IMEMC & Agencies:
The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, announced that Bolivia recognizes a Palestinian state along the 1967 border with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also started conversations with Ecuador to enlist that country's support for a Palestinian state.
According to Bolivia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the decision during the Mercosur (Southern Common Market) conference with South American leaders in Brazil.
“Bolivia recognizes the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, following Brazil and Argentina,” Morales stated. The Bolivian president phoned Mahmoud Abbas three days before the announcement, officials said.
In Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Bolivia for its support and encouraged other leaders to support the recognition of the Palestinian state.
In addition, Abbas was reported to be having similar conversations with the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, who has shown interest in following the lead of Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia in recognizing a Palestinian state.
The announcement was made while Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is in Oslo setting up an office for the Palestinian representative there, in an attempt to increase the diplomatic status of the Palestinian delegation.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday that another 10 European nations plan to establish a Palestinian delegation in their countries.
