Portugal distances itself from Sánchez's plan for recognition of Palestine: "We are not going that far at the moment"

The president asks the PP for "responsibility" after its criticism and reiterates his condemnation of Iran's attack against Israel

MADRID, 15 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The new Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has distanced himself from the efforts of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, for joint recognition by several countries of the Palestinian State, arguing that for the moment they do not want to go that far and that they prefer that the step is taken within the framework of the EU or the UN.

This was stated by Montenegro in the joint press conference after meeting with Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace. "We are not going as far as other governments at the moment when it comes to recognition because we consider that this consensus has to be reached multilaterally" within the EU and the United Nations, she explained.

In this sense, the Portuguese prime minister has said that his country does plan to support Palestine's entry as a full member of the UN General Assembly if it is put to a vote, something that Sánchez has also reiterated that Spain will do if it is previously There is no veto in the Security Council, which is the one who has to decide first.

"Our position is not so different," Montenegro insisted, expressing his respect for what other countries like Spain can do. Although she has supported the two-state solution, as does Spain, she has considered that the priority now must be a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid in the face of the "catastrophic situation" in Gaza.

For his part, Sánchez has stressed that Spain's position "is firm, clear and unequivocal" but he is speaking with several countries, both inside and outside the EU, "so that there are a few of us to take that step together." .

In any case, he stressed, "the Government of Spain is going to take the step, because we believe that it is fair and necessary so that we can lay the foundations that allow us to guarantee peace and coexistence between both peoples."

However, the President of the Government has called for us to wait and see how the debates at the UN on the entry of Palestine go and "from there we will make the decision." Asked where Spain will locate its embassy once it recognizes Palestine, Sánchez has avoided clarifying it: "we are not going to answer all the questions before recognizing the State."

On the other hand, Sánchez has reiterated his condemnation of the attack perpetrated by Iran against Israel this weekend and has once again called for "containment" because "no one wants a regional escalation" with which "no one wins and we all lose."

Now, he stressed, "two paths are opening up." "One leads to an escalation of war that can take us to the abyss and the other involves demanding a ceasefire from all parties, immediately launching a peace process" and basing it on the two-state solution, which is the one that Spain bets on from the first moment.

Regarding the criticism of the PP precisely for its condemnation of the attack by Iran, after the leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, denounced that he had been the last European leader to condemn, Sánchez has replied that "the opposition decides to make the opposition that it considers".

"I believe that we are facing an issue so extraordinarily serious and so extraordinarily complex that what I ask is responsibility from all political actors in Spain," he claimed, arguing that the Government's position is shared by "the vast majority of citizens." .

Thus, he has insisted that the Government is "defending peace, diplomacy and international legality" and has done so in the same way in the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and now with the Iranian attack. .

"Of course, when there is any news in this regard, I will inform the entire opposition," he assured, also committing to do so when the decision to recognize Palestine is made.

In another order of things, the meeting between Sánchez and Montenegro, who had his first destination outside of Portugal in Spain after taking office, has allowed both leaders to reaffirm their willingness to continue collaborating closely both on bilateral issues and at the European level, after the period of great harmony experienced with the previous Government of the socialist Antonio Costa.

"Our good bilateral relations will continue to strengthen," said the President of the Government, who has conveyed to Montenegro that it will have a "brother and friendly country" in Spain. "We are two brother countries that share deep historical, social, cultural ties and many common interests and challenges in Europe and the world," he stated.

For his part, the Portuguese conservative politician has assured that "it is a pleasure" that both are able to "keep alive this flame of connection between our countries, our people, our governments."

"There are no party differences that can call into question, not for a moment, not for a second, the relationship that we have been building for centuries at the service of the people," he stressed, alluding to his different political family. "Our objective is to bring well-being to our people," he stressed.

Thus, Montenegro has announced that the next High Level Meeting (RAN) between the two countries will be held in the second half of October in Portugal at a date and place yet to be determined.