Palestinian Leader Arafat Ends Ghana Visit

April 26, 1999

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat left Accra Sunday after holding talks with Ghana's Vice-President John Atta Mills on the intended declaration of Palestine as an independent state on 4 May this year in accordance with the 1993 Oslo Accord.

Arafat's entourage, which included Dr Nabeel Shaath, Minister of International Cooperation, and his political advisor, Nabeel Abourdene, was in Accra after paying similar visits to Conakry, Guinea and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Briefing newsmen before departure, Dr Shaath described the Accra talks as extremely fruitful, saying the outcome will be a major input for consideration by the Palestine General Assembly when it reconvenes on Tuesday.

The assembly will be meeting to decide whether to go ahead or not with the declaration of independence as provided for in the Oslo Accord.

He said some countries have advised them to freeze the declaration till the Israeli elections slated for 17 May.

Commenting about the recent actions which were taken by the Israeli government against Palestinian facilities, Shaath said they could have very serious and negative repercussions on the peace process.