Iran : Palestinian UNESCO membership sign of int'l support

Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday commended the decision by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to grant the Palestinians a full membership as a sign of international support for the rights of Palestinians. Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast called on the United States to be realistic on the Palestinian issue and not to stand against the "world opinion." He asked the United States and its allies not to cast full support for Israel as the "world opinion" considers that as a disgrace. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) won a full UNESCO membership in a vote Monday at the organization's general conference in Paris. A total of 107 UNESCO member countries voted for the PNA's membership bid, while 14 countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against it. The voting made UNESCO the first UN agency accepting the PNA as a full member since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applied for a formal UN membership at the UN General Assembly in September. The UN Security Council has decided to discuss the matter in November.