Former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres said Sunday he hoped a three-way meeting between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and US President Bill Clinton would take place in the next few days in Washington.
"The meeting will begin with separate talks with Arafat, then Barak, but I hope there will eventually be a three-way meeting; it's necessary," said Peres, currently Israel's regional cooperation minister, during an interview with the French television channel TV5.
So far only separate meetings have been scheduled between Clinton and the two leaders.
A close adviser to Arafat confirmed Sunday that the Palestinian leader planned to be in Washington on Thursday for a meeting with Clinton.
Israeli public radio said Sunday that Barak is scheduled to meet Clinton next Sunday in Washington. Barak said Saturday he would travel to see Clinton only if Arafat agreed to go.
Peres was to attend the opening ceremony of a garden in Paris Sunday dedicated to the memory of the late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, almost exactly five years after he was assassinated.
He is due to hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac Monday – PARIS (AFP)
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