Arafat confers with Russian envoy

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat met on Monday in Ramallah with the chairman of the Middle East and North African department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Saltinov. The two sides discussed the latest developments concerning the Israeli - Palestinian negotiations and the Russian role in these negotiations and in the Middle East peace process.

Israel Radio said Saltinov arrived in Israel to take part in the ceremony held to inaugurate the final status negotiations due on Monday night. This visit falls in the course of the Russian envoy's tour on the countries of the region.