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| Middle East |
| Palestinians left in limbo as EU fails to agree their fate |
| 2002-05-14 |
| Thirteen Palestinian militants, released from Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity after a tense 39-day Israeli siege, were left in limbo in Cyprus after EU foreign ministers failed to agree on what to do with them. Oh, well. It wasn't very important, was it? Over lunch at their regular monthly meeting in Brussels, EU foreign ministers put off a decision on the Palestinians' final fate. Instead, they instructed their ambassadors to untangle the complex legal details by the end of this week. Lotsa time. Don't rush it. Try some of this wine, Jean-Paul... Six countries did, however, come forward Monday to say they could accept some if not all of the 13 -- Spain, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, as well as Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal. They're not gonna let Canada have any because they're not Euro enough... A letter from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Pique, dated Sunday and seen Monday by reporters in Brussels, refered to the 13 as "guests" who would be staying in Europe for "a limited period." He means until he can send them bus fare to sneak into Gaza. He's practicing looking surprised and chagrined in front of a mirror for a half hour every day... Arafat wrote: "I gave clear instruction to the 13 Palestinians to fully respect and abide the laws and procedures of the host countries." "That means no killings. I'm warning you guys! I'm really serious this time...!" Cyprus, a candidate for EU membership that clearly hoped to curry favor in Europe by billeting the Palestinians for a few days, was taken aback by the failure to resolve the issue. It had expected the Palestinians to be off the island by Wednesday. Those guys are sittin' in a beachfront hotel, slaughterin' goats in their rooms, hollering "hubba hubba!" at bare-breasted Swedish touristettes and asking everyone they meet where they can pick up some fireams. But don't worry, the Eurocrats are on it. They'll come up with something, as soon as lunch is done... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |