RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday welcomed Slovenia’s ratification of its parliament and government’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine. “While the Kingdom appreciates the decision of the Republic of Slovenia, which affirms the agreement of the international community on the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, it renews its call to the rest of the countries of the world that have not yet recognized it to speed up taking such positive steps, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Slovenia on Tuesday became the latest country to recognize a state of Palestine, following similar moves made last week by Spain, Ireland and Norway. The action means that 146 of the 193 UN member states now recognize a Palestinian state, including most Middle Eastern, African, Latin American and Asian countries, but not the US, Canada, most of Western Europe, Australia, Japan or South Korea. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also welcomed Slovenia’s decision, calling it an “important and historic step” that “advances the achievement of justice and freedom for the Palestinian people, and affirms their legitimate rights, including their right to self-determination.” The OIC also renewed its call for all countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take the initiative “within the framework of supporting international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region in accordance with the vision of the two-state solution and based on the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.”