palestinian news agency Wafa as reporting.
He also expressed hope that a Palestinian state will be formed with East al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital.
Following similar declarations coming mostly from South American states, namely Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile and Peru, Cyprus recognized a Palestinian statehood within the borders that existed before Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Tel Aviv has ever since occupied the West Bank and has settled close to 500,000 Israelis in more than 100 illegal settlements.
On Friday, Paraguay also recognized Palestine as an independent and democratic state.
In December, Israel objected to Latin American countries’ recognition of a Palestinian state, labeling it as some "highly damaging interference."
The recognitions come just before a summit between Latin American and Arab countries is scheduled to be held in Peru’s capital, Lima, in February.
(Press TV)
