Ramallah, Palestinian Territories (ANTARA News/AFP) - The Palestinian foreign ministry said on Thursday it had received a letter from the Thai government formally recognising a Palestinian state on the 1967 lines.

A ministry official told AFP the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations received a formal letter from Thailand saying it recognises a Palestinian state on the 1967 lines late on Wednesday.

The move was hailed on Thursday by foreign minister Riyad al-Malki.

"Thailand`s recognition of a Palestinian state is the first of the New Year 2012 and is a new achievement for Palestinian diplomacy," he told the official news agency WAFA.

Malki said the announcement brought to 131 the number of countries who recognise a Palestinian state within the lines that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas also thanked Thailand for the move, WAFA said, and confirmed the letter was handed over by Thailand`s UN mission in New York.

"President Mahmud Abbas thanks Thailand`s king and government for its official recognition of the Palestinian state," the Abbas statement said.

"Official procedures have begun on the establishment of diplomatic relations."

The Palestinians have sought to boost their international standing and support as negotiations with Israel remain stalled over the issue of settlement construction.

In 2011, they won recognition from a slew of countries, as well as membership at the UN cultural agency, UNESCO.

They also presented a bid to join the United Nations as a full member, over opposition from Washington and Israel, a request that is still being considered by the international body. (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

COPYRIGHT © 2012

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