UPDATE - Arab countries welcome Armenia's recognition of Palestinian state

ADDS STATEMENTS BY OMAN, IRAQ, EGYPT, GCC. CHANGES DECK

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Several Arab nations welcomed Armenia's decision Friday to recognize Palestine as an independent state.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry considered the move "an important step to support the two-state solution and achieve peace and stability in the region."

It voiced hope that more countries "will recognize the State of Palestine and strengthen efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution."

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry also welcomed the decision and stressed it reflects Armenia's "commitment to the international law and the principles of equality, sovereignty, and the right of peoples to self-determination."

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry also hailed Armenia's decision as an "important step supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

For its part, Jordan described it as a "significant step reflecting Yerevan's adherence to international law and resolutions," in a statement by its Foreign Ministry.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry praised the move as a "positive leap towards fulfilling relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, enabling the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination."

Similar statements welcoming Armenia's decision were issued by the foreign ministries of Oman, Iraq, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Yerevan announced its recognition of Palestinian statehood earlier on Friday, with its Foreign Ministry reaffirming the country's "commitment to international law and the principles of equality, sovereignty and peaceful coexistence of peoples, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine."

This adds Armenia to several countries that recently recognized Palestine as a state, including Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar and Mohammad Sio