(FILES) Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas attends the opening of the Istishsari cancer centre in Ramallah on May 14, 2025. The United Nations General Assembly voted on September 19, to allow Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to address the body's high-level meeting by video link after Washington denied him a visa. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
RAMALLAH (Bernama-WAFA): President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcement by Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel on Sunday (Sept 21) evening of Portugal's official recognition of the independent and sovereign State of Palestine.
According to the Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA), President Abbas praised Portugal's recognition as an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace based on international legitimacy.
He stressed that acknowledging the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, freedom, and independence paves the way for implementing the two-state solution, enabling the State of Palestine to live side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighbourliness.
He emphasised that today's priority is securing a ceasefire, bringing in humanitarian aid, releasing all hostages and prisoners, ensuring Israel's full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, enabling the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities, moving toward recovery and reconstruction, and halting settlement activity and settler violence.
The President reaffirmed all commitments and reforms previously pledged by the State of Palestine. - Bernama-WAFA
