Ramallah: Agencies - Europe and the Arabs
Today, Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decision of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to recognize the State of Palestine, and highly valued its contribution to consecrating the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination on their land and in taking actual steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution.
Abu Mazen stressed that the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has steadfastly supported the rights of the Palestinian people over the past years, and voted in favor of these rights in international forums. This initial decision is a culmination of these positions and is consistent with the principles of international law that recognize the right of peoples to get rid of colonialism and oppression and to live in freedom, justice and independence.
He said that the right of peoples to self-determination is an established right recognized under international law, and the State of Palestine renews its continuous call to countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to stand up to their responsibilities and acknowledge the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and restore confidence in a global system based on rules and equal rights for all. Peoples of the earth.
The Palestinian President praised the efforts made by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Caribbean Basin, and the Delegation of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago joined Jamaica and Barbados in officially recognizing the State of Palestine, in a decision taken by the government during the Council of Ministers meeting in Trinidad.
This decision came based on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the Council of Ministers decided that official recognition of Palestine by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will help achieve lasting peace, by strengthening the growing international consensus on the issue of Palestine’s independence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Port of Spain said in a statement that Trinidad and Tobago has a long history of principled support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, represented by the government’s firm position that the two-state solution is the only way to resolve the long-term conflict, and that this is its permanent position, which is based on To Trinidad and Tobago's respect for international law and the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations.
She noted that since the last war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, Trinidad and Tobago also supported the resolutions adopted in the emergency sessions of the General Assembly held on October 27 and December 10, 2023, regarding the protection of civilians and legal and humanitarian obligations.
It is worth noting that both Jamaica and Barbados announced last April their recognition of the State of Palestine.