Foreign Minister Naseem expresses support for declaration of a Palestinian state

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem has held discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on issues concerning the peace process and the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

President Abbas said that the peace process has been stalled due to the Israeli refusal to stop settlement activities and terms of references for the peace process.

He added that the reconciliation agreement signed recently in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas aims to end internal Palestinian division and to hold presidential and legislative elections.

Minister Naseem also met with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and told him that the Palestinian institutions are ready to function in an independent state once it is approved by the international community.

Minister Naseem then met Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Riyad al-Malki, and the two officials discussed development in the region and efforts to get international recognition of a Palestinian state by September.

Minister Naseem expressed support for the declaration of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He expressed support for the reconciliation agreement.