Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman on Friday welcomed the Republic of Armenia’s recognition of the State of Palestine.
"While the Sultanate of Oman appreciates this positive decision, it urges the rest of the
international community to follow suit in order to preserve the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state and in a way that strengthens all efforts in support of the two-state solution and achieving lasting and sustainable peace in the region," an official statement from the Foreign Ministry said.
Armenia announced Friday it was recognising the State of Palestine, the latest country to do so during the war in Gaza, saying it was against "violence towards civilian populations."
A series of countries have recognized the State of Palestine amid the war between Israel and Hamas, drawing strong rebukes from Israeli officials. "Confirming its commitment to international law, equality of nations, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine," Yerevan said.
Armenia added that it is "genuinely interested in establishing long-term peace and stability in the Middle East." Yerevan, which has itself been ridden by conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan for decades, slammed Israel's military conduct in Gaza.
"Armenia deplores using civilian infrastructure as shields during armed conflicts and violence towards civilian populations," the ministry said. It also lamented Hamas for "the captivity of civilian persons" and said it "joins the demands of the international community on freeing them." Shortly after the former Soviet republic announced the recognition, Israel's foreign ministry summoned Yerevan's ambassador. "Following Armenia's recognition of a Palestinian state, the foreign ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador in Israel for a severe reprimand," it said in a statement. Meanwhile, a senior official from the Palestinian Authority, Hussein Al-Sheikh welcomed the move.
"This is a victory for the rights, justice, legitimacy, and struggle of our Palestinian people for liberation and independence," Al-Sheikh said on social media. "Thank you our friend Armenia."
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
