By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, November 3, 4:16 pm -- As Security Council member stated their positions on Palestine UN membership behind closed doors on Thursday afternoon, Inner City Press learned that inside the meeting, France said it would abstain.
The key, the source said, would be Bosnia and Colombia, adding that despite rumors to the contrary, Nigeria and Gabon "have to support Palestine," given their membership in regional groups. Colombia seems unlikely to support Palestinian membership.
Bosnia, one well placed European Union source said, is "unable" to state its position on Palestine, given the tripartite nature of its government and the role of the Repulika Srpska.
Thus, the source said, there are not nine votes for Palestine at this time. Others said that Guatemala's vote for Palestine at UNESCO does not portend support for membership when Guatemala joins the Council in January. France voted yes at UNESCO, and Thursday said it would abstain in the Security Council.
Other peculiarities about the UNESCO vote include Sweden, where the foreign ministry did not control the vote in Paris, but would in the General Assembly. Watch this site.
And see, http://www.innercitypress.com/pal2frport110411.html
