By Tala Rimawi

RAMALLAH, September 5, 2011 (WAFA) – Belgium Prime Minister Yves Leterme Monday said that his government is considering upgrading the diplomatic status of the Palestinian delegation in Brussels.

Speaking at a press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad following their meeting in Ramallah, Leterme praised the Palestinian government’s efforts to build viable state institutions, describing relations with the Palestinian Authority as very good.

“From a Belgium point of view and in terms of development aid and cooperation, we have 18 priority countries from all over the world and Palestine is the fourth partner in ranking,” he said.

Fayyad said the Palestinian decision to go to the United Nations to seek full membership and recognition of a Palestinian state is firm and cannot be changed.

“The political Palestinian decision cannot be attached to any strings, Israeli or other threats, which will not stop us from gaining our regal rights,” said Fayyad.

He added that the PA is preparing a draft resolution that will gain a global consensus in the next UN meeting.

“Gaining recognition of a Palestinian state provides more ability and progress to be able to insure the ending of the Israeli occupation and to provide the aspiration of our Palestinian people towards the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

He said that the Palestinian bid to the UN is a natural progression to what started in 1988 when the declaration of a Palestinian statehood was made, which was followed up by a series of recognitions from several of the world countries.

Leterme said that the Belgium government will go over the content of the draft resolution and will work on reaching a joint stance with the European Union regarding it.

He said the Palestinian Authority deserves all respect for its efforts in building the institution of a state in such difficult circumstances, stressing Belgium’s support for these efforts.

“We are working on a new three-year program, which will be agreed upon and signed in Ramallah in 2012,” said the Belgium prime minister. “The amount of aid we will provide for the program will reach over 50 million euros, which will mainly focus on local governance, education and health.”

T.R./M.A.