Cyprus upgrades Palestinian diplomatic status

NICOSIA: Cyprus’ foreign minister says the Palestinian diplomatic mission to his country has been upgraded to embassy status.
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said after talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki yesterday that the upgrade is in line with Cyprus’ recognition of Palestinian statehood in 1988 along with seven other European countries that have also since become European Union members.
Cyprus supported the Palestinians’ successful bid last year in the United Nations General Assembly to elevate their status from UN observer to nonmember observer state.
Malki said there are some 100 Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world, most of which have full embassy status.