PACE_Abbas
Just two days after the Palestinian National Council was granted “Partnership for Democracy” status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Europe to support the Palestinian bid for statehood before the UN.
"You supported the Arab Spring which calls for democracy and freedom," he said. "Now the Palestinian Spring has arrived asking for freedom and an end to occupation. We trust you and we are confident that you will not abandon us and let us down."
In a speech that lasted over 30 minutes, President Abbas outlined "sincere intentions" to negotiate with the Israelis, but ended up in "the stalemate in the prospects for negotiations".
"Our only alternative has been to turn to the international community and call on it to take action to open up new horizons for the peace process, through recognition of the state of Palestine," he emphasized.
In addressing parliamentarians from 47 Council of Europe member states, Abbas expressed "admiration" for Strasbourg, which was "the site of conflict between the countries of Europe and has become today the centre of the institutions of a united Europe that supports peace." (more...)
Text of the speech (unofficial translation)