UN allows Palestinian President Abbas to speak via video after US denies visa
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa by the US to travel to the UN in New York.
PHOTO: AFP
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- UN General Assembly allows Mahmoud Abbas to address leaders via video due to US visa denial.
- The resolution permits other high-level Palestinian officials to participate remotely in UN meetings.
- US cites non-compliance with Oslo Accords as reason for visa restrictions, despite UN agreement.
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UNITED NATIONS, United States - The United Nations General Assembly voted on Sept 19 to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the annual gathering of world leaders next week via video after the US said it would not give him a visa to travel to New York.
The resolution received 145 votes in favour and five votes against, while six countries abstained.
The move also allows Mr Abbas and any other high-level Palestinian officials to take part in UN meetings or conferences via video over the next year if they are prevented from travelling to the US.
The US said in August that Mr Abbas and about 80 other Palestinians would be affected by its decision to deny and revoke visas from members of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.
“US opposition to this resolution should come as no surprise,” US diplomat Jonathan Shrier said before the vote.
“The Trump administration has been clear: We must hold the PLO and Palestinian Authority accountable for not complying with their commitments under the Oslo Accords, some of them very basic, and for undermining the prospects for peace.”
Under a 1947 UN “headquarters agreement”, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. However, Washington has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons.
Mr Abbas will also be allowed to appear via video at a summit at the UN on Sept 22 – convened by France and Saudi Arabia – that seeks to rally support for a two-state solution.
Several countries are expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the meeting.
The 193-member General Assembly agreed on Sept 19 – by consensus, without a vote – that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, could appear via video at the Sept 22 meeting. REUTERS
