Ambassador Marcano raises Palestine’s flag

Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Yoel Perez Marcano has applauded the local government for what he describes as a dignified and courageous{{more}} decision to support the State of Palestine in the General Assembly of the United Nations and its bid for recognition as a member of the international organization.

On Friday, September 23, 2011, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas officially requested a bid for statehood at the United Nations Security Council. The request came after months of failed European and U.S. efforts to bring Israel and Palestine back to the negotiating table.

As a sign of solidarity with the Palestinian state and to express its support for the Palestinians on this venture, the Venezuelan embassy held a flag raising ceremony on Friday.

In his address at the ceremony which was held at the Venezuelan Embassy, Murray Road, Ambassador Marcano said that he welcomed the birth of the new state, by hoisting for the first time in SVG, the national Palestinian flag, as a sign of solidarity and support of our people with the Palestinian people.

The Ambassador also stated that Friday’s occasion was important to remember because of all the perversions that empires have made against the Palestinian people throughout its history.

“The worst is the genocidal action of international Zionism, the American imperialism and the old European empires, which divided the sacred Palestinian territory, where pacifically lived various national and religious communities; in order to create a militaristic and aggressive state that serves as an instrument to take control of the immense oil wealth of the middle east and north Africa,” he said.

According to Ambassador Marcano, “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, under the leadership of commander Hugo Chavez and the member states of the Bolivarian Alliance for the peoples of our America, ALBA, have recognized the existence of the Palestine state, with east of Jerusalem as its capital and its territories of Cisjordania and Gaza, recognized by the organization of United Nations before 1967, a position which we are defending today in the General Assembly of the United Nations, faced with the pressure of imperialism and international Zionism.”

The Ambassador also noted that regardless of the decision of the government of the United States to apply “the shameful vote in the security council” to prevent the recognition of the full rights of new Palestine as a member state of the United Nations, “Palestine exists in the hearts of our people and will forever be embraced as our Palestinian brothers, with the aim to build a future of peace, brotherhood, justice and development.”

Other officials in attendance at the flag raising were Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Douglas Slater, and former government ministers Rene Baptiste and Mike Browne.

Security Council consultations began yesterday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, but diplomats say it could be week, even months, before it comes to a vote. To pass, the Palestinians need the support of nine out of the 15 members of the Security Council. Six have already thrown their weight behind the bid, seven have not revealed their decision, while Colombia says it will abstain. The United States has threatened to veto the move.

The General Assembly vote requires a majority of the current 193 member nations in order for the Middle East nation to become a full member.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the 193 members who have already pledged support for the Palestine to become a full member.