MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Palestine's official bid for the United Nations' recognition of their independent statehood should not be a substitute for peace talks, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council's International Committee Mikhail Margelov told Interfax on Monday.
In September, the Mahmoud Abbas Administration intends to ask the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state within the borders of the West Bank of the Jordan, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, he said.
"Russia supports the Palestinian initiative on the sole condition that it should not become a substitute for talks. Because there is no resolving the conflict through unilateral steps by any of the sides," he said.
Margelov believes that the absence of an agreement between Hamas and Fatah may hamper Palestine's independence bid.
"Hamas representatives accuse the Abbas Administration of breaching the April conciliatory deal when Fatah unilaterally launched voter registration for municipal elections in the West Bank," he said.
The Hamas-Fatah dialogue has actually come to a halt after attempts to form an interim government failed due to differences over the prime minister candidacy.
"The internal rifts tearing Palestine apart may devalue its bid for full-fledged membership of the UN, because there will be no single delegation under a single flag," Margelov said.
The UN rules for the admission of new members require recommendations from the UN Security Council (Rules 136 and 137).
"In case of the council's refusal, the admission procedure may be dragged out. Today, at least one Security Council member - the United States - is against Palestine being granted UN membership," the deputy said.
On the other hand, Palestine's independence bid may bolster its positions at talks with Israel, which have been suspended over Jewish settlement construction on the occupied Palestinian lands, Margelov said.
"It's worth noting that the United States vetoed the Security Council's resolution on the issue," he said.