Bagota: In a major diplomatic decision Colombia has recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. The announcement was made by the Palestinian embassy in Bogota Wednesday night.
Palestinian news agency WAFA said that the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, whose term is slated to end in several days, handed an official letter from the country’s foreign ministry to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki which read: “The President of the Republic of Colombia has decided to recognize the State of Palestine.”
Spanish news agency EFE reported that the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Colombia said the country will recognize Palestine as a “free, independent and sovereign state.”
Last week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled trip to Bagota citing tensions with the Gaza Strip.