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UK to hold Palestinian talks
RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has accepted an invitation from UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to send a Palestinian delegation to London to discuss the prospects for Mideast peace. Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erakat said on Monday: "He (Blair) expressed his deep concern on the current situation and the need to exert every effort to revive the peace process and help the Palestinian Authority in its reform program. He added: "For this purpose, he extended an invitation for a Palestinian delegation to go to London next month to engage in constructive discussion on the issues. "The president welcomed the call and accepted the invitation. The delegation will consist of economic, judicial and financial people." Arafat was not specifically invited, said Erakat. The Israeli government has said Arafat is free to leave the West Bank but could not guarantee he would be able to return. In remarks to the House of Commons, Blair said, "I can announce today that I am inviting leading Palestinians to come to Britain in January to a conference along with members of the quartet and other countries from the region closely involved in supporting the reform efforts. It will discuss progress on reform and look at how the international community can help." He added, "It is in the interest of both the Palestinians and the Israelis that these reforms succeed so we can make a reality of President Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security." The Middle East "quartet" includes the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.
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