New York /Information Office/ 01 October 2015/ The State of Qatar welcomed raising the Palestinian flag for the first time at United Nations headquarters in New York, in the presence of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, and a number of senior international officials. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement today that raising the Palestinian flag in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York is an important step towards the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with its capital in Jerusalem. The statement renewed Qatar's support for all ongoing efforts to reach a fair and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian issue, and to restore the full and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations. The ceremony was attended by HE Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, HE Assistant Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, HE Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed Al-Thani and a number of senior officials.