Hanan Ashrawi delivering a seminar at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs on May 3. (Photo courtesy of Ashrawi‘s office.)

RAMALLAH, May 6, 2017 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi thanked Sweden for voting in favor of a UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem and urged other European countries to follow Sweden’s example in recognizing the state of Palestine, a press release said on Saturday.

Ashrawi participated in a series of official meetings and events between May 2 and 4 in Stockholm during which she met with Foreign Minister Margot Wallström and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Annika Söder.

In the meeting with Wallstrom, Ashrawi expressed her appreciation to the Foreign Minister “for exhibiting the courage to stand up to Israel and its flagrant violations of international law and speaking against injustice,” as came in a press release by Ashrawi’s office.

She also thanked Sweden for voting in favor of the UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem.

"It is extremely disturbing that there are European countries that voted against such a resolution even though in accordance with international law and global consensus, Jerusalem is occupied territory," she said.

The resolution that considers Jerusalem occupied territory passed a UNESCO vote last week with 22 countries voting in favor, 10 against and 23 abstaining.

Ashrawi and Wallstrom discussed the deteriorating conditions on the ground, including Israel‘s expansion of its illegal settlement enterprise, and the importance for the European Union to play a direct and distinctive role in genuine peacemaking.

In her meeting with Söder, Ashrawi stressed the significance of Sweden‘s recognition of Palestine and how other countries should follow its example to exhibit their commitment to peace and justice.

Both parties discussed the latest political, international and regional developments and Palestine‘s latest moves in the international community. The meeting also covered issues of bilateral relations and future cooperation between Palestine and Sweden.

Ashrawi emphasized the importance of the collective hunger strike of the Palestinian political prisoners and paid tribute to Palestinian prisoners for their continued determination and steadfastness.

Upon the invitation of Wallström, Ashrawi participated in the fourth annual Stockholm Forum on Security and Development on May 3 and 4, which was co-hosted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

At the Forum, she spoke in high-level panels in which she addressed various issues such as the UN and the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, peacemaking, peace building, human security, human rights, and women‘s rights.

M.K.