RAMALLAH, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official revealed Wednesday that no date has been set for the vote in the United Nations General Assembly to recognize a non-member state of Palestine.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Reyad al-Malki, who is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, told " Voice of Palestine" radio that the issue is not related to the Palestinian readiness.
"The issue of gaining the UN recognition is linked to the preparation to form the draft resolution," said al-Malki, adding that there are intensive contacts with the UN member states to form the draft resolution and decide the voting date.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who will address the General Assembly on Thursday, instructed to the Palestinian delegation to the UN to start the contacts and preparations for the draft resolution.
"Once we are ready, we will ask for a vote during this year's session of the United Nations," al-Malki said, adding that Abbas will meet later Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Abbas will explain to Clinton that the Palestinians are determined to go for the vote in the United Nations to gain the status of a non-member observer state, the Palestinian diplomat said.
The Palestinians decided go for the UN vote to gain a non- member state in the General Assembly after the peace process in the Middle East remained stalled since October 2010 due to disputes on the issue of Israeli settlements.
Both Israel and the United States oppose the Palestinian bid and demand the Palestinians to resolve the conflict with Israel through direct peace negotiations.
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