EU urges US to let Palestinian delegation attend UN assembly

• The EU said on Saturday it regretted Washington's decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials for the second year running and urged a rethink.
• EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni pointed to the US headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state.

The European Union has asked Washington Saturday to reverse its decision to refuse entry visas to Palestinian officials, the second year in a row the US has blocked them from attending the annual gathering of world leaders in New York.

The EU said on Saturday that it regretted the decision and urged a rethink. Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the bloc's diplomatic service, said the EU regretted the extension of the visa denial for a second consecutive year and called on the United States to reconsider, citing its headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state. 

This week, the US State Department said it was refusing visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other members of his delegation ahead of next week's meeting in New York. 

The Trump administration also denied visas to the Palestinian delegation last year, so Abbas, a regular at the General Assembly, had to address the body by video.

The UN has moved to limit the damage. The General Assembly voted 152 to 3 on Thursday to allow Abbas to appear virtually again this year. 

Even so, only members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will be able to attend in person the meeting, which begins on Tuesday. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also weighed in. On Friday he expressed regret at Washington's decision and said he was concerned about its effect on the State of Palestine's ability to participate fully in the work of the United Nations.

The EU raised the same objection a year ago. Kaja Kallas, the bloc's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urged Washington to reverse its decision after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen. 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at the time that the General Assembly should not face restrictions on access, describing UN headquarters as a place of neutrality dedicated to peace.

Under the headquarters agreement, the US is generally expected to allow access for representatives of UN members and observers. Whether Washington will change course before Tuesday's opening remains unclear.

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