Greece supports the creation of a Palestinian state based on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday in statements after the meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

He also announced that Mr. Abbas will visit Athens on December 21 for a two-day visit.

Tsipras noted that Greece’s position on the Palestinian issue was one of “principle” and independent of the country’s efforts to develop bilateral ties with Israel.

Mr. Tsipras said that destabilisation and conflicts in the region are increasing and that the Palestinian issue was among the causes sparking destabilisation.

“For this reason, it is necessary to take bold steps today and support any international initiative,” he said. In this framework, he added, Athens welcomed any effort made by President Abbas in this direction.

He also said that Greece will do whatever it can within the United Nations, the European Union and other organisations to help in finding a solution based on two states, one of which was a viable and independent Palestinian state with 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.