|
United Nations: India
came out in all out support for a Palestinian bid for membership
of the United Nations as a Security Council committee met behind
closed doors to begin considering its application.
Underscoring New Delhi's support of the Palestinians' bid, India's
Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri Friday recalled that
his country was the first non-Arab state to grant recognition of a
Palestinian state when it did so in 1988.
Puri said the committee on the admission of new states "should
report to the Security Council that the Palestinian application
for membership be recommended to the General Assembly."
The Palestinians' membership application "is not incompatible
with, nor does it exclude, direct negotiations between the parties
to resolve the final status issues," he said.
Addressing the UN General Assembly Sep 24, Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh had said, "India is steadfast in its support for
the Palestinian people's struggle for a sovereign, independent,
viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its
capital, living within secure and recognized borders side by side
and at peace with Israel.
"We look forward to welcoming Palestine as an equal member of the
United Nations."
The Security Council committee meeting came exactly one week after
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a direct plea at the UN
for membership sidestepping peace negotiating efforts that have
foundered for nearly two decades.
In order for a state to become a UN member, its application must
be recommended by the Security Council and then approved by the
General Assembly by a two-thirds vote of its 193 members.
The panel agreed to meet again next week. But analysts say the
statehood bid is bound to fail, because the United States has
threatened to use its veto power on the Security Council to block
it.
|
Comments
|
Quick links