Finian McGrath
Question:168 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat. [19077/03]
Vol. 570 No. 3
168 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat. [19077/03]
I met the President of the Palestinian Authority at his headquarters in Ramallah on 26 June. This was one of a series of meetings I held with senior Palestinian figures as part of my regional working tour. I also met with Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath. The President recalled the excellent relations which the Irish and Palestinian peoples enjoy and his numerous previous encounters with Irish political leaders. He outlined the difficult circumstances in which the Palestinian Authority has to function and gave details of some of the damage caused by Israeli occupation forces. However, his tone was cautiously optimistic and he expressed the hope that implementation of the roadmap would proceed.