To mark the  53rd anniversary of the Palestine Revolution and New Year, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Việt Nam, Saadi Salama, sends Việt Nam News readers his warmest greetings.

The year 2017 has just ended, marking 70 years since the adoption of the UN partition resolution in 1947, and 50 years since the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, was occupied in 1967.

After 50 years, we are the only people in the world who still live under occupation.

For more than 100 years we have been actively denied our right to self-determination, along with all the hardships associated with the denial of that right,: exile and forced displacement, occupation and subjugation, harassment and incarceration.

No people in the world would tolerate living under these conditions, and we are no exception.

We are mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. More than anything, we want a safe environment and a future full of opportunity and possibility for our children, our grandchildren, and all future generations of this vibrant and beautiful land.

We are a small, but great nation, proud of our diversity and identity. We educate our children to respect themselves and others by standing up against injustice wherever it is found.

We build our institutions based on the implementation of their responsibilities under international law. Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Samaritans live and worship side by side, working together towards freedom and justice.

We are a people famous for our hospitality and are keen to achieve our full potential as an independent and sovereign state, welcoming people of all faiths to the Holy Land.

There is no doubt that the balance of power is still weighted firmly against us. But I believe in our people and I believe that, even in these circumstances, we can, and will, prevail.

We have truth on our side and strength in our hearts.

We also have the support of the international community.

This valuable support has always been a source of strength and inspiration for the Palestinian people to continue their struggle for freedom and independence.

The path we have chosen, and the path chosen by the world is that of international law and international legitimacy.

Therefore, we appeal to you to continue to stand firmly for peace, for the respect for international law and the human rights, including the right of self-determination and the inalienable right to independence of the State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side-by-side in peace and stability with neighbouring countries.

In 2018, Palestine and Việt Nam will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. But November 19, 1988, was by no means the beginning of the two countries’ relationship. Political ties between Palestine and Việt Nam long preceded the establishment of full diplomatic relations and were already very strong in the 1960s.

The relationship between Palestine and Việt Nam is particularly special because we share the same spirit in our struggles and resistances against suppression and invasion.

The leadership and the people of Palestine highly appreciate the consistent support of Việt Nam given to the legitimate struggle of our people for inalienable national rights.

For Palestine, the land still in search of independence, the words “Việt Nam” have become a symbol of struggling spirit for the national sacred peace. Việt Nam had to suffer lots of sorrow and loss during its struggles against invaders, but nowadays has become an independent and self-reliant nation.

The victories of Việt Nam over the years provide invaluable lessons and inspiration. They are an enormous encouragement for our people to continue their difficult struggle for national independence and freedom. 

We are very happy and proud of the achievements of Việt Nam during the đổi mới (renewal) process and firmly believe that the Government of Việt Nam will implement more fruitful economic and social development strategies. We would like to warmly congratulate Việt Nam for its successful organisation of the APEC Summit 2017, contributing to the enhancement of the position of Việt Nam in the region and internationally.

We are determined to promote friendly relations between Palestine and Việt Nam in all fields for the benefit of the two peoples.

We aspire that one day in the near future, Palestine will be a completely independent and sovereign state with more opportunities to become an effective bridge between Việt Nam and other countries in the Middle East.

We await the day when we may together celebrate the freedom of our people in an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We welcome you all in a Jerusalem reconciled with its original name, the City of Peace. — VNS