THE GOVERNMENT expects Europe to finalise the departure of the 13 Palestinians on Tuesday, after the EU’s Spanish presidency yesterday denied it was dragging its feet on the issue.
EU member states have been haggling for more than a week on what to do with the Palestinians, who have been holed up under heavy security in Larnaca’s Flamingo Hotel since being expelled from Israel following a 40-day siege at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
Yesterday was the third time EU ambassadors postponed their decision on where to send the 13.
“It seems the legal difficulties on their status have been resolved… some details are pending about which countries will accept how many, and we expect this issue to be finalised by Tuesday,” government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told Reuters news agency.
Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides also said that immediately after Tuesday’s decision there would be developments on the issue.
“What is needed now is a little more effort as to the issue of their distribution, and this will happen on Tuesday,” he said.
Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and Ireland have volunteered to accept some of the men, but no agreement has yet been reached on how many each of the countries will take.
Diplomats told Reuters in Madrid that the delay was an embarrassment for the EU when “we can’t agree on such a relatively minor issue”, said one. “Where is European solidarity?” asked another.
“We worked very late last night (Friday) on this question and we will continue to work through the weekend to solve it as soon as possible,” Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique said yesterday. “Let’s not exaggerate the problem. We are just tying up a few odds and ends,” he added.
Cyprus had wanted the Palestinians gone earlier in the week but appears willing to go along with the EU’s hedging for the moment. “We aren’t worried. There will be an agreement in the end, we are sure,” another official told Reuters. A Palestinian official said the men were being very patient.
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