Arafat to visit Damascus on September 12 and 13

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday received the Palestinian official in charge of planning and international co-operation in the Palestinian Authority Nabil Shaath and members of the accompanying delegation. The Meeting was attended by the deputy foreign minister Suleiman Haddad, several foreign ministry officials and the PLO representative in Damascus Mahmoud al-Khalidi.

The two sides followed up issues and topics already discussed on Saturday in preparation for the visit to be held by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to Damascus on September 12 and 13.

In statements to pressmen following his meeting with al-Shara Shaath said that discussions centered on preparations for the visit of Arafat to Damascus. He commended Syria's position in supporting the Palestinian Intifada.

On the other hand, the Palestinian delegation visited on Sunday the tomb of the late Syrian President hafez al-Assad in al-Qurdaha.