RAMALLAH, January 29, 2011 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Friday welcomed the decision of Paraguay to recognize a “free and independent” Palestinian state on the June 5, 1967 boarders.

He praised what he described as “good bilateral relations” between Paraguay and Palestine.

Paraguay became the ninth South American country to recognize the Palestinian state joining Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Guyana, and Peru. Uruguay said it will recognize Palestine in April.

A Paraguayan Foreign Ministry statement said on Friday that “With this declaration, the Republic of Paraguay expressly reaffirms the recognition of that State (Palestine) as free and independent in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

It added that “loyal to its pacifist nature, (Paraguay) has supported the efforts of the international community to cooperate in solving the territorial conflict between Palestine and Israel.”

The statement said that even though “Palestine is not part of the United Nations, it is a permanent observer in the meetings, and so far it has been officially recognized as a state by 108 countries.”

Paraguay “reaffirms its conviction that direct bilateral negotiation between Israel and Palestine, currently stalled, are fundamental to reach peace and security,” the statement added.

R.Q.