"Indonesia not only supported the resolution, but also initiated it, with some other countries as co-sponsors," Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa said at the UN headquarters in New York.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has supported the United Nations (UN) resolution to grant Palestine the upgraded status of non-member observer state.

Indonesia not only supported but also initiated the resolution, according to a press statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday in New York.

"Indonesia not only supported the resolution, but also initiated it, with some other countries as co-sponsors," Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa said at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.

"The resolution was passed through a UN General Assembly vote, held on Thursday afternoon local time, after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas conveyed Palestine�s will to be a non-member observer state," he noted.

"The UN`s approval of Palestine as a non-member observer state is a very important diplomatic victory for the Palestinians," Natalegawa stated.

"After the resolution, Palestine will be recognised by the international community as a nation-state, with the right to be a member of all UN organizations", he added.

During his speech before the General Assembly, Natalegawa also pointed out that the international community must take concrete steps to help Palestinians gain independence and sovereignty.

"The time has come for the international community to do the right things. The world should never again turn a blind eye to the long-standing sufferings of the Palestinians," he said.

"Indonesia had long acknowledged that Palestine met all requirements to be a member state. Therefore, there was no reason for the international community to object to Palestine`s status as a non-member observer state," Natalegawa explained.

Indonesia has also urged the UN to accept the Palestinian application for full member state status.

"That would be appropriate and consistent with the vision of a two-states solution," Natalegawa noted.

He emphasized the importance of establishing peace between Israel and Palestine.

"Indonesia has also asserted the importance of the resuming peaceful dialogue between the rival Palestinian factions," Natalegawa stated.

The UN General Assembly approved Palestine as a non-member observer state with a 138-9 vote and 41 abstentions.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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