Sharon, Arafat to visit Paris

The French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday extended two invitations to the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and to the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon.

The spokesman for the French foreign ministry Francois Revaso said that "France aim behind inviting Arafat and Sharon to visit Paris is to contribute to the making of peace," noting that his country " is ready together with her partners in the European Union to find a solution and in this spirit it renews its readiness to continue dialogue with the chairman of the Palestinian authority and with the Israeli prime minister on the occasion of each of the two men's visit to France."

The director of the Middle East and North Africa department at the French foreign ministry said that he handed over Arafat and Sharon two messages from Chirac. It was not clear whether Sharon will arrive in Paris after Saturday and start a tour on several European capitals before the convening of the meeting scheduled in Brussels for the European partnership council with Israel due to be held next week.

Worthy mentioning that France and several countries, members in the EU had remarked the possibility of re-considering the partnership agreements with Israel if the government of Sharon will continue its current policy towards the Palestinians.

An official at the Israeli cabinet stressed that Sharon has " initially" approved the invitation extended by Chirac to visit France shortly.

The Israeli official explained that the date of the visit has not set yet but " this visit will be held very soon and will be in the course of a tour on many European states."