Slovenia is planning to recognize Palestine as an independent state in the upcoming months, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec announced on Tuesday.
According to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), Erjavec said “Slovenia will pursue recognizing the Palestinian state on its own,” expecting that the National Assembly will discuss the recognition at a plenary in March or April.
Erjavec declared there was consensus between European Union (EU) member states, claiming that “everybody backs” Slovenia’s proposed move to recognize the Palestinian state.
Speaking on the local Slovenian channel POP TV, Erjavec said that the Central European country will begin taking the necessary steps once the Slovenian Parliament gives the proposal a “green light.”
“By recognizing it, [Slovenia] would strengthen Palestine’s negotiation in the Middle East peace process. We have an independent foreign policy, we do not need any other state to cover our back,” Erjavec said.
Last month, Slovenian Parliament Speaker Milan Brglez told Palestinian Ambassador Salah Abdel-Shafi that Slovenia’s recognition of a Palestinian state was “not in doubt but only a matter of the right timing.”
After Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, and Cyprus recognized the Palestinian state, other European countries, such as Luxembourg, Ireland, and Belgium, are reportedly considering following Sweden’s example.
The moves follow US President Donald Trump’s December speech in which he formally declared Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, adding that he also ordered his aides to start the process of moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Following the decision, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the United States “no longer an honest mediator in the peace process” adding that “Palestinians will not accept any plan put from the United States.” The Palestinian leadership also called for the support of the international community.
