Abdul Meguid starts visit to Italy and the Vatican

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid will start tomorrow a visit to Italy and the Vatican, during which he will hold talks with high-ranking officials in the Italian government tackling developments in the Middle East peace process, the European - Mediterranean partnership, the meetings of the Barcelona Declaration countries, and peace and security in the Mediterranean Basin.

Abdul Meguid will meet with Pope John Paul II, with whom he will discuss Jerusalem's future.

These talks aim at reaching a formula for Islamic - Christian coordination on the issue of Jerusalem in light of the Vatican's opposition to Israeli procedures to Judaize the city.