by Linda Straker
- Grenada recognised State of Palestine on 25 September 2011
- Grenada established diplomatic relations on 27 September 2013
- Ambassador will present Letters of Credence on 10 November 2022
Eleven years after Grenada recognised the State of Palestine and 9 years after establishing Diplomatic Relations, the first Ambassador from the State of Palestine to Grenada will be presenting her Letters of Credence to the Head of State on Thursday, 10 November 2022.
“The Ambassador-designate of the State of Palestine to Grenada, Her Excellency, Dr Linda Sobeh Ali, will present her Letters of Credence to Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, GCMG, OBE, PhD, DSc, on, Thursday, 10 November 2022,” said an invitation from the Government Information Service (GIS) which describes the event as significant. The presentation will be held at the Governor General’s Residence.
On 25 September 2011, then Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David of the Tillman Thomas-National Democratic Congress administration, recognised the State of Palestine at the United Nations. However, it was on 27 September 2013 the then New National Party administration led by Dr Keith Mitchell officially established diplomatic relations.
Nickolas Steele who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, and HE Dr Riad Malki, signed on behalf of the State of Palestine the Communique establishing diplomatic in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 1961. Grenada is one of 138 United Nations members to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine.
Her Excellency Dr Linda Sobeh Ali will be based in Caracas, Venezuela. Grenada is yet to appoint an ambassador to the State of Palestine. Since 2012 the State of Palestine has held non-member observer state at the United Nations.
On 29 November 2012, in a 138–9 vote with 41 abstentions and 5 absences, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 67/19, upgrading Palestine from an observer entity to a non-member observer state within the UN system. The status is equal to that of the Holy See.