RAMALLAH, January 27, 2013 (WAFA) – India Sunday reiterated solidarity with the people of Palestine affirming that the vote in the United Nations is a decisive achievement for Palestine to achieve its goal of an independent and viable State.

Representative of India B.S. Mubarak said, on the occasion of India’s Republic Day in a celebration held in Ramallah, that India has a long history of solidarity with the people of Palestine by offering its unwavering support for the their struggle to achieve a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He recalled, “India was the first non-Arab State to recognize PLO and in 1988 became one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine.”

Mubarak said that President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to India last September boosted the bilateral relations between the two countries, where Abbas met the Indian leadership, singed three Memorandums of Understanding in various fields and inaugurated the Embassy of the State of Palestine in the heart of New Delhi.

Mubarak affirmed that India will continue to support Palestine’s bid for full and equal membership of the United Nations.

The Political Adviser to Abbas, Nimer Hammad said that India stood for and supported the Palestinian people and supported their right to self-determination, and presence in the Non Aligned movement.

He said: “We cannot forget the names of prominent figures in India who supported the Palestinian cause. India is also one of the first countries that supported the Palestinian right since the partition resolution in 1947.”

M.H.