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Russia stands for giving Palestine observer status at UN

Last Thursday, Palestinian representatives at the United Nations offered a draft resolution of the United Nations General Assembly vesting Palestine with the observer status

MOSCOW, November 13 (Itar-Tass) — Russia stands for raising Palestine’s status at the United Nations Organization, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

“Palestinians’ intention to ask the United Nations General Assembly raise their status was not a surprise for us, we are aware of their driving motives and understand them in general,” the ministry said in a comment posted on its official website.

“The Palestinian side has long been complaining of a dead end in the negotiating process with Israel and continuing building of settlements on the occupied territories, which hampers the process of the establishment of a viable Palestinian state,” the ministry noted. “Palestinian leaders are sure that a demarche in the United Nations will give a qualitatively new impetus to the substantive negotiating process on the established basis of international laws.”

“Palestinians do have the right for such step,” the ministry stressed. Our country recognized the Palestinian state in 1988 and has been maintaining diplomatic relations with it for more than 20 years. That is why we shall proceed from this fact in our supporting Palestine’s appeal. We hope that the Palestinian leaders are fully aware of possible consequences of this step.”

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry said “it is vital that the Palestinian side confirms that its United Nations bid is not a mere alternative to the peace process and that it will not use it to seek to discredit or isolate Israel.” “Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly said that after the Palestinian request is satisfied, the Palestinian side will be ready to resume the dialogue with the Israeli government,” the ministry said.

Last Thursday, Palestinian representatives at the United Nations offered a draft resolution of the United Nations General Assembly vesting Palestine with the observer status. It is expected that the General Assembly will stage voting on this issue on November 29.