Russia to support Palestine’s UNESCO accession bid

Russia is ready to support Palestinian membership in UNESCO, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. Asked whether Russia will support Palestine’s bid to join UNESCO, Lavrov said: “We will.” Palestine is currently an observer in UNESCO. However, a group of Arab states has reportedly submitted a recommendation to the organization’s executive committee requesting full membership for Palestine. UNESCO’s executive board supported the recommendation with 40 members voting in favor and four against with 14 abstentions. A final decision will be made during the General Assembly to be held in Paris on October 25-November 10. On September 23 Palestine filed for UN membership. A total of 131 UN member states, more than two-thirds of the organization's members, has so far recognized an independent Palestinian state.