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Arafat Seeks India's Support for Palestinian Cause: Report
Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat on Friday evening paid a brief visit to New Delhi to seek India's support for the Palestinian cause, local newspapers reported on Saturday.
Arriving in the evening, Arafat headed straight to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence for talks, and left after dinner by a special aircraft, the Hindustan Times report said.
However, there was no official statement or press release about Arafat's visit and details of the talks.
Arafat's visit was part of his endeavor to consult governments of friendly countries on the Palestinian problem, the Hindustan Times quoted official sources here as saying.
According to another major newspaper Hindu, Arafat held discussions with Vajpayee on the final obstacles for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian question.
"Mr. Arafat in talks tonight is understood to have sought India's reaction on a variety of issues including the possible unilateral declaration of independence by Palestine," the newspaper said. Arafat had earlier threatened to unilaterally declare Palestine independence on September 13.
India, prior to talks with Arafat, had been extensively briefed by the United States on developments in the Middle East peace talks, said the Hindu, adding that this subject was discussed in detail during the meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the lines of the ASEAN Regional Forum conference in Bangkok late last month.
A photo published in Hindu showed Arafat and Vajpayee, both carrying a broad smile, holding hands tightly.
Arafat had arrived in India from Bangladesh, said the Hindu, adding that his recent whirlwind diplomacy had earlier taken him to Europe, Russia and China among others.
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