RAMALLAH, August 13, 2011 (WAFA) – The United Nations has a moral, legal, political and historical responsibility to recognize Palestine as a state and grant it full membership, Saturday said Foreign Minister Riyad Malki.
He said that after more than 60 years of neglecting the Palestinian suffering following its 1947 partition of Palestine resolution 181, the UN is now expected “to put an end to the Israeli occupation and establish the Palestinian state.”
Briefing reporters at his Ramallah office on the latest with Palestinian efforts to gain recognition from the United Nations in September and full membership, Malki said that many countries have already expressed their strong support of the Palestinian bid and many are either hesitant or are opposed.
The Palestinians say they have support from 117 UN member states, who would vote in favor of Palestine’s membership if the resolution is passed at the Security Council when it comes up for discussion.
Malki said President Mahmoud Abbas will personally submit Palestine’s application for membership to the Security Council in September while Lebanon is president of the UN body.
Abbas is planning a two-day trip to Lebanon on Tuesday to coordinate with that Arab country regarding submitting an application to the Security Council asking it to support its bid for membership to the UN General Assembly.
However, Palestine still needs votes of more than two-thirds of the UN member states - at least 130 votes - to get membership if the Security Council recommends it.
But, if as expected, the United States would veto the resolution the Palestinians are then expected to ask for nonmember status, which would allow them to join hundreds of UN organizations, said Malki.
The foreign minister has travelled to several countries in recent months, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean islands, to persuade them to vote in favor of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly meeting when it convenes late in September.
He said progress was made in several places but that several constraints, including shortage of funds and strong US opposition, have hampered Palestinian efforts.
However, he said, Venezuela, a strong supporter of the Palestinian move, along with Cuba and Nicaragua, have helped the Palestinians in their efforts and even provided them with access to all Caribbean island states by providing the Palestinians with a private plane to fly them around.
“Our weakest point was in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Malki, explaining that these countries, which prefer to have one foreign policy, are planning a meeting on August 19 in El-Salvador to discuss common issues.
Malki said that under pressure from the US, El-Salvador has so far failed to invite the Palestinians to attend their meeting, expressing hope it will soon change its position and allow the Palestinian bid for recognition to be placed on the agenda of their meeting.
“We have made very important breakthroughs,” he said. “We should continue our efforts and build on what we have already achieved.”
M.A.
