U.N. Council affirms 'vision' of Palestinian state

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council late Tuesday approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution that "affirms a vision" of a Palestinian state.

The resolution described "a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders."

In the 15-member council, there were no votes against the resolution, with Syria offering the only abstention.

The resolution:

"We advanced this resolution to assist them and those who are trying to help them in the region," said John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

It is the first time the United States has voted for a resolution that includes language regarding a Palestinian state, although both President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have described their vision of a future that includes a Palestinian state. The president endorsed a Palestinian state during his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in November 2001.

The approval of the resolution Tuesday night was deemed an "important" and "significant" vote by Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian U.N. observer, "something with which we can build on in the future."

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Yehuda Lancry called it a "balanced" resolution and "quite a novelty."

Past draft resolutions have often included harsh language regarding Israel's handling of the Palestinian territories.

In explaining his nation's abstention, Mikhail Wehbe, Syria's U.N. ambassador, said the U.S. resolution failed to address Arab concerns about the treatment of Palestinians.

"It does not deal with the question in its roots -- the roots of the question being the Israeli occupation," he said. "The draft treats the killer and victim on equal footing."