International support for Arafat

Palestinian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Nabeel Amro said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat obtained during the diplomatic initiative he made during the last three months confirmations from a large number of countries of support for the Palestinians' right to self-determination and establishing their independent state.

Amro said "The Palestinian president's external tours led to changing the European, Canadian and Japanese stances toward this matter," adding that the US stance focuses on extending the transitional period that ends on May 4.

The meeting of the Palestinian Legislative Council comes regarding declaring the Palestinian state to make recommendations regarding the declaration of the Palestinian state, which will be forwarded to the anticipated meeting of the central council, to be convened between in Gaza regarding the Palestinian state's declaration on May 4 or delaying this declaration.