Palestine Supports Serbia on Kosovo

BELGRADE, June 10, 2015 – Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic stated on June 10, after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, that Palestine was decisively against the recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Abbas stated that Palestine appreciated the support of Serbia during the vote on Palestine’s observer status in the United Nations, stressing the “historically friendly relations which bind the two countries.” Pointing to the historical friendly relations between Palestine and Serbia, Abbas voiced hope the two countries will foster cooperation in all fields and on the international scene.

At a joint press conference held after a meeting with Nikolic, Abbas thanked Serbia for supporting the rights of Palestinian people, and especially for voting in favor of Palestine becoming a non-member UN state at the UNGA voting.

The Serbian president said he had informed Abbas about the “increased security risks in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija and the fact that Pristina is faced with mass migrations, religious extremism and the participation of its ethnic Albanian population in numerous terrorist activities in crisis areas throughout the world”.

Abbas also said that Palestine condemned the conflicts and wars that are being waged in the world for, allegedly, religious causes. Palestine is trying to find a solution for the Middle East issues like Serbia found a solution for Kosovo through negotiations, Abbas said, reiterating that his country’s stand regarding the recognition of Kosovo’s independence was clear.

The stand is clear. We are with Serbia, said the Palestinian leader.

“It is a significant fact that Palestine supports Serbia in strategic foreign policy issues the process of European integration and the protection of integrity and territorial sovereignty,” Nikolic stated at a news conference after the talks with Abbas.

The inauguration of a new Palestinian embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, was yesterday attended by Serbian President, Tomislav Nikolic, and several Arab ambassadors including the PA ambassador to Serbia.

Several European and South American countries have opened Palestinian embassies during the last few years, as well as some EU countries – for example, Sweden and Britain – passing resolutions to recognize the state of Palestine.

According to Ma’an, President Nikolic said after the inauguration that he looked forward to the resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel “as soon as possible”.

Abbas also briefed President Nikolic on international, Arab and French efforts to adopt a draft resolution which would end colonization of the Palestinian territories and set a deadline for the independence of the Palestinian state, with borders from 1967.

The Palestinian president also stressed the importance of the association of Palestinian people in Serbia in terms of strengthening the ties between the two countries, and backed the efforts they make to provide education for Palestinians in Serbia.

Beta, InSerbia, PNN – Palestine News Network