Challenge US Veto At The United Nations, Turkey Asks The World To Recognize Palestine As A Country

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (doc. Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Turkey asks the international community to oppose the US veto against Palestinian efforts to become a full member of the United Nations (UN).

Turkish Foreign Minister (Menlu) Hakan Fidan said the international should be fair by recognizing the Palestinian state.

"It is unfair that Palestine is not allowed to become a member of the United Nations. We call on the international community to oppose this injustice, and recognize the Palestinian state," Fidan said at a press conference in Istanbul, Sunday, April 21,.

In a meeting with Merzoug, Fidan said that the two discussed the ongoing massacre in Gaza.

Just like Turkey, Mauritania also adopted sensitive policies on Palestinian issues, particularly the situation in Gaza, and provided all possible support," he said.

Fidan further said that Turkey and Mauritania have great solidarity with Gaza.

"We will continue our cooperation to (achieve) an immediate ceasefire and deliver uninterrupted humanitarian aid," he said.

He also said efforts by the two countries would continue without interruption until an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with its capital city in East Jerusalem and territorial integrity, was founded based on the 1967 border.

The US on Thursday 18 April vetoed a UN Security Council resolution draft demanding a full Palestinian membership at the United Nations.

The council, which consists of 15 members, held a meeting in New York to vote on a draft resolution proposed by Algeria, which recommended acceptance of the Palestinian state as a member of the United Nations.

Despite obtaining 12 votes of temporary support from two countries, namely Britain and Switzerland, the Palestinian membership at the United Nations is still hindered.

To be ratified, the UN DK resolution requires at least nine votes to agree and no veto from its five permanent members, namely the US, UK, France, Russia, or China.