Palestinians’ UN bid likely to succeed – Jeremic

PanARMENIAN.Net - The push by the Palestinians for upgraded status at the United Nations is likely to succeed, the president of the UN General Assembly said on Friday, Oct 19, while warning the United States against cutting UN funding over the issue, Reuters reported.

In his first major interview since winning a divisive campaign for the largely ceremonial UN post in June, former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic also said he was seeking to improve coordination between the world body and the Group of 20 bloc of key developed and developing nations.

Having failed last year to secure full UN membership due to U.S. opposition, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said last month he would ask the 193-nation General Assembly to approve a less-ambitious promotion of the Palestinian Authority's observer status to "non-member state," like the Vatican. It is currently considered an "entity.

Jeremic said Abbas is consulting with UN member states and is expected to call for a meeting on the Palestinian issue as early as next month, after the November 6 U.S. presidential election.

“Most people expect that it is going to be the second half of November,” the 37-year-old former Serbian Foreign Minister said.

"If they decide to go for it after these consultations, which is what President Abbas announced in his speech in September, most people expect that this is going to pass," Jeremic added.

The United States and Israel have warned the Palestinians against seeking a status upgrade, saying it would be a setback for the peace process and suggesting that it could have financial implications for the Palestinian Authority.