MALAYSIA STANDS FIRM ON PALESTINE ISSUE - ANIFAH

By Nani Rahayu Mohd Yusof
NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia remains consistent in its support
for Palestine to be a free nation and the 194th member of the United Nations,
said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

"Malaysia has all along stood firm on the Palestine issue and its support
for Palestine as a full member of the United Nations. We have also stated our
stand at various international forums participated or organised by Malaysia.

"The time has come for Palestine to be a free and sovereign nation, and our
stand on this has never changed. If Palestine tables its application (to be a
member of the United Nations) at this general assembly, Malaysia will fully
support it," Anifah who is here to attend the United Nations 66th General
Assembly, told Bernama, Wednesday night.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to speak at the general
assembly and is also expected to table the application for Palestine to be a
member of the world body, this Friday.

Besides Malaysia, other countries which stated their stand on Palestine when
addressing the general assembly today were Brazil, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar and
Argentina.

Palestine will require nine out of 15 votes from members of the UN Security
Council to enable it to join the world body.

The five permanent members of the 15-member Security Council are the United
States, Britain, France, China and Russia. The rest who were voted in for a
two-year term are Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Gabon, Germany,
India, Portugal, Lebanon, Nigeria and South Africa.

"What is being said at the United Nations now is the big possibility of the
US using its veto power if Palestine obtains nine out of the 15 votes needed
from members of the Security Council," said Anifah.

"If Palestine does not receive the nine votes, then there's no need for the
US to use its veto power as it (Palestine) has not met the stipulated
requirement of the council.

"If it gets nine votes and the support of two-thirds of the member states of
the UN, which means 128 countries, and without any veto, Palestine can table
its application for membership, at the general assembly.

"If the US uses its veto power, but there is support from 128 countries for
Palestine, the application will still have to be tabled to the general assembly,
enabling it to be observer state, thus giving it the right to bring its
problems to the attention of international bodies like the ICC and ICJ."

Anifah said US President Barack Obama in his address at the general assembly
touched on various developments and incidents that had happened since he
spoke at the assembly last year.

He said on the Palestine-Israel conflict, Obama stated that it should be
given more attention and that peace should be achieved through negotiations
between Palestine and Israel, while the outcome would depend on compromise from
both sides.

Earlier, Anifah held bilateral talks with Thailand's Foreign Minister
Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Somalia's Prime Minister Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali,
and attended the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Anifah said Surapong conveyed his condolences to the families of the four
Malaysians killed in the recent bombings is Sg. Golok, southern Thailand.

Anifah also informed his Thai counterpart about the travel advisory issued
by Malaysia for its citizens intending to visit Thailand.