Arafat sees talks as `the only solution`

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has told President Guido de Marco in a letter that political negotiations were the only solution to the crisis.

In the letter, delivered to Prof. de Marco yesterday by Palestinian ambassador Awad Yakhlef, Mr Arafat reiterated his commitment to a "just and honourable peace".

"In order to illustrate that, we responded to all regional and international initiatives and declared our full support and acceptance to the Arab Peace initiative and to what was mentioned in the last speech of President George Bush," Mr Arafat said.

During the meeting with Mr Yakhlef, Prof. de Marco reaffirmed Malta`s support for the peace mission to the Middle East of US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Prof. de Marco said he firmly believed that all forms of terrorism negated the peace process and that the existence of two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, living in two neighbouring states, formed the point of reference for peace in the Middle East, through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular 242 and 338.