Paris (ANTARA News/RIA Novosti) - The Palestinian flag was hoisted at UNESCO headquarters on Tuesday in the presence of the UN cultural agency's Director General Irina Bokova and Palestinian National Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

The Palestinians were admitted to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in October. The United States and Israel opposed the move. The U.S. subsequently cut its funding for UNESCO, with Israel and Canada following suit.

"Today we are members of UNESCO and we hope we will have one independent state in the future that will live side by side with Israel," Abbas said.

Abbas also said Palestine will be seeking membership in 16 other international organizations. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011