Syria and the Palestinian government

The Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Damascus quoted Syrian sources as saying that they fear talks about disputes between Syria and the Palestinian Authority, concerning the American proposals and that the most that Syria fears is the violation might be made by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority over the national rights issues as a result of pressures he undergoes.

The sources considered that what is important today is Arafat's commitment to the principles the follow- up committee has stuck to and that this meeting not to be used as an Arab cover for possible concessions that violate the basics of the Arab position, especially concerning the question of Jerusalem and the right of return for the Palestinian refugees.

The correspondent indicated that the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara has refused to discuss the American proposals at the meeting of the committee and considered them as an attempt to mislead the Arab and Palestinian public opinion as well as for the Palestinian Intifada.