Finland鈥檚 president Alexander Stubb has said he is ready to approve a recognition of a Palestinian state if the government moves forward with such a proposal.
Many countries, including France and Canada, have pledged to recognise a Palestinian state alongside the 80th UN General Assembly in September.
鈥楾he decisions by France, the United Kingdom and Canada reinforce the trend towards recognising Palestine as part of efforts to breathe new life into the peace process,鈥� Stubb said in a post to X Thursday.
Finland鈥檚 president, elected for six years, has limited powers but helps coordinate the country鈥檚 foreign policy in close cooperation with the government.
鈥業f I receive a proposal to recognise the Palestinian state, I am prepared to approve it,鈥� Stubb said, deploring an 鈥榠nhumane鈥� situation in Gaza.
He said he understood that Finns had 鈥榙ifferent opinions on the recognition of Palestine, and that there is also concern,鈥� calling for an 鈥榦pen鈥� and 鈥榟onest鈥� debate.
The far-right Finns Party and the Christian Democrats oppose recognising a Palestinian state.
Finland鈥檚 prime minister Petteri Oro on Friday reiterated Helsinki鈥檚 support for a two-state solution, without specifying whether the government was ready to recognise a Palestinian state.
Discussions on foreign policy and the Middle East with the president would continue up to the UN conference at the end of September, he said.
