UN votes today on Palestinian bid for state recognition

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Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird in New York to oppose move

UN vote on Palestinian bid3:40

The UN General Assembly will consider today the Palestinian Authority’s bid to have its status in the UN upgraded to state recognition, forcing world governments to pick a side on the contentious and divisive issue.Criticizing Canada’s position5:16

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is travelling to New York on Thursday to oppose any “unilateral” move by the Palestinians for statehood, and will present the country’s concerns directly before the world body.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada favours a two-state solution in the region.

“That will not be accomplished in reality unless and until the Palestinian Authority returns to the negotiating table and is able to get a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel.… So we encourage them to do that and we will not support any other shortcuts or any other ways of trying to arrive at that solution without such a peace agreement,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

However, the NDP says it is “very troubled” by the Harper government’s approach.

“Instead of choosing the path of going to support negotiations and get what we all want, a two-state solution, they have chosen the path of confrontation,” NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar told CBC News.

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote Thursday afternoon on whether to upgrade the Palestinians’ status from a non-member observer entity to a non-member observer state. While it can’t confer full-member status, the recognition would be seen as a major symbolic victory.

Majority vote required for approval Full Story