Belgium regrets Washington's refusal to grant visas to Palestinian representatives to participate in UN meetings

Brussels, September 17 (KUNA) -- Belgium expressed regret on Thursday over the United States’ decision to deny visas to Palestinian representatives ahead of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevost said in a post on the X platform that he was sorry for the United States’ repeated refusal this year to grant visas to Palestinian representatives ahead of the General Assembly’s high-level week. Prevost added that the United Nations must remain a place where all peoples can voice their opinions, especially those whose futures depend on dialogue. He stressed that excluding Palestinian representatives “undermines the fundamental principles of multilateralism and international law,” emphasizing that “the path to peace requires more dialogue, not less.” The U.S. State Department had announced on Wednesday that it was extending sanctions that prohibit the issuance of entry visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and officials of the Palestinian Authority, thereby barring them from participating in the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. (End) A.R.N. / M.N.F.