Palestine got 107 votes from the United Nation's 193 voting members Monday at the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) here, making UNESCO the first UN agency to recognize Palestinian statehood.

However, the first step towards full membership in the United Nations cannot guarantee that the road in front of Palestine is clear of all obstacles, as the UNESCO and the United Nations have different admission processes.

Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Riyad Al-Malki delivers a speech on October 31, 2011 at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.

 

Majority support at UNESCO

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) received 107 votes for its membership bid in UNESCO. Although some member states were absent, 14 countries voted against and 52 countries abstained, giving Palestine the necessary two-thirds majority of all 193 voting members.

There were congratulations and cheers in the UNESCO conference hall from many countries who had supported the PNA, including France and China.

China supports the PNA's bid for independent statehood, which would benefit peace and development in the Middle East, said Shi Shuyun, Chinese ambassador to UNESCO.

Gabon didn't see a conflict between Palestine's membership in UNESCO and peace in the Middle East, an anonymous Gabonese delegate told Xinhua.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki expressed the willingness to continue peace talks with Israel during the following press conference.

After its accession to UNESCO, Palestine can engage in peace talks more equally with Israel, which is helpful to maintain dialogue, al-Malki said.