WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on Monday that the best way to establish an independent Palestinian state is to stick to negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis.

"We support the creation of a Palestinian state ... But we think that the best way to achieve that is through negotiations by the two parties," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.

    "We are convinced that has to be achieved through negotiations between two parties. We support a Palestinian state that arrives as a result of negotiations between two parties."

    Kelly made the remarks when the Palestinian authorities reportedly have asked the European Union to back their plan to have the UN Security Council recognize an independent Palestinian state.

    Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Sunday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the United States are holding contacts to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that have been stalled for nearly a year, adding that the PNA is working to snatch UN recognition of a Palestinian statehood.