SINGAPORE: Singapore is prepared in principle to recognise Palestine as a state at an appropriate time, said Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
He said Singapore's key consideration is that such a move should help progress towards peace and the negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
"In particular, there will need to be an effective Palestinian government that accepts Israel's rights to exist and categorically rejects terrorism.
"We urge both sides to seize the moment to take steps towards long-lasting peace and put an end to the suffering that has gone on for too long," the minister told Parliament today.
On May 10, Singapore voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution expressing support for Palestinian membership in the UN.
Balakrishnan said Singapore made the vote after careful consideration in the hope that Palestine and Israel resume direct negotiations towards a two-state solution at a time when the prospects were getting increasingly bleak.
Meanwhile, Balakrishnan said Singapore's level of support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is not subject to whether there is a formal recognition of the state.
"Singapore will continue to engage with the PA, continue to implement our S$10 million enhanced technical assistance package to help PA build capacity and prepare for the statehood," he said.
Singapore to date has trained more than 750 Palestinians officials in a variety of areas, including diplomacy, economic management, and urban planning.
He said the republic also provides scholarships for Palestinian officials to further their post-graduate studies in Singapore universities. So far, there has been three recipients of such scholarships this year. — BERNAMA