E.U. ministers to meet with Arafat Monday

European Union ministers of foreign affairs and European affairs will meet in Brussels on Monday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, the French Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

Talks will take place during the regular general affairs council of E.U. ministers. Arafat will brief the meeting on the situation in the Middle East peace process, after his visit to the United States and talks with President Bill Clinton.

Arafat's meetings with the European Union are held after a EU delegation visited Palestinian territories.

The European Union will ask Arafat to guarantee absolute transparency during various execution stages of the EU-financed development programs in Palestine after previous reports spoke about administrative and financial corruption and embezzlement in the management of EU-financed programs.

Portugal currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the E.U, until July, when France will take over for a six-month period.

Concerning Middle East and Arab affairs, the ministers are also expected to hold an association council meeting with Tunisia.

The E.U. will also be examining relations with Turkey and that country's aspirations to officially become candidate to joint the 15-nation body.