Abbas hopes UNESCO’s Palestine recognition fill be followed by othersDecember 13, 2011 - 18:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Tuesday, Dec 13 UNESCO's admission of Palestine was a key first recognition that he hoped others will follow, as the Palestinian flag was raised at the agency's offices. "This admission is a first recognition of Palestine," Abbas said at the flag-raising ceremony. "It is moving to see our flag raised today at a UN agency. I hope that this will be a good omen for Palestine's admission to other international organisations," he said. "Our admission is a source of pride. Palestine, the land where civilisations met... is having a new rebirth," Abbas said. "Today we are members of UNESCO and we hope we can have an independent state, living side-by-side with Israel in a spirit of peace," he said. At the ceremony, UNESCO chief Irina Bokova welcomed Palestine to the agency and said she hoped its admission would be a step toward peace with Israel. "A solution with two states living in peace and security has been long-awaited," she said. "I want to believe that this admission to UNESCO is a chance to show that peace is also built through education and culture," AFP reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |