Argentina's government admitted on Monday to Palestine as a free and independent state during a press conference by Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman, who stated that with this announcement they want to convey the interest of our country where achieve a breakthrough in terms of peace.
Foreign Minister stressed in his announcement that the Argentine government shares with its Mercosur partners that the time has come to recognize Palestine as a free and independent state.
Argentina has declared its firm opposition to the settlement policies in the territories occupied undertaken by the authorities in Israel, the statement said the Foreign Ministry, who indicates that the award reflects the growing consensus on the status of Palestine.
Argentina joins Brazil and Uruguay, which also recognized the Palestinian state.
The recognition is part of the desire to facilitate the negotiation process leading to the end of the conflict and in the tradition of friendship and solidarity with the Palestinian people, Timerman said.
The Palestinian National Authority in 1996 opened a diplomatic mission in Buenos Aires and in 2008, Argentina established its diplomatic representation in Ramallah.
Last November, the Arab Ambassadors Council in Buenos Aires, requested support from the government of President Cristina Fernandez to the Palestinian cause as part of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The Council requested at this time in a statement to the international community "to take charge of their responsibility to recognize the right of all Palestinians to establish and proclaim their own state.
Arab ambassadors thanked the position Argentine government that continues to declare its support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their opposition to Israeli practices violate international law and international humanitarian law, says the text.
Uruguay was the first country to obey the call and on 13 November, the country's president, Jose "Pepe" Mujica, granted the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) recognition of the state.
In accordance with the decision, the Government of Uruguay announced that in the first half of 2011 will install an embassy in the Arab territories in order to establish bilateral relations.
Subsequently, Brazil recognized Palestinian state and said his decision follows a specific request, issued in November, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The initiative is consistent with Brazil's historical willingness to contribute to the peace process between Israel and Palestine, whose direct negotiations are currently broken, "said Brazil on a diplomatic card.
In 1993 the Brazilian government set up a diplomatic mission in the Palestinian territories, an initiative five years then began to function as an embassy.
