The United Nations on Friday urged the U.S. to facilitate access for Palestinian officials attending this year's General Assembly amid reports Washington could deny Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa, while saying it has received no official notification from U.S. authorities on the matter.
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that visa applications for heads of state and other senior officials are handled by the U.S., the host country, rather than the U.N. Secretariat.
"We have not received any official notification from the U.S.,” Dujarric said, adding that the UN was aware of the reports.
Some local media reports said the Trump administration was planning, for the second consecutive year, to bar Abbas from traveling to New York to address the U.N. General Assembly next month.
Dujarric said the U.N.’s position was that the U.S. should meet its obligations under the host country agreement, which is intended to facilitate the entry of diplomats and government officials traveling to New York for UN business.
"We have seen cases in the past where visas were denied by the host country. Our call and our hope remains that the host country will fulfill its obligations under the host treaty agreement, which is meant to facilitate the travels into New York City, into the United States, for people having business, diplomats and government officials having business in front of the United Nations,” he added.
Asked whether restrictions on the entry of foreign officials could affect the U.N.’s independence, Dujarric said the issue had arisen before, including in disputes involving Russian delegations.
"These are issues that the Secretariat has raised directly with the host country, and we will continue to do so,” he said.
