Guatemala Recognizes 'Free, Sovereign Palestine'

[bemildred]

Guatemala has recognized “Palestine” as a sovereign state, claiming such a move will help foster peace in the Middle East, the president's office announced Tuesday.

Guatemala "has decided to join the vast majority of Latin American and Caribbean countries and recognize the State of Palestine, as a free, sovereign and independent State," the statement said, according to AFP.

"This decision in no way altars Guatemala's long tradition of friendship and cooperation with the State of Israel, a relationship the Guatemalan Government highly values," the statement added.

Guatemala wants talks between "the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, backed by the international community, to gain new momentum," the statement added.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/166981#.UWWuWeoo7JU

Edit: Xpost with Latin America, credits to Judi.

[Scootaloo]

1. "Backed by the international community"

Hopefully that's a polite way of saying "Not just the US."

[azurnoir]

2. good for Guatemala

and if memory serves when it comes to US diplomatic solutions, they do have some experience with US diplomacy