Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki yesterday met with the foreign ministers of five countries on the sidelines of the 9th Bali Democracy Forum.
Al-Maliki met with the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Suriname, East Timor, Maldives and Nepal.
In his meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, Al-Maliki presented the political and international developments, focusing on the developments in the Middle East and the Palestinian cause.
Marsudi stressed that her country would participate in the International Peace Conference scheduled to be held in Paris on 21 December. The two ministers also discussed a number of issues, including settlements, Israeli violations and Israel’s avoidance of the peace process.
Al-Maliki expressed his disappointment with the international community, which only makes statements of condemnation, and they agreed to remain in contact and discuss issues.
He also met with Suriname Foreign Minister Niermala Badrising and discussed developing relations between the two countries, as well as the possibility for Suriname to benefit from Palestinian expertise. Al-Maliki expressed Palestine’s desire to send a number of experts in the field of medicine, agricultural engineering, solar energy and businessmen through the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA).
In his meeting with East Timor Foreign Minister Hernâni Coelho the pair expressed the depth of the two countries’ historical relations and the need for East Timor to play a role in supporting the Palestinian state by means of its relations with countries.
They also spoke about the political developments in the Middle East and the possibility of benefitting from the two countries’ expertise in a number of fields. Al-Maliki also expressed his desire to send experts from his country via PICA and Coelho agreed to the proposal.
Al-Maliki met with Maldives Foreign Minister Mohamed Asim and informed him of the general international and regional situation and the possibility of providing mutual benefits. Al-Maliki expressed the Palestinian state’s desire to send experts in Arabic, agriculture and moderate religious scholars via PICA. Asim welcomed the gesture.
Nepalese Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat spoke to Al-Maliki stressing the importance of Palestinian human resources. Mahat stressed the need for the two sides to remain in contact in order to execute these suggestions on the ground. Mahat also reiterated his country’s political support for Palestine and the right of the Palestinians to establish their independent country.
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