United Nations – Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru has reiterated Nigeria’s decision to support Palestinians’ bid for UN membership as a sovereign state.

Ashiru told Nigeria journalists covering the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York that Nigeria preferred “a solution whereby two states, Palestine and Israel, will live peacefully side-by-side’’.

“It has always been the consistent policy of the government of Nigeria that we prefer a peaceful solution to the problem in the Middle East. We prefer a solution whereby two states –  Palestine and Israel – will live peacefully side-by-side.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hands over a formal letter to be admitted as a state to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during the 66th UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York, September 23, 2011. AFP PHOTO

He said Nigeria recognised the state of Palestine since 1984 and that its ambassador had been resident in the country since then.

“In fact there was a time when the ambassador, for 15 years, was the Dean of the diplomatic corps in Nigeria.

“Our stand and policy is very clear and there is no change in our position..

“Nigeria seems to be the beautiful bride sought after by the two groups and other countries trying to find out how Nigeria will vote,’’ said the minister of Jonathan’s separate meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak

“But in all the meetings, we maintained our consistent position that we want to see a two-state solution to the problem in the Middle East where the State of Palestine and the State of Israel will live in peace side by side.

“We told all the groups that came – some to the president and some to me – that our policy has remained the same. We want a two-state solution and Nigeria will, as before, maintain a pattern of voting since the issue has been before the Security Council.

“It is very simple; we support the people of Palestine to have a state of their own.”

NAN reports that Nigeria has traditionally maintained close relations with the Palestinians as well as good ties with Israel, particularly in the area of security, trade and Christian pilgrimage.

Each year, thousands of Nigerians flood to Israel for Christian pilgrimage.

On Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN to recognise a state for his people, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said only direct negotiations could deliver peace in the area.

Abbas handed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a letter requesting full UN membership, which the 15-member Security Council said it would discuss on Monday.

The U. S. has vowed to use its veto power if it comes to voting.

Under the UN process for approving statehood, aspiring members submit applications to the UN Secretary-General, who is then required to send the application to the UN Security Council.

The UN Charter states that the admission of any state to membership will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon recommendation by the Security Council.

The Security Council recommendation is made by a resolution subject to a veto.

For the request to be granted Palestinians must garner nine Security Council votes and avoid being vetoed by one of the five permanent members. (NAN)