Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-11-17

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf has congratulated Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on the country’s “National Day”, wishing Palestinians prosperity and happiness.

“On the occasion of the National Day of the State of Palestine I wish to convey to Your Excellency my best wishes for your health and happiness and for the prosperity of the people of the State of Palestine,” the letter, carrying the Royal Court’s official letterhead, was cited by Al-Jazeera on Monday, November 17.

Palestinians mark their National Day on November 15, the anniversary of the Palestinians’ unilateral declaration of independence proclaimed by Yasser Arafat in 1988.

The message, the first of its kind for Palestine, has been sent in coordination with the Foreign Ministry’s tradition of congratulating all countries on their national days, the Royal Court said.

“As the Swedish government has recognized the state of Palestine, it has also been sent on Palestine’s National Day”, it said in comments to Swedish news agency TT.

Sweden recognised the Palestinian state on October 30, becoming the first EU country in Western Europe to do so in a move that prompted Israeli anger and the withdrawal of the Israeli ambassador to Stockholm.

Seven other EU members have already recognized Palestine – Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Romania.

Non-EU member Iceland is the only other Western European nation to have done so.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)