It’s who you say you know

Date: 08/02/1996

Manuel Marín would probably be the first to acknowledge that he is not an internationally-recognised figure. At least, not yet.

So full marks for quick thinking go to an EU official who accompanied a group of Brussels journalists tailing the Spanish Commissioner around Palestine and Israel. Their bus was stopped at an Israeli checkpoint on the way to a meeting with Marín and a serious delay seemed on the cards as questions were asked and eyebrows raised. The official sensed that the name Marín, however worthy, was not going to cut much ice with these folk, so he adopted his most self-important manner and announced: “We are on our way to an interview with ... Jimmy Carter.”

The hacks were ushered through the checkpoint instantly.