Russia to US: Don't veto PA statehood vote
Russian foreign minister says that while negotiations are preferred, 'No one should deny Palestinians' right to ask for recognition of state'
NEW YORK – Moscow authorities on Wednesday called on Washington not to veto a Security Council vote on Palestinian membership at the United Nations.
"We think it's better for the two parties to sit to the negotiations table, but they are not willing to do so because they do not agree between themselves," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
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The foreign minister added that "no one should deny the Palestinians the right to ask the Security Council to consider recognizing them as a state."
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already declared twice that he will submit an official request with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to recognize Palestine as a full member of the international organization – a decision that must first get approved by the Security Council.
However, it is still unclear if and when such a vote will take place.
Mounting pressure. President Barack Obama (Photo: Reuters)
US President Barack Obama is set to meet with Abbas later on Wednesday in yet another attempt to stop him from officially launching his case for the Security Council's approval of the statehood bid.
Israel has mounted what has been called a "diplomatic blitz" at the UN, in a last ditch effort to thwart the PA's bid.
The Israeli campaign is meant to prevent a two-thirds majority from endorsing a Palestinian state in the vote, thereby avoiding a US veto against the decision.
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