"The NAM Caucus in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) needs to give a strong signal on the NAM`s solidarity and united stance towards the Palestinian people`s aspirations," the minister said in a coordinating meeting of the NAM ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Thursday (Sept 22).
He recalled that at the NAM ministerial meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2011, the 120-member organization had agreed to support Palestine`s bid to gain full UN membership.
"We agreed on an action plan to support Palestine and propose Palestine`s admission into UN membership at the 66th Session of the 66th UN General Assembly," Marty said.
Indonesia has been supporting the Palestinian struggle for independence since the beginning.
"For Indonesia, the Palestinian problem is a struggle against colonialism. It is very natural for us and NAM to support the Palestinian people`s right to self-determination and independence in their own land," Marty stated.
The Indonesian government has expressed its support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas`s intention to secure full United Nations membership for his country with the formal bid to be made on Friday, September 23, 2011.
The support was once again expressed by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Maliki on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly session at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (Sept 20).
Whatever the option the Palestinians will take or the result of the UN membership application process, Indonesia will continue to give its full support to the Palestinian cause, especially through the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Marty told reporters following his meeting with Al-Maliki.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
