Visit to Japan of Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of Palestinian Authority and Chairman of PLO

April 2, 1999

Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, and Chairman of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), will visit Japan from April 7 (Wed.) to 8 (Thu.), 1999, at the invitation of the Government of Japan. He will be accompanied by Mr. Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Mr. Saeb Iriqat, Minister of Local Government and others.
During his stay in Japan, President Arafat will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura for a wide-ranging exchange of views mainly on the Middle East peace process and the bilateral relationship.
President Arafat has visited Japan three times. The previous occasion was two and a half years ago in September 1996.

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