Norway backs Palestinian bid for UN recognition in September
Norwegian FM says 'it is perfectly legitimate' for Palestinian president to turn to the UN with a proposal for statehood.
By Reuters Tags: Palestinians Palestinian state Mahmoud Abbas UN Security CouncilNorway, host of the 1993 Palestinian-Israeli peace accords, said on Monday it was "perfectly legitimate" for Palestinians to take their case for statehood to the United Nations for voting in September.
"We will consider very carefully the proposed text that's to be put forward by the Palestinians in the coming weeks," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas beside him at a press conference.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech in Paris, France, September 27, 2010 |
| Photo by: AP |
"Norway believes it is perfectly legitimate for the Palestinian president to turn to the United Nations with such proposals," Stoere said, adding that continued negotiations with Israel will be required in any case.
The United States and Israel have opposed Abbas' plan, backed by the Arab League, to bring the Palestinians' long quest for statehood to a vote in New York.
Abbas said on Monday the plan was still on.
"We will seek to go to the UN next September in order to obtain membership for the state of Palestine," he said.
He added: "Our way is to go to the Security Council. If we fail we will go to the General Assembly."
Norwegian diplomats said UN membership would require approval by the Security Council, where the United States holds veto power, but that a resolution on statehood could go straight to the UN General Assembly.
Stoere said Norway would decide how to vote after reading the exact proposal but left little doubt about his inclination.
"I don't think that any Palestinians or anybody around the world are in doubt that Norway supports Palestinians' right to statehood," he said. "That has to be accompanied by a process of negotiation, which at the moment is stalling."
He and Abbas signed a document upgrading the Palestinian Authority's representative in Norway to ambassadorial rank, as several other European nations have done.
Norway chairs a group of Palestinian donor nations, some of which have contributed to a funding crisis for Abbas by not fulfilling funding pledges. Stoere implored them to pay up.
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Putting the rest of Europe to shame.
Or will they just continue to bribe them with oil money?
Because Jerusalem belongs to Israel.
Abstention is the key to happiness.
I suppose they can then mass emigrate to Saudi Arabia with their brothers from Iceland, Ireland and other bankrupt frozen land paupers...
the EU nations doesnt dare going against US/israeli wishes.
Seen the israeli news lately? Besides the destruction that the occupation is wreaking on the palestinians, every day the occupation lasts it hurls israel deeper into a dark fascism. Or totalitarianism, anyway. Thanks Norway
by Ireland and Spain and others, as the movement to ban all goods and products from the occupied territories into their markets grows and strengthens. But for the moment, Norway is the country that deserves our congratulations for their declaration for justice.
Well, it would be if the Pals were not engaged in terror. On the other hand, what is even more legitimate is the Sami people seeking recognition of a state on all of the land that is now Norway. Now that is truly perfectly legitimate.