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.