EU in damage-control over Palestinian UN bid

SOPOT (AFP-EJP)---European Union Foreign Ministers on Saturday moved to ease a threat of renewed Middle East tension triggered by a Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, scheduled less than three weeks away.

EJP

... German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, whose country opposes the Palestinian initiative, along with Italy, Holland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, said separately that it was key to "try to influence different parties to act constructively".   

Europe stands divided on the question, with the Czech Republic, Italy,  the Netherlands, Hungary and Bulgaria also opposed while Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are in favour  in favour of a vote on Palestinian statehood around September 20, when world leaders gather in New York for the 66th session of the General Assembly
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