LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the announcement made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding their countries’ intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

Malta and Canada were among 15 Western countries that signed a statement following a high-level international conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France this week.

The conference in New York aimed to advance efforts toward achieving a two-state solution to the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Riyadh commended the Canadian and Maltese “positive decisions that establish the path of the two-state solution, and affirms the agreement of the international community on the need to end the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people.

“The Kingdom renews its call on the rest of the countries to take such serious steps in support of peace,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Thursday that the country’s centre-right government will consult the main political parties and conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa about the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.

The Kingdom welcomed the consultation and said it is a positive step that would support the process of implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace.

Other countries that signed the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine include Andorra, Australia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain. However, not all of these countries have officially recognized Palestinian statehood yet.