Powell's mission, Syria and Lebanon

A high ranking Belgian diplomat at the Belgium embassy in Cairo told the Jordanian daily al-Arab al-Youm on Monday that the European Union is making contacts with Syria and Lebanon with the aim to ease down the moves of the Hizbullah party in south Lebanon, moves which are viewed by the European Union as contributing to the implementation of the Israeli plan to blow off a comprehensive war in the region.

The Belgian diplomat who refused to be identified said in an exclusive statements to the Jordanian paper correspondent in Cairo that Washington made intensive contacts with the Arab states prior to the tour of Collin Powell into the region and then with Europe in order to convince the Arab states concerned of the evacuation of Yasser Arafat, after Arafat failed in his leadership mission.

The Belgian diplomat added that Washington told the Arab states that achieving peace is possible but without Arafat and that there are other persons who are ready to achieve peace and halt the cats of violence.