1st LD Writethru: Abbas calls on EU states to recognize state of Palestine

BRUSSELS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday called on EU states to swiftly recognize the state of Palestine, amid an international uproar sparked by the U.S. administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Abbas made the remarks before an informal lunch with EU foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on the sidelines of the bloc's monthly foreign affairs council.

Hailing the EU as a "true partner and friend," Abbas tried to convince the bloc that "there is no contradiction between the recognition (of the state of Palestine) and the resumption of negotiations."

Abbas said the EU has contributed and continues to contribute to the building of the state of Palestine and its institutions with financial and economic support.

The EU has left the issue of whether to recognize the state of Palestine to member states themselves, most of which have wavered over a decision.

Addressing tensions with Israel, Abbas said Palestinians "are still committed to the treaties we signed with Israel," stressing that Israel should also do the same.

Abbas' visit to Brussels coincided with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Israel, which is the third leg of his five-day tour to the Middle East that started Friday.

Pence started his visit to Israel on Monday with a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which he said it was an honor "to be in Israel's capital Jerusalem."

Netanyahu thanked Pence for U.S. President Donald Trump's "historic statement," in which he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Changing a long-held U.S. policy, Trump said last month he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that the United States would relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

His statement was hailed by Israel but angered Palestinians, with whom Pence has no meeting during his visit. The statement was denounced by other Arab and European countries.

Israel seized East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it shortly after, claiming it as part of its indivisible capital. The move has never been recognized internationally. Enditem