Arafat hopes to have normal relations with Damascus, Beirut
Palestine-Regional, Politics, 9/11/1999

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said in a statement to the Lebanese daily al-Nahar, given in Libya and published on Friday, that normalcy has returned in the relations between Syria and Jordan, although Jordan has an agreement with Israel, asking "Then why are normal relations are not restored between Syria and the Palestinian Authority?"

On his opinion on the future of the Middle East peace process as the Syrian and Lebanese tracks are still suspended, Arafat said: "We, in Madrid, agreed on a just, complete and comprehensive peace on all the Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian and Palestinian tracks, and if God wills we will continue on this ground."

Arafat described his meeting with the Lebanese officials as fraternal. He added, "We do not forget what they had done for the good of the cause of Palestine and the Palestinian people."

Arafat, who was attending in Libya the special summit of the Organization of African Unity, rejected what has been said about the permanent settling of Palestinians outside of Palestine. He added that "Settlement is a crime and the solution is in the Palestinian state," saying that the Palestinian state will be absolutely established. It is just a matter of time."

Replying to a question on the control of the Fatah forces over Ein al-Helweh camp in Lebanon, Arafat said Fatah has been present in Ein al-Helweh camp since the foundation of the Palestinian revolution, and its presence in the said camp is not new.

Previous Stories:
  Arafat: Explosions of Haifa and Tiberias not to hamper peace process   (9/9/1999)
  Israel to release 200 Palestinian prisoners today   (9/9/1999)
  El-Husseini: Israel to start withdrawal today   (9/9/1999)

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