9 Sep 2011

UN recognition sought at Forum

7:51 am on 9 September 2011

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki was at the Pacific Islands Forum this week, lobbying New Zealand to support its bid for international recognition as a state.

The Palestinians are currently United Nations observers without voting rights.

President Mahmoud Abbas will deliver an application to the UN Secretary General during the General Assembly with starts on 19 September.

Mr al-Maliki says the Palestinian Authority is yet to decide the exact nature of the resolution.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the Government would want to see the exact wording of any resolution before deciding whether to commit its support.