São Paulo – This Wednesday (5) in Paris, the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recommended the recognition of Palestine as a full member of the UN agency. The request was made by the bloc of Arab countries.
Out of the 58 countries in the board, 40 voted in favour, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Four countries voted against the inclusion: the USA, Germany, Romania and Latvia. The minister of Foreign Relations of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Riyad Malki, expressed his gratitude to the countries that voted favourably.
The recommendation will be considered during the General Conference of the Unesco, on October 25. In order for Palestine to be approved as a full member, the decision must be supported by at least two thirds of the 193 states that comprise the organization. The country has had observer status at the agency since 1974, according to Wafa.
Still according to Wafa, the USA called on Unesco member countries to vote no to the executive board’s recommendation. The call was made by the country’s ambassador to the UN agency, David Killion.
Unesco’s executive board manifested itself less than two weeks after PNA president Mahmoud Abbas filed a request for the country’s recognition with the UN, during the General Assembly meeting in New York. The decision must be approved by the Security Council and is not endorsed by the United States, which has veto powers.
The USA and Israel oppose the recognition of the Palestinian State by the UN. The North Americans want the Palestinians to negotiate peace with the Israelis first.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
