THE Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, will visit Dublin next Tuesday and Wednesday at the invitation of the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton.
During the visit he will meet the President, Mrs Robinson, the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, senior Ministers and officials as well as opposition leaders. He will be accompanied by a number of ministers from the Palestinian government.
The purpose of the visit is to discuss with the Irish EU Presidency the role of Europe in the Middle East peace process. The EU is expected to appoint a special envoy to the Middle East at a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday.
Mr Arafat is currently visiting a number of capitals in the Mediterranean basin and Europe and is expected to arrive at Dublin Airport from Oslo on Tuesday afternoon.
It will be his second visit to Dublin. He was here in December 1993 when he met the then Taoiseach, Mr Reynolds, and Mr Spring.
On Wednesday morning Mr Arafat will fly to Madrid.
Mr Youssef Allan, the Palestinian representative in Ireland, said Mr Arafat was looking forward to having productive talks with Government representatives.