First Palestinian Mission in Europe

Sweden became the first West European nation to allow opening of embassy of Palestine. Palestinian Authority chief Mahmood Abbas inaugurated the embassy in capital Stockholm on February 11. Abbas in a speech at the occasion described the opening of the embassy as a major headway for the Palestinian Authority and considered it a huge step towards recognition of the Palestinian right to be recognized as a nation-state. He hoped that other West European states too would allow opening of Palestinian embassy in their respective capitals.