The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Friday the State of Kuwait's welcome of the friendly Portuguese Republic's announcement to initiate procedures paving the way for its official recognition of the sisterly State of Palestine.

In a statement, the Ministry stated: *"The State of Kuwait commends this important step, which will contribute to achieving what is stipulated in relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative regarding enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."*

The Ministry emphasized the necessity for other countries to take similar steps to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.