Denmark not ready to recognize Palestinian state, FM says

Copenhagen is not prepared to recognize a Palestinian state, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Sunday, speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem with his Israeli counterpart, Report informs via JNS.

"We are not ready yet to recognize, but our position is that we cannot allow anyone to have a de facto veto over the Danish position," Rasmussen said during remarks alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, referencing Jerusalem"s criticism of initiatives to recognize Palestine.

"Our position so far has been that we are ready to recognize when there's a negotiated two-state solution," the European diplomat continued, saying that his centrist government would never recognize a Palestinian state ruled by Hamas or any other terrorist organization.

"It comes with a lot of preconditions," Rasmussen said, "a disarmed Palestinian state, recognizing Israel, transparency, democracy-you can't run for elections if you don't recognize the sovereignty of Israel.

"That is our position and I really hope that we, in the foreseeable future, can start working together in achieving this, and make this vision more clear for people in Israel, Palestine and across the world," he added.