The European Union has called on the US to "reconsider" refused to issue visas to Palestinian leaders who plan to attend the September session of the UN General Assembly in New York, reported Agence France-Presse and Reuters, quoted by BTA.
"We all insist that this decision be reviewed, taking into account international law", said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaia Kallas, speaking in Copenhagen after a meeting of foreign ministers of the 27 member states.
Washington announced this decision last night, several weeks before the UN General Assembly, where France will advocate for the recognition of the Palestinian state.
The State Department said it was "cancelling and denying" the issuance of visas "to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority" on the eve of this international meeting.
"We must be able to discuss together. They cannot take us hostage", said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, proposing to organize a special session of the UN General Assembly in Geneva to guarantee the presence of the Palestinians.
If confirmed, this extraordinary measure by Washington would bring the Trump administration even closer to the Israeli government. The latter categorically rejects the idea of a Palestinian state and seeks to put relations with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and with "Hamas" on the same footing in Gaza, AFP notes.
The administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called on the US government to reconsider its decision to deny him a visa, the Associated Press reported.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Abbas and 80 other Palestinian officials ahead of the annual high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly next month. Abbas has spoken at the General Assembly for many years and usually leads the Palestinian delegation.
“We call on the US administration to reconsider its decision. It will only increase tensions and escalation,“ Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told the AP. He called on other countries to pressure the Trump administration to reverse the decision, particularly France and Saudi Arabia, which organized a high-level conference on September 22 to revive efforts to reach a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot protested the restrictions and said he would discuss the issue with his EU counterparts.
“The UN headquarters is a place of neutrality, a sanctuary dedicated to peace, where conflicts are resolved. The UN General Assembly cannot tolerate any restrictions on access,“ he said.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the visa suspension as a violation of the US's commitments as host of the UN. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body would seek clarification from the State Department.