DAMASCUS, July 18, 2011 (WAFA) – Syria Monday recognized the state of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a statement issued by the Syrian foreign ministry.

It said that “the recognition came to preserve the legitimate Palestinian rights,” adding that the PLO office in Damascus has been upgraded to a level of embassy, according to the statement published by the official Syrian news agency, SANA.

Syria has had very cold relations with the PLO and the Palestinian Authority since the signing of the Oslo accords in 1993 and has regularly supported opposition forces, including Hamas.

M.A.