Icelandic and Palestinian Ministers sign MoU on political consultations

Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson and Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Al-Malki have signed in Ramallah a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on political consultations between the government of Iceland and the government of Palestine. The MoU addresses political consultations as well as promoting economic cooperation, development aid, cultural, commercial and educational relations.

The Minister also declared that the Icelandic government would support a proposal for the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.  He presented the Palestinian Minister with a statement to the effect that the Palestinian representation to Iceland would be upgraded from a general delegation to the level of a mission.

During their meeting in Ramallah on the West Bank the ministers discussed peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis and a recent Fatah-Hamas unity accord. Minister Skarphéðinsson stressed the importance of Palestinians reaching an agreement on national unity government as discord undermined the solidarity of the Palestinian people and made it difficult for friendly nations to show their support.

The Minister also stressed his unequivocal demand that Israeli blockade of Gaza would be lifted immediately, having experienced its terrible consequences at first hand during his visit to Gaza on Wednesday.