VATICAN CITY: President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurated the new Palestinian Embassy in Vatican City, underscoring Palestine’s ongoing diplomatic endeavors and urging further international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, the inauguration featured the Palestinian flag being raised above the new embassy building, followed by a statement from President Abbas. In his address, Abbas called on nations that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so. He stressed the importance of international responsibility in affirming Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions.
Abbas also appealed for global support for Palestine’s bid for full membership in the United Nations and broader international recognition. The event was attended by notable figures including Ziad Abu Amr from the PLO Executive Committee, Ram
zi Khoury of the Palestinian Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the Palestinian Supreme Judge, and other key advisors and ambassadors.
The Vatican officially recognized the State of Palestine on May 13, 2015, and a mutual recognition agreement was signed on June 26, 2015. Currently, 149 countries recognize Palestine, with Armenia being the most recent, as of June 21, 2024. Palestine maintains diplomatic missions in 110 countries worldwide.