Arafat and Albright discuss closer US-Palestinian ties

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reviewed ways of upgrading cooperation ties in various sectors.

A state department official said a joint commission was set up to follow up the implementation of partnership projects in matters of business, culture and sciencess.

Arafat left Washington Tuesday expressing gratitude to the Clinton administration for organizing the international donors conference on Monday. A total of three billion dollars in aid were pledged for the Palestinian economy.

President Bill Clinton told the conference that he would seek congressional approval of a new 400 million dollars aid package for the palestinians, in addition to extending for five years the 100 million dollars the US has been giving the palestinians since 1993, when Israel and the Palestinian governement signed a peace agreement at the white house.