Palestinian president starts visit to Austria

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat started this Monday a visit to Austria, which is currently chairing the European Union, for talks on the Middle East peace process.

Arafat is to meet with the Austrian president and the speaker of the parliament.

Austria, which has been the acting chairman of the European Union since July 1, was the first country to recognize in 1979 the Palestine Liberation Organization, and since then close relations have existed between the two countries.

After his brief stay in Vienna, Arafat will go to Paris where he will meet with French President Jacques Chirac.