Russian to support Palestine appeal for observer-state status

"We speak out in favor of a meeting, but the issue has not been coordinated finally as of yet."

United Nations (ANTARA News/Itar-Tass-OANA) - Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas may count on Russia's support when he appeals to the UN General Assembly with an appeal for observer-state status, Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin has confirmed to Itar-Tass.

"We have a principled position in that issue: we support any initiatives of Palestinians in that direction,� the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations said. According to him, this also concerns Abbas's plans as to recognition of Palestine as an observer state in the United Nations instead of a `non- state entity".

"If they want to bring up that issue at a session of the UN General Assembly, we will support them," the ambassador said.

China`s UN Ambassador Li Baodong also said his country would support Palestine on that. "If Palestine appeals for the observer-state status or full membership, we will support it," he said.

Mahmoud Abbas said that he speak at the UN General Assembly session on September 27 asking to recognize Palestine as an observer state in that organization. Sources from the UN headquarters stress that Palestine can quite expect a breakthrough, as it has enough support among 193 UN member countries.

However, the decision on full membership can be made only by the UN Security Council. Last year, Palestine's appeal failed because of US pressure on other members of the Security Council. However, the Palestinian leader states that he intends to continue "fight for independence".

All this will make more heated a meeting of the Middle East Quartet (Russia, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations) that may take place next week in the course of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly. It has not been officially announced.

"We speak out in favor of a meeting, but the issue has not been coordinated finally as of yet," Churkin said.
(U.H-AK/H-RN)

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