Palestinian - US meeting on for today

US State Department deputy spokesman James Foley said yesterday that the expected meeting today between US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and PLO Executive Chairman Abu Mazen and top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat "is a chance for her to take stock of the current status of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on Wye implementation but also to look forward a bit to where the parties will go when they engage in permanent status negotiations."

Albright is scheduled to visit the Middle East at the beginning of next month.

Foley said Erekat's presence at the meeting was expected but not certain due to the continuing negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis that may require his presence.