Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru made this known in a statement issued by his office in Abuja on Sunday, adding Nigeria preferred a solution whereby two states, Palestine and Israel, will live peacefully side-by-side.
He said Nigeria recognized the state of Palestine since 1984 and its ambassador had been resident in the country since then.
"In fact there was a time when the ambassador, for 15 years, was the Dean of the diplomatic corps in Nigeria and our stand and policy is very clear and there is no change in our position," he added.
Nigeria has traditionally maintained close relations with the Palestinians as well as good ties with Israel, particularly in the area of security, trade and Christian pilgrimage. Each year, thousands of Nigerians flood to Israel for Christian pilgrimage.
On Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN to recognize a state for his people, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said only direct negotiations could deliver peace in the area.
Abbas handed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a letter requesting full UN membership, which the 15-member Security Council said it would discuss on Monday.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
