Russia to support Palestine’s UNESCO accession bid

DONETSK (UKRAINE), October 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is ready to support Palestinian membership in UNESCO, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Asked whether Russia will support Palestine’s bid to join UNESCO, Lavrov said: “We will.”

Palestine is currently an observer in UNESCO. However, a group of Arab states has reportedly submitted a recommendation to the organization’s executive committee requesting full membership for Palestine.

UNESCO’s executive board supported the recommendation with 40 members voting in favor and four against with 14 abstentions.

A final decision will be made during the General Assembly to be held in Paris on October 25-November 10.

On September 23 Palestine filed for UN membership. A total of 131 UN member states, more than two-thirds of the organization’s members, has so far recognized an independent Palestinian state.

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