Arafat to visit Damascus, Palestinian summit location uncertain
Chairman of the PLO political department Farouk al-Qaddoumi said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's visit to Damascus may be held very soon.
In a statement to the London based magazine "al-Mushahid al-Seyasi," al-Qaddoumi added that he had met with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam and several representatives of Palestinian factions in preparations for the visit.
Replying to a question on whether he felt that Damascus intends to convene an Arab summit before the end of this year, al-Qaddoumi said: "Syria wants to convene a plenary summit that excludes nobody. It also seeks the summit to have clear inclination and political decisions."
On convening a Palestinian summit between Araft and factions outside Palestine, al-Qaddoumi said, "We seek to convene such a summit whether it is to be held in Damascus, Cairo or in any Arab country."
Meanwhile, Discussions of meetings between the Palestinian government and opposition factions in Cairo have been underway recently, and informed sources told ArabicNews.com yesterday that there are efforts underway to hold a meeting between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatme in Cairo.
The sources said that these efforts started in March, when Hawatme confirmed the importance of convening a Palestinian national reconciliation conference that includes all factions.
Abbas Zaki a member of the central committee for Fath movement, one the major Palestinian factions, said yesterday, that there is approval of the opposition Palestinian factions to meet with Palestinian president Yasser Arafat in Cairo. Zaki negated Damascus' opposition on the participation of the leaders of the Palestinian factions residing in Syria in any discussion with the Palestinian president. He said the Syrian officials are supporting any attempt within the coordination between the Arab different tracks in order to push forward the peace process.