27 Nov 2012

UN / PALESTINE

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told journalists at UN headquarters today that he expected “a large number of countries to vote in favour” on Thursday when the General Assembly decides on a resolution that would recognize Palestine as a non-member state. UNTV

Posted at: November 27, 2012 5:45 pm

Duration: 02:36

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / PALESTINE
TRT: 2.36
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 27 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE - 2011, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

27 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour seated at press conference
3. Cutaway, photographers
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations:
"I think that the great majority of nations will vote with us. Because there is a global consensus on the 'two state solution' so legislating that fact is in line with the position of all nations and all states. So we expect a large number of countries to vote in favour. You might ask me how would Europe vote. We tried and very hard to win the largest number of European countries to vote in favour, and we are delighted that a certain number have declared their support to our draft resolution, including France and other key EU countries."
5. Cutaway, journalists 
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations:
"Let me just say we sincerely hope that when we exercise our right in a diplomatic peaceful way - in the United Nations - that all countries to respect the decision of the General Assembly and not to resort to punitive measures against Palestine because we are doing something legal. We sincerely hope that that would not be the case. We believe that this is not a good or effective way in conducting diplomacy when countries try to punish other countries for disliking their politics or how they conduct themselves in a place like the United Nations."
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations:
"The option that we have on Thursday (29 November) of trying to save the 'two state solution' through diplomatic methods and through peaceful democratic methods is the other option that we are trying to save. The international community has to choose which option that they want to strengthen and enforce to determine how we deal with this conflict between us and the Israelis."
9. Cutaway, journalists
10. SOUND-UP (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations:
"The fun is just beginning."
11. Wide shot, Riyad Mansour leaving press conference

STORYLINE:

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour today (27 November) predicted that "the great majority of nations will vote with us" as he announced a Special General Assembly meeting on Thursday where members states will decide on a resolution that would give Palestine non-UN member state status.

Speaking at press conference at UN headquarters in New York, Mansour said he expected this outcome "because there is a global consensus on the 'two state solution'".

Mansour said "a large number of countries" would vote in favour, and he was "delighted that a certain number have declared their support to our draft resolution, including France and other key EU countries".

Responding to what he thought the United States' influence would be on the vote, the Ambassador said he "sincerely hoped" that when "we exercise our right in a diplomatic peaceful way - in the United Nations", all countries would "respect the decision of the General Assembly and not to resort to punitive measures against Palestine because we are doing something legal".

Mansour said "the option that we have on Thursday (29 November) of trying to save the 'two state solution' through diplomatic methods and through peaceful democratic methods" was an alternative to the option of war and destruction that had already been tried.