On Arafat's visit to Syria

The Qatari daily al-Watan said on Sunday, according to well-informed Palestinian sources that the chairman or the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat is expected to visit Damascus in July, which coinsides with the first anniversary of President Bashar al-Assad's assuming Presidency in Syria.

In its Sunday's issue,the paper added, that contacts are underway between Damascus and Gaza in order to arrange details relating to the visit, noting that a high ranking delegation representing the Palestinian Authority will visit Damascus during the few coming days in the course of the current preparations for Arafat's visit to Syria.

The paper said that "this Syrian- Palestinian meeting will ensure backing and continuity for the brave Palestinian Intifada."