NEW YORK, September 22, 2011 (WAFA) - Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, Thursday said that President Mahmoud Abbas will apply for membership of a Palestinian state in the United Nations Security Council as scheduled on Friday.

Abed Rabbo told Voice of Palestine radio that there has been no agreement to give the UN Security Council more time to discuss the bid, other than the legal period which the council usually takes to study any matter.  

He denied any arrangements to hold a meeting between Abbas and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as stated by some media, pointing out that the Palestinian position has not and will not change.

“Abbas insisted that the Palestinian bid to the UN does not oppose serious negotiations with Israel,” Abed Rabbo said.

He added that they are still working with the countries which declared that they will either vote against the bid or refrain from voting, in order to garner their support.

“This battle for the recognition of a Palestinian state is crucial and ongoing,” he said.

Abed Rabbo expressed hope that 150 countries will vote in favor of the bid. He denied that any statement will be released by the Quartet on Friday.

M.H./F.J.