Malta supports the Palestinian quest for statehood and believes that the stand taken by French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday was a step in the right direction.

President Sarkozy's initiative "reflected current discussions within the EU with the aim of reaching a common position," Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said.

President Sarkozy yesterday called for the Palestinians to be granted UN observer state membership as a prelude to new talks.

Dr Borg said that EU member states decided not to publicly express their voting intentions so as not to prejudice the possibility of a common EU position.

"If the issue comes before the Security Council the matter will have to be decided by the 15 members of the council.

"When and if the issue comes before the General Assembly, and if there is no common EU position, Malta will publicly declare its voting intentions," Dr Borg said.

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