CNN 2011-09-25

 Hey, there, hope you had a great weekend, I'm C.A. This week in the United Nations, there is a big meeting scheduled to take place at the annual gathering of the UN general assembly. That's factoring into two of our top stories today. The first of those stories, Greek prime minister George P.D. says he is postponing his trip to the United States. P.D. was scheduled to speak at the UN meeting, but he says he needs to stay in Greece instead to focus on the nation's ongoing financial crisis. As we mentioned last week, there are fears that Greece won't be able to pay its debts, and that's taking a major toll on stock markets in Europe and the United States. P.D. says this week is an especially important time for Greece to act on agreement it made with the Europe Union back in July, that's when Greece got a second round of bailout of money, because EU leaders were afraid of its financial problems would spill over into other European countries.

Just the facts. In 1947, the United Nations put forward a plan to divide a middle eastern area known as Palestine. One part was becoming an Arab country, another a Jewish country called Israel. The Arabs did't accept the decision to divide the land. A series of wars broke up between them and Israel. Israel won these wars and there have been tensions between Israel and the Palestinians ever since.
Now, Palestinians want a state of their own. And on Friday, Palestinian authority president M.B announced he is going to push for full UN membership during the general assembly meeting this week. Israel says that that move could complicate the middle east peace process. Right now, Palestinians are considered observers at the UN. Richard Roth explains what full UN member would mean and where things could go from here.
The nations of the world got yet another reminder from the Palestinians of their desire for a state of their own. A symbolic siege from Palestine was flown in arriving in New York and UN headquarters, accompanied by activists in Palestine and UN delegate. Despite heavy pressure before the upcoming general assembly debate, achieving statehood on the world stage is not as easy as staging a photo op.
The is the potential first stop for the Palestinians to apply for UN member, this is the UN security council though this chamber may pose the toughest obstacle to potential Palestinian membership. Under the rules of the organization and the UN charter, the Palestinians must first get approval from the security council in order to obtain membership and get their flag outside the building. However, in our room are permanent members of the security council who have veto power, and one of them, the United States has vowed to deny any request for potential membership.
The only way of getting a lasting solution is through direct negotiations between the parties and the route to that lies in Jerusalem and Ramala, not in New York.
If they want to avoid the US veto, the Palestinians are very likely to come here, next doors, at the UN general assembly already full of 193 countries.
If one road is blocked, we will follow another one, but the objective is still the same. And as they say, there are many roads to lead to Roman, and we know that very well, and we will act according to it.
The Palestinians already have a seat here at the general assembly, but their status is just simply known as observer. The assembly may grant them upgraded observer state status, not for membership though, but they may get more rights, which will allow them to join other US style international organization, but their status would be on par with the Vatican. So in a fact, their prayers to get a full UN member state would not be granted.
With upgraded the diplomatic status, the Palestinians may be able to demand actions against Israel of the international criminal court. The Palestine chair could a hot seat for other UN members. Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.