Annan mediates for a meeting between Arafat and Barak

A Palestinian official said on Tuesday that the UN secretary General Kofi Annan is trying to convene a meeting between the resigned Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat before the Israeli elections on February 6th. The Palestinian official who asked not to be identified said that international efforts are being exerted by Annan to attain this meeting and that the Palestinian authority is not against it but nothing was decided yet, to this effect.

On the other hand, a spokesman for Barak said that the decision announced by the Israeli prime minister to freeze political contacts with Arafat and his Aides until the Israeli elections is still valid and has not changed.