On the Syrian- Palestinian summit

The Saudi daily al-Watan said on Wednesday that the summit meeting took place between President Bashar al-Assad and the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat will pave the way for a joint Arab work whose elements have been crystallized, against Israel.

The paper explained, quoting high ranking Syrian and Palestinian sources which took place in preparation for the summit that this summit will prepare for a joint Arab work against Israel with its elements started to be crystallized in the consensus emerged in the Arab foreign ministers in their recommendations submitted towards supporting the Palestinian Intifada and the Palestinian people.

Circles of the chairman of the PLO political departments Farouk al Qaddoumi told the paper that Syria has approved this inclination and that the Syrian- Palestinian summit aimed at reviewing relations and laying the bases for future coordination.

The paper added that the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara stressed in a close- door meeting for the Arab foreign ministers that Syria has always recognized the Palestine Liberation organization ( PLO) as a sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and always refused the foundation of a substitute Palestinian organization to replace the PLO.