Arafat to UN General Assembly next Thursday

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is due to leave to New York next Thursday to attend the meetings of the UN General Assembly. Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Arafat would deliver a speech before the General Assembly.

He said this would be the first time a President who is not a member in the UN will be treated like all other members without any political or legal constraints.

Sources close to Arafat said he would take the opportunity in his speech to declare that the Palestinian self-rule period is about to end in May 4, 1999, which is the date set to declare the Palestinian state.

The Clinton Administration, meanwhile, is hoping to reach an agreement during New York talks when both Arafat and Netanyahu are present. Palestinian sources said that Arafat has not objected the idea of holding a three-way summit with President Clinton and Netanyahu but noted that such a meeting is not on the agenda so far.