Guterres regrets Washington's refusal to grant visas to Palestinian officials for the General Assembly
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret on Friday over the United States’ refusal to grant visas to Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to attend the UN General Assembly next week.
Spokesman for Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said, “The Secretary-General expresses his deep regret over the US announcement to extend sanctions that deprive members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority officials from participating in UN meetings.”
The United States announced on Thursday that it would deny Abbas and the Palestinian delegation entry visas for the second consecutive year. Only members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will be able to attend the annual sessions starting Tuesday.
Dujarric noted that “the full participation of all delegations in UN work is essential for its proper functioning.”
Guterres again urged the United States, as the host country of the UN headquarters, to “ensure the issuance of visas to all delegations, in line with its commitments.” His spokesman added that he “will continue dialogue with US authorities to achieve this goal.”
In response to the US refusal, UN General Assembly member states adopted a resolution on Thursday allowing the Palestinian Authority president to deliver a speech via a pre-recorded video.
According to the text, approved by 152 votes in favor, three against (the United States, Paraguay, and Israel), and four abstentions, Abbas will also be able to follow any related meetings held next week at the UN headquarters via video link.
Washington criticizes Palestinian Authority officials for “their inability to implement reforms, contrary to commitments made to the United States,” and for taking steps aimed at “internationalizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.”
The US State Department also accused the Palestinian Authority of “seeking to bypass negotiations through unilateral recognition, and continuing to pay stipends to terrorists and glorify terrorist acts and terrorists in public statements and curricula.”
The United States is diverging from the approach of many countries, including France, which recognized the State of Palestine last year, bringing the total number of UN member states that have taken this step to 142.
