LOC17:54
14:54 GMT
ARAFAT PAYS VISIT TO PAKISTAN TO PROMOTE MIDEASTERN CRISIS
ISLAMABAD, AUG 23 (KUNA) -- PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT OF PALESTINE PAID A
BRIEF VISIT TO PAKISTAN ON THURSDAY BEFORE PROCEEDING TO CHINA ON A MISSION
DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN THE PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES.
ARAFAT, WAS RECEIVED UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT BY FOREIGN MINISTER ABDUL
SATTAR AND PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR AHMAD ABDUL RAZZAQ AL-SALMAN, BEFORE
PROCEEDING FOR A LUNCHEON WITH PRESIDENT GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF.
AFTER THE MEETING, GENERAL MUSHARRAF TOLD NEWSMEN THAT THE PRESIDENT ARAFAT
BRIEFED HIM ABOUT THE LATEST SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARISING OUT OF THE
CONTINUED AGGRESSION BEING PERPETRATED BY THE ISRAELI ARMY ON THE UNARMED
PALESTINIANS.
GENERAL MUSHARRAF SAID THAT PAKISTAN HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE PALESTINIAN
CAUSE AND STANDS SOLIDLY BEHIND THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE MOVES BY
PRESIDENT ARAFAT TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.
HE SAID PAKISTANIS HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THEIR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND
PRAY FOR THEIR EARLY SUCCESS.
ARAFAT SAID THAT BRIEFED THE HOSTS ABOUT THE LATEST SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, THE OUTCOME OF THE ARAB SUMMIT HELD TO DISCUSS THE ISRAELI AND ALSO
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MOVES TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. HE SAID THAT
INSHALLAH THE MUSLIMS WOULD BE ABLE TO PRAY ONE DAY IN THE LIBERATED AL QUDS
AL-SHARIF.
ARAFAT ALSO HAD A SEPARATE MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDUS SATAAR
BEFORE LEAVING FOR BEIJING. (END)
SJA.RK
KUNA 231754 Aug 01NNNN