Palestinian National Ballet Denied Visas

West German immigration officials have refused visas to the Palestinian National Ballet, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

A spokesman confirmed reports that dancers in the Tunis-based company were refused permission to travel to West Germany because the passports possessed by members of the ensemble are short-term refugee documents that do not guarantee they could return to Tunisia and are not recognized by German immigration law as suitable for West German visas.

Asked about reports that the group had no difficulty obtaining visas for Great Britain, France and Italy, the spokesman said West Germany has its immigration regulations and other countries have theirs.