Communique from Chirac to Arafat

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Tuesday received a communique from French President Jacques Chirac concerning French mediation in the Iraqi crisis. The message was conveyed by the director of North Africa and Middle East department at the French Foreign Ministry, J. Claude Koserna.

A Palestinian source said the French delegate held a 45-minute talk with Arafat, which he described as "very important," noting the need to continue such coordination with France.

Arafat's advisor, Nabil Abu Rudienah, described the message as urgent and very important, but he refused to disclose its content.