'Thailand recognizes Palestine as independent state'
2012-01-20 02:58:15 GMT+7 (ICT)
GAZA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday thanked the government of Thailand after it apparently decided to recognize Palestine as an independent state. Thai officials were unavailable for comment.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said his office received an official letter from the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations on Tuesday which stated that the Thai government has officially recognized Palestine and has initiated a process to establish diplomatic relations.
The office of al-Maliki said it established communications with the Thai government after the new government of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took office in August 2011. The foreign minister added that he would continue talks with his Thai counterpart to formalize the diplomatic relations.
The Thai government did not comment on Palestine's announcement, and calls to both the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs were not immediately returned. If accurate, Thailand's recognition will bring the number of countries which recognize a Palestinian state to 129.
Last month, Iceland also formally recognized Palestine after its parliament voted in favor of the move.