MADRID, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- The Portuguese government announced Friday that it will recognize the independent State of Palestine on Sunday.
Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in a statement on its official website that Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel will officially recognize the State of Palestine on Sunday, a day before a conference on the Palestinian issue is held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Last Monday, Rangel said that the Portuguese government would take this step because there were no obstacles to supporting Palestinian demands, after contacting all Portuguese parliamentary parties to ascertain their positions.
Earlier, the French presidency announced that 10 countries had decided to recognize the State of Palestine during the conference to be held next Monday in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.
These countries will include, France, Britain, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, San Marino, and Portugal, which will announce the same one day earlier. (end) hnd.mb