[유엔본부=신화통신/] 남아프리카공화국의 제이콥 주마대통령은 21일(수) 유엔은 어느 한 국가의 이해관계에 의해 좌우되어선 안 된다고 주장하면서, 남아연방은 팔레스타인의 회원국 가입 신청을 지원한다고 발표했다.

그는 유엔총회 66차 고위급 연례토의회 석상에서 연설하면서 위와 같이 언급한 것이다.

“우리들은 유엔의 독립성과 무당파성을 밝혀나가야 하며 분쟁과 위기 시에는 헌장의 원칙을 추구해야합니다”라고 말하면서 “유엔은 특정국가의 국력과 역사가 어떠하든지 간에, 그 어떤 한 나라의 이익에 의하여 독점되어서는 안 됩니다”라고 덧붙였다.

(이하 신화통신 원문 참조)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday voiced his country's support for Palestine's statehood, urging the UN should not be dominated by the "interests of one country".

He made the statement when addressing a high-level annual debate of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.

"We should define the independence and impartiality of the UN and promote the principles of its charter during conflicts and crises," he said, adding the UN should never be dominated by the interests of one country, regardless of that country's size or history.

Zuma said that South Africa also favors granting UN statehood to Palestine, and as a current non-permanent member of the Security Council, South Africa's vote would help make this ambition a reality for Palestinians.

"South Africa fully supports this position," Zuma said. "It is a decisive step towards achieving lasting peace, economic cooperation, and prosperity for the millions of people in the Middle East, and we urge that it be viewed favorably."

The Palestinian delegation, currently an observer at the UN, is seeking to obtain statehood, which would have to be approved by the 15-nation council. However, in spite of the statements of some council members that they would approve the bid, permanent council member, the U.S., a close Israeli ally, has indicated that it will use its veto power to stop the measure in its tracks.

If the request for full statehood fails, Palestinians have the option of gaining the lesser but still upgraded status of non- member observer state by going through the General Assembly, 　　　where veto power is not a factor.

In his speech, Zuma also pressed for UN reforms, saying "No reform can be complete without the substantive reform of the Security Council whose membership must be consistent with the principle of equitable geographical representation."

He reiterate the call for Africa to be represented in the permanent category of the Security Council.