LARNACA (Cyprus), May 11: The EU Middle East envoy said on Saturday that 13 Palestinian guerillas flown to Cyprus in a deal to end a five-week standoff in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity would leave for a third country as free men.
Miguel Moratinos said European Union countries were still discussing the destinations of the men, who were temporarily staying in Cyprus until a decision was made on where they would go.
“They (the Palestinians) want to go to a third country. They are waiting to have final offers,” said Moratinos, who met the men and the Palestinian envoy to Cyprus, Samir Abou Ghazaleh, at their seafront hotel in the Cypriot resort of Larnaca.
Asked about the status of the group and if they would move on as free men, Moratinos told reporters: “Yes, as free men.”
The 13 Palestinians on Israel’s most wanted list were flown to Cyprus on Friday, ending a siege at one of Christianity’s holiest sites.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Friday the Jewish state had a right under the deal to seek the men’s extradition under certain circumstances — one being if they were set free in a European state that accepted them.
Ghazaleh dismissed this, saying: “I cannot imagine a situation where a murderer, and those administering the massacres in Jenin, are asking to extradite our own citizens.”
EU foreign ministers will discuss where to send the 13 when they meet in Brussels on Monday.
Spain, Italy and Greece are seen as the most likely to grant some of them residency, but Greece and Portugal have also indicated a willingness to take one or more of the Palestinians.
TRANSIT PERIOD: “The first commitment of the European Union presidency was to ask Cyprus for a transit period in order to have more time to discuss and facilitate third country destinations,” Moratinos said.
“We are working very hard not to put any more burdens on the generous hospitality of the Cypriot government that has taken this very constructive approach.”
He said he hoped there would be a conclusion by Monday.
The men, who are staying on one floor of the three-star hotel, are sealed off from other visitors and confined to their rooms except for mealtimes, when they eat at a corner table in the dining room surrounded by policemen.
Their hotel, reserved and paid for by the Cypriot government, is booked until Monday.
Cypriot police, who have taken up discreet positions in the hotel and surrounding area, say they are there to ensure the group’s security. Ghazaleh indicated some of the Palestinians had concerns over their personal safety.
Using the mobile telephones of Palestinian diplomats, many of the 13 have already spoken to their families in Bethlehem.
New clothes to cope with the scorching heat of Cyprus — many of the men arrived wearing heavy jackets and jumpers — were brought in by Palestinian diplomats.
“They are feeling a lot better today,” said Fayez Younes, spokesman for the Palestinian mission. “Some of them have shaved and they look young again.”—Reuters