WORLD : 68 Senators Urge Baker to Deny Visa to Arafat for Speech at U.N.
More than two-thirds of the members of the Senate urged Secretary of State James A. Baker III today to deny a U.S. entry visa to PLO leader Yasser Arafat to address the U.N. General Assembly.
The letter, which was signed by 68 senators, charged that Arafat has failed to live up to a commitment he made last December to recognize Israel’s right to exist and denounce terrorism.
The letter was circulated by Republican Connie Mack of Florida and Democrat Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
“This is not the time for unearned concessions or rewards, such as reversing the current policy of denying a visa for Arafat to enter the United States or elevating the PLO dialogue to higher levels,” the letter said.
On the basis that the PLO leader condoned terrorism, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz denied Arafat a visa to go to the United Nations to take part in a General Assembly debate on Palestine last November. As a result, the debate was moved to the U.N.’s European headquarters in Geneva.
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