Abbas makes statehood bid at UN

Fri Sep 23, 2011

Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmud Abbas has officially submitted his bid for the UN recognition of a Palestinian state to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Abbas handed over the request in a folder adorned with the Palestinian eagle crest on the front to Ban Ki-moon on Friday shortly before addressing the UN General Assembly.

The UN secretary general opened the folder briefly to study it.

Addressing the General Assembly, Abbas said that he decided to request for UN membership of his state after Israel smashed all efforts to reach a peace through talks.

"All of these sincere efforts and endeavors undertaken by international parties were repeatedly smashed against the rocks of the positions of the Israeli government, which quickly dashed the hopes raised by the launch of negotiations last September," he said.

He also described the expansion of illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands as the main cause of the collapse of peace talks, adding that the PA is ready to return to negotiations if Tel Aviv halts its settlement activities.

Abbas received a standing ovation for his speech.

He also called on the Security Council to immediately approve full Palestinian membership at the UN, saying the time has come for Palestinians to be given the right to be called citizens of their own state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the UN General Assembly after Abbas.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/200801.html.