RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority foreign minister said Thursday that the government was studying the steps toward joining more international organizations and agreements.

Riyad al-Malki said officials were hopeful to initiate applications "as soon as possible" now that Palestine is recognized as a state and can theoretically join dozens of UN and international agencies.

Al-Malki was speaking at a meeting with the Spanish consul-general to Jerusalem, Alfonso Portabliss, and the foreign minister praised Palestinian-Spanish relations and Spain's support for Palestine at the UN.

Portabliss told al-Malki that Spain would continue to support Palestine, a statement from al-Malki's office said.

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in November to let Palestine upgrade its status to the rank of "non-member" state, angering Israel and the United States.