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UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The United States General Assembly unanimously approved Tuesday a resolution that will allow Palestinians to chair the leading group of developing countries at the United Nations in 2019, ignoring the objections from the United States and from Israel.
Egypt, which currently chairs the so-called group of 77, told the assembly, before the vote, that Palestinians belonging to an observer state that is not a member of the United Nations, required a resolution give it "the rights and capacity needed" to head the group of 135 countries that includes China.
Last month, at the meeting of world leaders at the 193-member General Assembly, G77 members formalized their decision to give the presidency to Palestinians, to give a boost to President Mahmoud's efforts. Abbas in favor of the creation of a state and the full membership of the United Kingdom.
US Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Cohen urged the assembly on Tuesday to vote "no" to the resolution stating, "We can not support the efforts of the Palestinians to improve their status outside of direct negotiations".
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He said that the United States does not recognize "a Palestinian state" and "if this wrong resolution is adopted", when the Palestinians will speak as president of the G77, the United States will remind members of the UN only state. "
But the assembly disregarded the US and Israeli opposition and voted 146 to 3 with 15 abstentions to approve the resolution. Australia was the only other country to vote against the resolution. Most countries in Western Europe supported the measure, while many Eastern European countries abstained.
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, said after the vote that the Palestinians "will spare no effort to be worthy of this trust" and defend the interests of the G-77 while remaining on the sidelines. committing "with all partners – I repeat with all partners – to move forward with mutually beneficial cooperation and agreements for the common good of humanity."
