Brazil recognizes Palestinian state

Brazil recognizes the Palestinian state, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Xinhua reported.

Lula stated the stance in a letter to Abbas, who wrote to him on Nov. 24, asking for Brazil's recognition of the Palestinian state.

"The initiative is consistent with Brazil's historical will to contribute to the peace process between Israel and Palestine," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"And it is in line with United Nations resolutions demanding an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and the construction of an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders," it added.

The statement said the support of countries outside the Arab region is essential for encouraging peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

It said Brazil's partners in BRIC , a group composed of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and in IBSA, a group consisting of India, Brazil and South Africa, have already recognized Palestine.

"In recent years, Brazil has been strengthening its relationship with Palestine. In 2004, we opened a representative office in Ramallah. Abbas came to Brazil on two occasions (in May 2005 and in November 2009). Lula visited the occupied Palestinian territories in March 2010, accompanied by a significant business delegation," the statement said.

It said Brazil has also provided material support to build the Palestinian state, through donations and technical cooperation projects.

Meanwhile, the statement said Brazil's relations with Israel have also been strengthened over the last two years, in parallel with Brazil's rapprochement policies to the Arab and Muslim world.