06/10/2011 Session
Strasbourg, 06.10.2011 – “The hour of the Palestinian spring is here,” said the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today.
Mr Abbas said that in the light of the stalemate in negotiations, the “only alternative” for Palestinians was to turn to the international community to open new horizons for the peace process, through UN recognition of the state of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders.
He also thanked the Assembly for its support for the Palestinian request for statehood at the UN – especially its call on Council of Europe member states in the Security Council to vote in favour – and said he was proud that the Palestinian National Council had been granted “Partner for democracy” status with the Assembly earlier this week. This would help to encourage democracy in the Arab region, he said.
He concluded: “You supported the Arab spring which was seeking democracy and freedom. Now the Palestinian spring has arrived asking for freedom and an end to occupation. We deserve your support […]. We are depending on you.”