TEL AVIV: Papua New Guinea has become the fifth state to open an embassy in Jerusalem, reported German news agency (dpa).
Prime Minister James Marape spoke of “a milestone moment” for his country at the inauguration on Tuesday evening.
“We have been strong partner nations since our two nations established bilateral relations in 1978. Today, Sept 5, 2023, entrenches our relationship deeper and elevates our relationship higher,” Marape told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was present at the ceremony.
“Many countries chose not to open embassies in Jerusalem, but we made the conscious choice. This has been the universal capital of the nation and people of Israel,” Marape said.
The background, he said, was also the belief in a common God.
The relocation of embassies to Jerusalem is controversial. The international community believes that the status of Jerusalem should be determined in future peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, the Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital for a future state of Palestine of their own.
In a historic unilateral move, then US president Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017. In May 2018, the United States then moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Both steps were criticised internationally and especially by the Palestinians.
Honduras, Guatemala and Kosovo now also have their embassies in Jerusalem. – BERNAMA-dpa
