DHAKA: Belgium raised the standing of the Palestinian diplomatic delegation in Brussels from ‘general delegation’ to ‘mission’ status.

‘The raising (of status) reflects Belgian and European support for the two-state solution,’ Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders said in a statement after signing an agreement with Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan, that would also allow the head of the Palestinian mission to use the title of ambassador.

The move has been in the works since November 2012, when Belgium was one of 138 countries in the UN General Assembly that voted to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state, reports The Jerusalem Post.

BDST: 1431 HRS, NOV 10, 2013
RoR/BSK