The executive council of UN cultural organization UNESCO voted Wednesday to allow a Palestinian membership, according to diplomatic sources.
Some 40 out of 58 members of UNESCO executive council voted for the proposal against four vetos including that from the United States and Germany. Fourteen members abstained from the vote on the day, a diplomatic source told Xinhua.
Arab countries have recently proposed to upgrade the status of Palestine in the UN organization to member state from present status of observer state.
Palestine will not get the member state status until the approval of the executive council wins ratification of at least two thirds of all UNESCO 193 members which are due to meet for the general conference from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10 at its Paris headquarters.
When asked about the membership of Palestine in UNESCO, French foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was not proper to discuss this issue while similar talks at the UN headquarters in New York is going on.
Palestinian authority has intensified its effort for statehood representation in the United Nations and its branches since this year. The latest move was presenting its statehood bid to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly starting in late September.
Stressing "the priority is to resume negotiations," French ministry spokesman said, "we believe that UNESCO is not the appropriate forum and that the General Conference is not the time."
Some 40 out of 58 members of UNESCO executive council voted for the proposal against four vetos including that from the United States and Germany. Fourteen members abstained from the vote on the day, a diplomatic source told Xinhua.
Arab countries have recently proposed to upgrade the status of Palestine in the UN organization to member state from present status of observer state.
Palestine will not get the member state status until the approval of the executive council wins ratification of at least two thirds of all UNESCO 193 members which are due to meet for the general conference from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10 at its Paris headquarters.
When asked about the membership of Palestine in UNESCO, French foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was not proper to discuss this issue while similar talks at the UN headquarters in New York is going on.
Palestinian authority has intensified its effort for statehood representation in the United Nations and its branches since this year. The latest move was presenting its statehood bid to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly starting in late September.
Stressing "the priority is to resume negotiations," French ministry spokesman said, "we believe that UNESCO is not the appropriate forum and that the General Conference is not the time."
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