Palestine Liberation Organisation

HC Deb 27 November 1974 vol 882 c155W

12. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to hold discussions with representatives of the organization known as the Palestine Liberation Organisation, consequent upon their participation in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Mr. Ennals

My right hon. Friend has no plans to hold discussions with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

27. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the exclusion of the South African delegation from, and admission of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to, the UN General Assembly.

Mr. Ennals

In the Security Council we voted against the expulsion of South Africa from the UN because we believe in the universality of the UN, and in the General Assembly we voted against the suspension of South Africa because it was unconstitutional.

We abstained on procedural grounds on the vote to invite the PLO to participate in the plenary debate and, on constitutional grounds, voted against the grant of permanent observer status in the UN to the PLO.