Arafat in New Delhi today and China next

The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is going to meet with Indian President Kircheril Raman Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, in order to inform the latter about recent developments in the Palestinian - Israeli peace process and the declaration of the Palestinian state.

Palestinian sources said Arafat's visit to India comes because India is a great country and considered a major participant in the Non-Aligned Movement that supports the establishment of the Palestinian state and refuses Israel's expansionist policy.

Meanwhile, Arafat is to begin a two-day visit to China on April 14 at the invitation of the Chinese president.

In press statements, Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said Arafat will try to obtain comprehensive support for declaring the Palestinian state and continuing the support presented to the Palestinian Authority.

Shaath referred to the support presented by China to Palestine, saying that Arafat will declare his final position toward the Palestinian state following his visit to China.

Shaath continued that officials in the USA, the European Union and Russia advised Arafat to delay the declaration of Palestinian state although they are primarily supporting its establishment, confirming that this agrees completely with all United Nations and UN Security Council resolutions and international agreements.

Meanwhile, the head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ahmed Qrei, called for declaring statehood by May 4, stating that delaying the declaration will affect Palestinian interests and provide time to carry out the policy of settlement expansion in Israel and Judaizing Jerusalem.