General Assembly President Urges Arabs to Defer Vote on Plo’s Status

The president of the General Assembly has requested that the world body defer consideration of a controversial resolution that would elevate the status of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s observer mission here to that of an observer state.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Joseph Garba of Nigeria, who presides over the assembly, asked the Arab nations that sponsored the draft “not to insist on bringing it to a vote” at this time.

A vote on the measure was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, after being postponed twice.

Garba’s statement also chastened the United States for threatening to withdraw its U.N. funding if the measure were to pass.

He called on “member states to refrain from the threat of non-payment of assessments for which they are legally obligated.”

The U.S. State Department has made it clear that it would cut its U.N. contribution, which makes up 25 percent of the total U.N. budget, if the PLO mission was officially designated as representing the “State of Palestine.” It is currently designated as representing “Palestine.”

Clovis Maksoud, the Arab League representative here, told reporters that the Arab states that sponsored the measure will be “responsive” to Garba’s appeal.

But he said he was expecting an even stronger condemnation of the U.S. position from Garba on Wednesday, when debate on “The Question of Palestine” was to resume.

He also indicated that the Arab states would push for new seating for the PLO mission in the General Assembly hall. The mission would be moved next to the missions of non-member states, such as Switzerland.

Such a move would give the PLO and its supporters at least the semblance of a victory. According to U.N. sources, Garba is empowered to take such action alone, without calling a vote.