MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“An independent Palestine state counts with support from about 140 countries”

Nabil Shaath said the official request will be presented on September 23 at the UN General assembly

Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said on Sunday that an estimated 140 countries will recognize an independent Palestine State in the United Nations at the end of the month when the international request is formally presented.

“An estimated 140 countries could vote in favour of an independent Palestine state during the coming meetings at the UN General Assembly scheduled to begin next September 23” said Shaath, also head of foreign relations from the Palestinian nationalist movement Al.Fatah.

The Palestinian delegate made the statements during a press conference at the city of Ramalah and said his estimate in based on the recent visits world side in search for support and recognition of Palestine as an independent state.

“Many Palestinian leaders and top officials travelled in separate trips to different places of the world to try and convince them to recognize a Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967”, underlined Shaath.

Members of the Palestinian authority are planning to address the UN at the end of the month to request the full recognition of Palestinian state in the occupied territories by Israel since 1967, decision which is the conclusion of direct negotiations with Israel, sponsored by the US, but which have remained stalled for over a year.

The Organization for the Liberation of Palestine, OLP, decided to suspend negotiations with Israel following the Jewish government decision to suspend the construction of settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.

“The Palestinian side is committed to becoming a full member as an independent state of Palestine, of the United Nation for which it has an ample support achieved during the latest trips and visits to other countries”, underlined Shaath.

Latin America led by Brazil and Argentina support the creation of an independent Palestine state, although there is a division as to the borders issue. Most of the block favours a return to pre-1967 borders, however, Uruguay, Chile and Colombia among others prefer not be involved in the controversy which they argue should be discussed by the sides involved.