|
India's backing for the Palestinian cause despite
US opposition came hours after Palestinian President
Mahoud Abbas put forth a historic bid Sep 23 for
UN membership for an independent state of Palestine.
In fact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could
well voice his support for the Palestinian aspirations
in his address to the UN General Assembly Sep
24, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai hinted,
and indeed Dr Singh said:
The Palestinian question still remains unresolved
and a source of great instability and violence.
India is steadfast in its support for the Palestinian
people's struggle for a sovereign, independent,
viable and united state of Palestine with East
Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure
and recognizable borders side by side and at peace
with Israel. We look forward to welcoming Palestine
as an equal member of the United Nations.
"Our position on the Palestinian issue is
an established position. It is well known that
as far back as 1988, we recognised the Palestinian
State. So you should not be surprised if there
is a reiteration of that," the Foreign Secretary
stated.
At their meeting Sep 23 after Abbas' historic
bid, both Manmohan Singh and Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also "reiterated their
support for the Palestinian attempt to seek membership
of UN," Mathai noted.
Similarly reiteration of close ties with Tehran
came just a day after Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad triggered a US-led Western walkout
from the UN General Assembly with a combative
speech.
"The previously planned meeting basically
focused on our bilateral relationship," Mathai
said brushing away a suggestion that the meeting
with Ahmadinejad coupled with Indian support for
Palestine - could impact New Delhi's ties with
Washington.
He was also quick to reassure that Manmohan Singh's
meeting with the Iranian leader and India's support
for Palestine and the absence of a meeting with
President Barack Obama did not reflect a cooling
of ties between India and the US.
Like other Indian officials before, he too attributed
the reason for Manmohan Singh not meeting Obama
to "the fact that the Prime Minister arrived
after the President left."
(IANS)
|
