Zagreb: Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Varsen Aghabekian on Wednesday handed over a letter from President Mahmoud Abbas to his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic. During a meeting in Zagreb, Minister Aghabekian conveyed the Palestinian leadership's greetings and appreciation to President Milanovic for his country's supportive stance on the Palestinian people's rights, including self-determination and advocacy for the recognition of Palestine.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Minister Aghabekian briefed President Milanovic on the serious issues facing the Palestinian territories. She highlighted the war of genocide and starvation waged by Israel against the Gaza Strip, as well as the broader issues of settler-colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and colonist attacks, all of which threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
President Milanovic expressed strong condemnation of Israeli attacks on civilians and criticized plans for a military occupation of Gaza. He stressed that such an occupation is unjustifiable under any circumstances. Milanovic emphasized that recognizing both Palestine and Israel as two sovereign states is the only fair resolution to the conflict.
The Croatian President further stated, "Croatia needs to recognise Palestine as a step towards halting the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Acknowledging the Palestinian people's right to their own state is the only path to establishing lasting peace in the Middle East." He also committed to advocating for Croatia to recognize Palestine, urging the Croatian Government to begin the parliamentary process for formal recognition.
