Abbas to take up presidency of ‘G77 and China’

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is to become president of the “Group of 77 and China” tomorrow.

The President’s Office announced the move in a statement yesterday, with Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu-Ridiena adding that Abbas will deliver a speech at the UN Headquarters in New York during the handover procedures, Wafa reported.

During the speech, Abbas will express his appreciation for being elected as president of “this important group,” adding it constitutes a “historic incident added to the achievements of the PA since it was elected an observer state at the UN in 2012”.

Abbas will also say that “this will put Palestinian identity on the map of the international community after colonial powers have long worked to erase it”.

In October, the UN General Assembly voted in favour of appointing Palestine head of the G77 and China, a coalition of developing nations that will allow Palestine to act more like a full UN member state during meetings in 2019.

The United States, Israel and Australia voted against the move.

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