The PLO representative office in Copenhagen has been designated as a mission with full diplomatic status, giving officials powers equal to that of other countries.

Denmark is the latest in a string of European nations to recognize Palestinian diplomats with full rank, making the announcement Wednesday after British officials did the same in London, Dublin, Paris and Stockholm.

The official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA quoted President Mahmoud Abbas, who learned of the change at a news conference in the Danish capital, as saying it "supports us politically and diplomatically."

He called the move proof that Denmark supported the Palestinian peace effort.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen said the decision was in accordance with the country's support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying "the central element in building the state of Palestine is by implementing the two-year state building plan," in reference to the agenda supported by appointed Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Abbas told WAFA he and Rasmussen discussed issues around the peace process and events in the Middle East, particularly Libya.