Palestine's UN Membership Accord with Two-State Solution: Minister

Paris - Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said Palestine's bid for UN membership is in accordance with the vision of a two-state solution and therefore Indonesia was supporting it. UNESCO member countries should anticipate a funding shortfall following the US decision to stop its contributions in protest against the admission of Palestine as a full member of the UN agency, the minister said here on Tuesday. "But we think, the fundamental issue here is that an independent Palestinian state needs to be given full membership in the UN and UNESCO. This is still a process and we don't want to give the impression as if we don't support the (Middle East) peace process. On the contrary, it (Palestine's UNESCO membership) could be made to match (the peace process), they need not be two contradictory options," he said. The Indonesian government supported the Palestinian bid for UN and UNESCO membership, despite the US objection. "Indonesia's stance is different, of course. Indonesia was even one of the co-sponsors of the Palestinian bid for UNESCO membership, as we also support Palestine's bid for UN membership in New York," the foreign minister said. Indonesia had been and still is a supporter, initiator and co-sponsor of Palestine's efforts to become a full member of the Paris-based UNESCO and New York-based UN. Marty said Indonesia believed in a two state solution where Palestine and Israel could live side by side. The admission of Palestine into the UN and UN agencies must not be necessarily seen as an obstacle to or the end of the peace process, because both could support each other, he said. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to admit Palestine as a full member on Monday (Oct 31). Palestine's wish which required the approval of two-thirds of the number of UNESCO members, passed with 107 votes in favor, 14 against, and 52 abstentions.It was the first such vote by a UN agency. The United States decided to cut funding to UNESCO after the agency voted to accept Palestine's bid for full membership, the US State Department said Monday (Oct 31). "Today's vote by the member states of UNESCO to admit Palestine as a member is regrettable, premature and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive just and lasting peace in the Middle East," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. *