Shaath: Arafat and Netanyahu are to visit Washington

Palestinian Minister of International Cooperation and Planning Nabil Shaath said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will arrive in New York on Sunday to address the United Nations General Assembly on Monday and meet with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

In statements to ArabicNews.com today, Shaath added that Albright will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and if progress takes place between them, Albright will then proceed to call Netanyahu and Arafat to visit Washington.

Shaath pointed out that the required progress is in the US initiative that Israel has so far refused to accept, but which the Palestinians have accepted. He added that this progress has to be greater than what US peace envoy Dennis Ross spoke about during his recent tour in the region.

Shaath called on the Europeans to play a main role in the peace process, confirming that they will demand an Arab summit if there is no progress in New York.