Mahmoud Abbas congratulates North Korea’s Jong-un for Korea`s Liberation Day
Mahmoud Abbas congratulates North Korea's Jong-un,
for Korea's Liberation Day
Abbas wishes Jong-un "all health and happiness"
Itamar Marcus
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas today sent congratulations to the ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, in honor of the country's Liberation Day. In the statement released by WAFA, the official PA news agency, Abbas wished Jong-un "all health and happiness." His greetings did not mention the international tension following Jong-un's threat to fire missiles toward the US Pacific territory of Guam in honor of Korea's Liberation Day.
Abbas wished "the Korean people continued stability and prosperity; and that the historical friendly relations between Palestine and North Korea and their two peoples will continue to develop and grow."
Earlier this year, Abbas sent his "blessings" to the Iranian regime in honor of the 1979 Iranian revolution:
"[Chairman of the Palestinian National Council (i.e., the legislative body of the PLO) Salim] Al-Za’anoun conveyed to Iran’s president [Hassan Rouhani] President Mahmoud Abbas’ blessings to the Iranian people and its leadership on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution."
[Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 23, 2017]
The following is the full text of Abbas' greetings to Jong-un, as reported by WAFA, the official PA news agency:
Headline: "The [PA] president congratulates the leader of North Korea for Liberation Day"
"President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas today, Tuesday congratulated First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea National Leadership Committee, and Supreme Leader of the Army Kim Jong-un for [Korea's] Liberation Day.
The president said in a greeting telegram for the occasion that the Korean people sacrificed the most precious sacrifices for its freedom and honor, and expressed appreciation for the solidary and stable positions of Korea supporting the rights of our people and its just struggle to end the occupation and establish our independent state and its capital of East Jerusalem - the surest guarantee of realizing a just peace that all peoples of the region seek.
His Honor the president wished Leader Jong-un all health and happiness; the Korean people continued stability and prosperity; and that the historical friendly relations between Palestine and North Korea and their two peoples will continue to develop and grow."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, Aug. 15, 2017]