|
Brazil recognizes the Palestinian National Authority as an entity legitimately
established through the peace agreements signed with Israel (particularly the
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho, of May 1994).
Nevertheless, Brazil does not recognize the existence of a Palestinian State,
given the absence of basic conditions to that end, from the standpoint of
International Law (territorial delimitation).
Nonetheless, a considerable number of Arab countries and members of the
Non-aligned Movement do recognize the existence of a Palestinian State, which
was unilaterally proclaimed on 15 November 1988 in Algiers by the Palestine
National Council (then a sort of Palestinian Parliament-in-exile, with seat in
Tunis).
It is also worth noticing that, according to the agreements signed with Israel,
the Palestinian National Authority has no power and responsibilities in the sphere of
international relations (establishing diplomatic missions, consulates, and
accrediting diplomatic missions to autonomous Palestinian territories).
On 29 April 1998, as a result of changes introduced in the List of the
Diplomatic Corps accredited to Brasilia, the Special Palestine Delegation -
which used to be listed under "International Organizations" - was included in
the section on "Countries and Delegations", following Zambia and preceding the
European Union. As for the order of precedence for Heads of Diplomatic Missions,
the status of the Head of the Special Palestine Delegation was then made to
correspond to the date of his accreditation to Brazil.
On 2 September 1999, the Head of the Special Palestine Delegation was informed
of the Ministry of External Relations' decision to issue him with a diplomatic
identity card and diplomatic car plates, and to extend these privileges to the
other employees of the Delegation who were entitled to them.
On the 16th of the same month, Ambassador Musa Odeh was informed of the
Brazilian government's decision to exempt the Special Palestine Delegation from
taxes on fuel (gasoline and diesel), electricity, and telephone.
|
