Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called on the United Nations to accept Palestine's membership while calling on people to visit his country.

Abbas made the statement while addressing some 1,000 participants at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia in Istanbul.

"I call on the UN to accept Palestine's membership as this is a natural demand of our people. We are the only state in the world not represented at the UN. This request is not one against any country or an alternative to any negotiation. This is a natural request. We believe that there is no difference between going to the UN and beginning negotiations," Abbas stated.

"We want the international community, especially the United States, to make efforts so that our efforts could bear fruit. We also expect to receive the efforts of the strong countries in the UN Security Council," he continued.

Abbas also pointed his finger to Israel at the forum, saying that "Israel does not act according to decisions of international organizations. Palestine has reached an institutional structure accepted by 133 countries."

"The whole world recognizes us but they (Israel) do not accept our reality. Our country's declaration of independence and sovereignty has to do with ending Israel's occupation. Our hope is a Palestine with capital Jerusalem," Abbas said.

He noted that Palestine could not make economic progress due to problems related with Israel's occupation.

However, he added, there exist opportunities for investment in Palestine in the fields of tourism, real estate, agriculture, industry, communications, information technology, electricity production and distribution, and water.

"Palestine is a tourism region for many people, including the three monotheistic religions. An investment of about 10 billion U. S. dollars could boost tourism in Palestine," Abbas said.

He noted that "What has been done in Palestine to date has been limited, we could have done more had it not been for the Israeli occupation."

"I call on all of you here today to visit Palestine. When you do come, you can observe the incidents taking place in Palestine closely and explore opportunities for investments. Giving hand in hand, we can realize joint investments and partnerships. By economic strength, we will be able to help our people reach hopes that they have been waiting for patiently," Abbas said.

"I also want you to visit the prisoners in Jerusalem. Such a visit can have no religious or political goal. More than 45 years have passed since the West Bank was occupied," he said.

He continued that "Unfortunately the two-state solution faces many problems. Israel's continuation of widening residential sites with no legitimacy is an obstacle. Israel wishes to separate Eastern Jerusalem from whole Arab region."

"By isolating Jerusalem and the people of Jerusalem, Israel forces the people in Jerusalem to leave the region and their homeland. I request you all to visit Palestine. Israel is trying to change the historic and religious configuration there. Israel conducts various attacks in the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem," Abbas said.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet