Arafat in Cairo for Talks on Mideast Peace Process

Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat arrived in Cairo Wednesday for talks on the latest development of the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. During his short visit, Arafat will confer with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the peace process, Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported.

Arafat's visit came one day after the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in the United States and days before Mubarak's trip to the U.S. on Saturday. He is expected to coordinate with the Egyptian leader on the peace march. The Palestinian leader frequently visits Egypt for advice from and coordination with Mubarak on talks with Israel, who as president of the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state plays an active role in mediating the negotiations. The Washington talks between the Palestinians and Israel focus on final status issues, including the fate of Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as their capital, future of Jewish settlements and final borders of future Palestinian state and Palestinian refugees. The talks aim to lead to the conclusion of a permanent peace deal by September 13 this year.

Back to top
Copyright by People's Daily Online, All rights reserved