Guatemalan president's office made announcement; hopes peace process will "gain new momentum" as a result.
By JTAPalestinian flag/protest good illustrative 370(photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
Guatemala has recognized Palestine as a state, which it believes will help bring about a peace agreement with Israel.Several Latin American countries have recognized a sovereign state of Palestine in the last two years.The Guatemala's president's office said in a statement on Tuesday that it decided to "recognize the State of Palestine as a free, sovereign and independent state" in order to "gain new momentum" in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."The decision in no way alters Guatemala's long tradition of friendship and cooperation with the State of Israel, a relationship the Guatemalan government highly values," the statement added.Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Guyana all have recognized an independent Palestinian state, some specifying that it be located within 1967 borders.
