Moussa tackle US proposals, Arab follow-up committee

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Tuesday discussed with Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath the US peace proposals on a final Palestinian-Israeli agreement, the Palestinian views on them, and the Arab ministerial follow-up committee, to convene in Cairo on Thursday.

The extraordinary Arab ministers meeting, Shaath said, is very important and the Palestinians pin great hopes on its outcome.

Asked about Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat's current visit to Washington where he will meet with US President Bill Clinton, Shaath said the Palestinian-US summit was arranged for by President Hosni Mubarak.

"The Palestinian Minister termed the Egyptian role as very positive. The Palestinians wanted to meet with the Americans face-to-face to discuss the US peace plan, the Palestinian objections and the US position on them, "he said.

The Egyptian-Palestinian coordination is still going on, he said, noting that the Egyptian side worked with the Palestinian on developing the US-suggested peace formula.