Norwegian Ambassador: The recognition of Palestine is a turning point’
Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Andreas Garder, the ambassador of Norway in Ankara, said that Norway’s recognition of Palestine together with Ireland and Spain is a turning point.
Andreas Garder stated that there are very important and strong relations between Turkey and Norway and said: The relations between the two countries are conducted with good negotiations on many issues.
He continued by reminding that his country officially recognized the state of Palestine on May 28, and emphasized that Norway has been actively working on the Palestinian issue for more than 30 years in order to support the Palestinians.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, Garder said: We see the current situation as very difficult and catastrophic.
He referred to the statement of Norway’s foreign minister, Espen Bart Ide, after the decision to recognize Palestine as a country, and said: “It is a turning point for Norway to recognize the state of Palestine at the same time as Ireland and Spain.”
Pointing out that Norway was the architect of the process leading to the Oslo agreement in 1993, this diplomat said: We have long thought that the recognition of the Palestinian state should be the result of the political process.
He stated: The decision to recognize Palestine as a country was by no means a simple decision, it was a decision that we struggled with for a long time. We hope that many countries will join this movement.
Garder added: We are trying to create more momentum on this issue because we think that it is ultimately a necessary prerequisite for peaceful development and the realization of a two-state solution in the region. Therefore, it was natural for us to recognize the state of Palestine in this context.