February 8, 2013

(JTA) — Cyprus upgraded the Palestinian diplomatic mission to embassy status.

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said after talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki on Friday that the upgrade is in line with Cyprus’ recognition of Palestinian statehood in 1988, the Associated Press reported.

Cyprus, a member of the European Union, supported the Palestinians’ successful bid last year in the United Nations General Assembly to elevate their status from U.N. observer to nonmember observer state.

Malki said there are some 100 Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world, most of which have full embassy status.

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