NEW YORK: President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas met on Tuesday with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on the sidelines of his participation in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, President Abbas praised Norway’s courageous and principled positions in recognizing the State of Palestine, which comes as a continuation of its important positions that it has always taken in favor of respecting international law and international legitimacy, and supporting the right of the Palestinian people to freedom and independence.

The President reiterated that this step will have a distinctive role in advancing efforts to achieve peace, justice, and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and enhancing the implementation of a political solution based on international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

President Abbas expressed his hope that all European countries that have not recognized the State of Palestine w
ill follow Norway’s courageous step and support the Palestinian endeavor to obtain full membership in the United Nations in order to give hope and create the appropriate conditions for peacemaking.

The President addressed the difficult economic and financial conditions that the State of Palestine is going through as a result of the continued aggression and Israel’s withholding of Palestinian clearance funds, and strangling the Palestinian economy, which was reflected in the performance of the Palestinian government and its duties towards Palestinians people.

President Abbas praised Norway’s role in coordinating the efforts of donor countries and organizations within the framework of the AHLC Contact Group to support the building of the institutions of the Palestinian state and successive Palestinian governments, in addition to its support for the health sector and development projects in Palestine, and its efforts to release the funds that Israel is withholding.

The President reiterated the need to stop th
e ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the entire Gaza Strip, and the entry of aid to all parts of the Strip.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA