AN invitation has been extended for President Donald Ramotar to visit Palestine as diplomatic relations between the two countries grow, and the show of gratitude for Guyana’s solidarity with the Palestinian people continues.Very soon Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait will also be appointed, while a Palestinian Ambassador within the Caribbean and Latin American region will be assigned to Guyana.

This was confirmed yesterday when Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Middle Eastern country, Mr. Riad Al Malki, paid a courtesy call on President Ramotar , with words of appreciation about the patronage the lone English speaking South American country has shown.

Guyana became the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State to establish diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority and is a party to the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

It gave recognition to the State of Palestine based on its 1967 border, and supports the nation’s aspirations to full membership of the United Nations.

A Cabinet approval in October 2012 confirmed the diplomatic relations between Guyana and the State of Palestine which also included the accreditation of ambassadors on a non-resident basis.

During President Ramotar’s inaugural address at the Seventh Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September last in New York, he reaffirmed solidarity to the government and people of a country locked in sectarian conflict with Israel since the beginning of the mid 20th century.

The Guyanese Head of State had underlined Guyana’s strong support for the peaceful settlement of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict as a prerequisite to lasting peace in the Middle East.

“The Palestinian people deserve the same rights as people everywhere: to live in dignity, security, freedom and independence, at peace with all their neighbours, and with the right to move freely within their homeland,” President Ramotar said.
Palestine’s bid for Non-Member State Observer Status in the UN was backed by the Government of Guyana and approved in a historic UN session last November when 138 countries voted in favour of the resolution.

During yesterday’s courtesy call, Minister Riad Al Malki delivered brief remarks to members of the press in the presence of the Guyanese Head of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and members of a visiting delegation.

“My main purpose of this visit is to extend our thanks and appreciation as Palestine, the Palestinian State, the leadership and the Palestinian people to Guyana, the President, the people and the Government for their strong committed position in support of justice around the world, but also justice in Palestine,” the Minister said.
The fact that Guyana has recognised the state of Palestine, he said, meant that the two were able to establish diplomatic relations. “This is really an important sign,” Minister Al Malki said.

The development of relations between Guyana and Palestine featured prominently during the Foreign Minister’s discourse with President Ramotar with hopes of those relations materialising in the near future.

President Ramotar told the press that Guyana remains steadfast to its position that the people of Palestine have a right to live in freedom and that he was pleased to convey these sentiments to the Palestine Foreign Minister. (GINA)