Arafat turns to Russia, Iran

RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is turning to Russia and Iran for advice and support regarding future peace negotiations with Israel.

For Arafat, the visit to Iran marks the first trip to the Islamic republic since 1997. Teheran has opposed Arab reconciliation efforts with Israel, particularly the Palestinian peace process that began in 1993.

Iranian officials said Arafat will arrive in Teheran on Thursday and meet Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. A Foreign Ministry statement said Arafat requested to visit Teheran and will hold "talks with Iran's head of state Mohammad Khatami who heads the Organization of the Islamic Conference."

Teheran is the leading sponsor of Arafat's Islamic opposition. Iran finances Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Lebanese Hizbullah. PA officials have accused Iran of urging Islamic insurgents to launch terrorist attacks against Israel in an effort to destroy the peace process.

Palestinian officials said Arafat will urge Khatami to convene the OIC to discuss the Islamic position on Jerusalem. Arafat has refused to concede on sovereignty over eastern Jerusalem.

From Teheran, Arafat will fly on Thursday to Moscow. The Palestinian leader will hold talks on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting represents heightened Russian involvement in the Middle East peace process, Palestinian diplomatic sources said. The sources said Moscow wants to convene a meeting with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United States in either Geneva or Paris within the next few weeks.

"There are new Russian ideas to move the sides and this will be translated into an initiative," said Khair Al Aridi, the PLO envoy to Moscow.

But Russian diplomatic sources said they will defer to the United States to lead the peace process. They cite the massive U.S. financial resources pledged by Washington to complete a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians.

The sources said Putin is expected to urge Arafat not to unilaterally declare Palestinian statehood. The PLO has set a Sept. 13 deadline for statehood but leaders have suggested the announcement could be delayed until early next year.