Arafat consults France's Chirac on Mideast peace

Palestinian authority chairman Yasser Arafat arrived in Paris on June 30 for talks with French President Jaques Chirac and new prime minister Lionel Jospin aimed at ending an impasse in the Middle East peace process. Arafat arrived in the French capital at around noon and was whisked immediately to the Elysee Presidential Palace for a luncheon with Chirac.

Chirac walked out of the palace despite a light rain to greet Arafat as his car pulled up. The two men shook hands and embraced before entering the Elysee for their talks.

"President Arafat has been invited at a short notice by president Chirac for important talks on the peace process," a senior PA official said in occupied Jerusalem prior to Arafat's departure.

"The Europeans have asked France to play a leading role in breaking the impasse in the peace process and to convince the United States to return to play a role in solving the crisis," said the offcial who said Arafat, was scheduled to hold talks later in the afternoon with Jospin and foreign minister Hubert Verdine.

French officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Arafat and Jospin would sign a financial aid agreement following their meeting. Arafat's session with France's new prime minister was to be their first since Jospin took office earlier this month. A Jospin aide described the meeting as "a working visit " but gave no details.