Thaindian News

ABU DHABI (BNO NEWS) — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday congratulated the Palestinian people on being granted full membership to the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO.

UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash said he welcomes UNESCO’s decision to accept Palestine as a member state and described it as “one of the positive steps that set the Palestinian state in its natural place in the international arena.”

“UAE congratulates the people of Palestine and its leaders on this historic achievement, which is the result of conscious diplomacy adopted by the Palestinian National Authority with support from the fraternal and friendly countries,” Gargash was quoted as saying by state-run media.

The UAE does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel as it does not recognize it as a state. It does however recognize Palestine with which it does have diplomatic relations. Palestine also has an Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE.

Gargash, in Tuesday’s statement, expressed his wish to build on “this positive step to consolidate the legitimate role of the Palestinian state in the international arena.”

Palestine is currently an observer at UNESCO but a group of Arab states previously submitted a recommendation to the organization’s executive committee to request full membership. On Monday, the proposal received 107 votes in favor of admission, 14 votes against and 52 abstentions.

Admission to UNESCO for states which are not members of the United Nations requires a recommendation by the organization’s executive committee and a two thirds majority vote in favor by member states. Abstentions are not considered to be votes and no member state has veto powers.

Among the countries which voted against admission were Israel, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and Germany. Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Belgium and France were among the countries which voted in favor while the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan were among those who abstained.

Before Palestine will become a full member, it must sign and ratify UNESCO’s constitution which is open for signature in the archives of the British government in London. Upon signature, Palestine will become UNESCO’s 195th member state.

The move to admit Palestine to UNESCO is part of a broader campaign by Palestine to get recognition as a state by the United Nations. On September 23, Palestine filed a request for a full UN membership even though the United States is likely to veto this.

About 120 out of 193 countries have currently recognized the State of Palestine and those are seen as possible supporters if the UN General Assembly votes on the issue. If the UN Security Council resolution to recognize Palestine is approved, Palestine would become the 194th member of the United Nations.